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Paul-Arthur Schwarz ([[1870]]-[[1940]]) was a watchmaker known for the [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] firm of [[Schwarz-Etienne]] which he founded in [[1902]] or [[1905]]. He married Olga Etienne, taking on her name to become Schwarz-Etienne, by [[1912]].
Paul-Arthur Schwarz-Etienne ([[1870]]-[[1940]]) was a watchmaker known for the [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] firm of [[Schwarz-Etienne]] which he founded in [[1905]]. He married Olga Etienne, taking on her name to become Schwarz-Etienne, which [[Schwarz-Etienne]] his firm still uses.


Paul Schwarz was born in [[1870]] in [[Lauperswil]] and was active as a watchmaker in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] early after the turn of the century. Although many sources claim that he established his firm in [[1902]], it is specified in a [[1918]] registration of the business in his alliance name that it was founded in [[1905]].
==Early Life==


On July 1, [[1918]], Paul-Arthur Schwarz re-registered his business as Schwarz-Etienne, though he had used the name as early as [[1912]].
Paul Schwarz was born in [[1870]] in [[Lauperswil]] in German-speaking [[Canton Berne]]. His daughter Helyette was born around 1890 in [[Le Noirmont]], a [[watch town]] in the French-speaking [[Swiss Jura]] near the border with France, so he may have begun his career there. It is likely that he was married to Olga Etienne before this time, and he took her name formally, becoming Paul Schwarz-Etienne. His three sons, Gaston, Herbert, and Henri, were born between [[1893]] and [[1896]] in Trubschachen, which is located very close to Paul Schwarz' home town of Lauperswill, so he must have returned there.


It appears that the first child of Paul and Olga Schwarz-Etienne was a daughter, Helyette Schwatz. She was born in [[Le Noirmont]] and appears to have remained unmarried until her death in [[1955]]. She lived in [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] most of her life. His son [[Gaston Schwarz]] was born in [[Trubschachen]], as were his brothers [[Herbert Schwarz]] and [[Henri Schwarz]].
Paul and his brother Emile appear to have moved together to [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] by [[1898]], likely drawn by the booming watch industry there. Paul became a [[remonteur]], working for one of the established firms in the city and living at Rue du Progrés 71. His brother left shortly after, and Paul moved to Rue Numa-Droz 98 by [[1902]]. He remained employed by one of the city's watchmakers as a remonteur until [[1905]].


Paul-Arthur Schwarz was a musician as well, playing double bass in "Les Armés-Reunies" in La Chaux-de-Fonds from [[1898]] through [[1920]]. He also served as an administrator for the group and was its chairman. He also instigated a music competition in the city in [[1913]] and encouraged his sons to join the group as well.  
Paul Schwarz was a musician as well, playing double bass in "Les Armés-Reunies" in La Chaux-de-Fonds from [[1898]] through [[1920]]. He also served as an administrator for the group and was its president by [[1908]] and later served as its chairman. He also instigated a music competition in the city in [[1913]]. His three sons joined the group as well, and were connected with it until their deaths.


The company was a specialist in the manufacture of movements and supplied the Venus de Milo (or simply Venus), Alpha, [[Sultana]], [[Le Phare]], [[Levrette]], Glorys, and Astin brands. A different company, [[Venus SA]] of [[Moutier]], produced [[chronograph]] movements under [[Ebauches SA]] at this time. It was merged with [[Valjoux]] in [[1964]].
==Independent Watchmaker==


Paul Schwarz initially located his company at Rue du Prix 85 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Schwarz-Etienne was located at Rue du Parc 128 in La Chaux-de-Fonds from [[1920]] until about [[1926]] when it moved to Rue Jacob Brandt 61. By [[1932]] it was moved back to Parc 130. In [[1936]] the company leased the famous and iconic "Palais Invar", formerly the home to [[Achille Hirsch]]'s [[Montres Invar]], at Avenue Léopold-Robert 94. This high-profile showroom along the main road in La Chaux-de-Fonds would be home to the company through at least [[1988]]. The building also housed [[Le Phare]] (later [[Sultana]] and [[Jean d'Eve]]) starting in [[1961]].
Paul Schwarz-Etienne appears to have set up shop as an independent watchmaker in [[1905]]. This is the year specified in a [[1918]] business filing, and it lines up with the first appearance (in [[1906]]) of "Schwarz, Paul, horlogerie" as an independent firm in [[Annuaire]]. Although many sources today claim that the firm was founded in [[1902]] there is no support for this in primary sources. Paul Schwarz is listed as an independent watchmaker in [[Indicateur Davoine]] in [[1908]].


After Paul Schwarz-Etienne's death in [[1940]], the company became known as Les Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne. The new focus was on building the Alpha brand, which would cause some legal issues due to confusion with the Alfa or Alpha brand watches sold by G. Kessel of Mexico.
The company began in a small workshop and operated from the family home at Rue Numa-Droz 98. The family relocated to Rue du Pax 85 by [[1907]] and Paul continued to operate his watchmaking business from this address. His brother Ernest had returned to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1905 and soon came to work with Paul.
 
Paul's daughter [[Helyette Schwarz|Helyette]] and son [[Gaston Schwarz|Gaston]] joined the watchmaking industry by [[1914]], and his children would soon boost the home workshop into a much larger group of businesses. Gaston was a remonteur like his father, while Helyette was a [[régulier]], and the siblings worked with their father. Unmarried, Helyette lived with her brother and his wife at Avenue Léopold-Robert 58 by [[1916]]. The pair would found [[Sultana]] together in [[1935]] and were also very involved in other family businesses.
 
During World War I Paul and Gaston were able to continue working as watchmakers, though Helyette became a tailor. Paul's two other sons, Herbert and Henri, joined the family business by [[1918]], with Henri serving as a remonteur like his father while Herbert became an accountant. On July 1, [[1918]], Paul-Arthur Schwarz re-registered his business as Schwarz-Etienne, though he had personally used the name for decades. Still he was often simply called Paul Schwarz in business listings.
 
==The Sons Take Over==
 
The watchmaking firm of the Schwarz-Etienne family outgrew their home and moved into a dedicated workshop at Rue du Parc 128 in [[1920]]. In the 1920s, Schwarz-Etienne specialized in small and highly-styled watches with movements as small as 5 ligne. The company relocated again about [[1926]], moving to Rue Jacob Brandt 61.
 
Olga Schwarz-Etienne died on January 23, [[1931]] after a long illness, and Paul stepped back from the business in June of that year. The firm was renamed Paul Schwarz-Etienne & Co., reflecting the increased importance of Gaston, Herbert, and Henri, though they remained limited partners legally. By [[1932]] it was moved back to Parc 130. By now Schwarz-Etienne had parlayed their success in ladies and jewelry watches into the production of fine wristwatches for men. The company exhibited at the [[1933]] [[Salon Suisse de l'Horlogerie]] in La Chaux-de-Fonds and they impressed the crowds with their moderate prices and good quality.
 
In early [[1936]] the three brothers took over the firm completely, renaming it Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne. At the same time the company leased the famous and iconic "Palais Invar", formerly the home to [[Achille Hirsch]]'s [[Montres Invar]] and the 1933 Salon, at Avenue Léopold-Robert 94. This high-profile showroom along the main road in La Chaux-de-Fonds would be home to the company through at least [[1988]]. The building also housed [[Le Phare]], which was merged with the family's [[Sultana]] in [[1950]].
 
Paul Schwarz-Etienne suffered a long illness in the 1930s and died on October 22, [[1940]] in Berne, where he had traveled for an operation. He was especially remembered for his involvement in Les Armes Réunies and the local football and billiards clubs.
 
The firm of [[Schwarz-Etienne]] was continued by his sons as Les Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne and retains his name to this day. They survived into the 1950s, when the third generation took over.


==Family Tree==
==Family Tree==


* Paul-Arthur Schwarz ([[1870]]-October 22, [[1940]]) married by [[1912]] Olga Etienne ([[1870]]?-January 23, [[1931]])
* Paul-Arthur Schwarz ([[1870]]-October 22, [[1940]]) married by [[1912]] Olga Etienne ([[1870]]?-January 23, [[1931]])
** [[Helyette Schwarz]] (-July 16, [[1955]]) engaged in [[1931]] to René Martin
** [[Helyette Schwarz]] (early 1890s-July 16, [[1955]]) engaged in [[1931]] to René Martin
*** [[Poldy Schwarz]]?
*** [[Poldy Froidevaux]] (-May 13, [[1985]])
** [[Gaston Schwarz|Paul-Gaston "Gaston" Schwarz]] (September 23, [[1893]]-January 7, [[1952]]) married by [[1931]] Marguerite Laubscher
** [[Gaston Schwarz|Paul-Gaston "Gaston" Schwarz]] (September 23, [[1893]]-January 7, [[1952]]) married first Léontine Froixdevaux ([[1888]]-November 25, [[1918]]) married second Marguerite Laubscher ([[1901]]-September 15, [[1970]])
*** Gaston Schwarz married ? Silbermann
*** [[Gaston Schwarz-Silberman]] married ? Silberman
*** Frédy Schwarz
**** Jean-Claude Schwarz
** [[Herbert Schwarz|Charles-Herbert "Herbert" Schwarz]] (February 3, [[1895]]-July 14, [[1955]]) married by [[1931]] Herwige Bachmann
**** [[Pierre-Alain Schwarz]]
*** André Schwarz
*** [[Frédy Schwarz]]
*** Paulette Schwarz
** [[Herbert Schwarz|Charles-Herbert "Herbert" Schwarz]] (February 3, [[1895]]-July 14, [[1955]]) married by [[1931]] Hedwige Bachmann ([[1893]]-January 22, [[1966]])
** [[Henri Schwarz|Henri-Louis "Henri" Schwarz]] married by [[1931]] ? Bachmann? later Dreyfus
*** [[André Schwarz]] ([[1924]]-[[1993]])
*** Odette Schwarz
**** [[Paul-Herbert Schwarz]]
*** Marie-José Schwarz
**** Martine Schwarz
*** Paulette Schwarz married Denis Buffat
**** Dominique Schwarz
**** Marie-Christine Schwarz
** [[Henri Schwarz|Louis Henri "Henry" Schwarz]] (December 8, [[1896]]-January 26, [[1976]]) married first Marguerite Lydia Bachmann (December 10, [[1901]]-April 13, [[1932]]) and later married Marthe Elsy Dreyfus (-December 16, [[1976]])
*** Odette Schwarz married Michael Turler
*** Marie-José Schwarz married Roland Hug
* Ernest Schwarz married by [[1940]] ? Juillerat
* Ernest Schwarz married by [[1940]] ? Juillerat


[[Category:Biography S]]
[[Category:Schwarz-Etienne]]
[[Category:Biography S|Schwarz-Etienne, Paul]]
[[Category:La Chaux-de-Fonds]]

Latest revision as of 00:53, 13 January 2024

Paul-Arthur Schwarz-Etienne (1870-1940) was a watchmaker known for the La Chaux-de-Fonds firm of Schwarz-Etienne which he founded in 1905. He married Olga Etienne, taking on her name to become Schwarz-Etienne, which Schwarz-Etienne his firm still uses.

Early Life

Paul Schwarz was born in 1870 in Lauperswil in German-speaking Canton Berne. His daughter Helyette was born around 1890 in Le Noirmont, a watch town in the French-speaking Swiss Jura near the border with France, so he may have begun his career there. It is likely that he was married to Olga Etienne before this time, and he took her name formally, becoming Paul Schwarz-Etienne. His three sons, Gaston, Herbert, and Henri, were born between 1893 and 1896 in Trubschachen, which is located very close to Paul Schwarz' home town of Lauperswill, so he must have returned there.

Paul and his brother Emile appear to have moved together to La Chaux-de-Fonds by 1898, likely drawn by the booming watch industry there. Paul became a remonteur, working for one of the established firms in the city and living at Rue du Progrés 71. His brother left shortly after, and Paul moved to Rue Numa-Droz 98 by 1902. He remained employed by one of the city's watchmakers as a remonteur until 1905.

Paul Schwarz was a musician as well, playing double bass in "Les Armés-Reunies" in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1898 through 1920. He also served as an administrator for the group and was its president by 1908 and later served as its chairman. He also instigated a music competition in the city in 1913. His three sons joined the group as well, and were connected with it until their deaths.

Independent Watchmaker

Paul Schwarz-Etienne appears to have set up shop as an independent watchmaker in 1905. This is the year specified in a 1918 business filing, and it lines up with the first appearance (in 1906) of "Schwarz, Paul, horlogerie" as an independent firm in Annuaire. Although many sources today claim that the firm was founded in 1902 there is no support for this in primary sources. Paul Schwarz is listed as an independent watchmaker in Indicateur Davoine in 1908.

The company began in a small workshop and operated from the family home at Rue Numa-Droz 98. The family relocated to Rue du Pax 85 by 1907 and Paul continued to operate his watchmaking business from this address. His brother Ernest had returned to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1905 and soon came to work with Paul.

Paul's daughter Helyette and son Gaston joined the watchmaking industry by 1914, and his children would soon boost the home workshop into a much larger group of businesses. Gaston was a remonteur like his father, while Helyette was a régulier, and the siblings worked with their father. Unmarried, Helyette lived with her brother and his wife at Avenue Léopold-Robert 58 by 1916. The pair would found Sultana together in 1935 and were also very involved in other family businesses.

During World War I Paul and Gaston were able to continue working as watchmakers, though Helyette became a tailor. Paul's two other sons, Herbert and Henri, joined the family business by 1918, with Henri serving as a remonteur like his father while Herbert became an accountant. On July 1, 1918, Paul-Arthur Schwarz re-registered his business as Schwarz-Etienne, though he had personally used the name for decades. Still he was often simply called Paul Schwarz in business listings.

The Sons Take Over

The watchmaking firm of the Schwarz-Etienne family outgrew their home and moved into a dedicated workshop at Rue du Parc 128 in 1920. In the 1920s, Schwarz-Etienne specialized in small and highly-styled watches with movements as small as 5 ligne. The company relocated again about 1926, moving to Rue Jacob Brandt 61.

Olga Schwarz-Etienne died on January 23, 1931 after a long illness, and Paul stepped back from the business in June of that year. The firm was renamed Paul Schwarz-Etienne & Co., reflecting the increased importance of Gaston, Herbert, and Henri, though they remained limited partners legally. By 1932 it was moved back to Parc 130. By now Schwarz-Etienne had parlayed their success in ladies and jewelry watches into the production of fine wristwatches for men. The company exhibited at the 1933 Salon Suisse de l'Horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds and they impressed the crowds with their moderate prices and good quality.

In early 1936 the three brothers took over the firm completely, renaming it Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne. At the same time the company leased the famous and iconic "Palais Invar", formerly the home to Achille Hirsch's Montres Invar and the 1933 Salon, at Avenue Léopold-Robert 94. This high-profile showroom along the main road in La Chaux-de-Fonds would be home to the company through at least 1988. The building also housed Le Phare, which was merged with the family's Sultana in 1950.

Paul Schwarz-Etienne suffered a long illness in the 1930s and died on October 22, 1940 in Berne, where he had traveled for an operation. He was especially remembered for his involvement in Les Armes Réunies and the local football and billiards clubs.

The firm of Schwarz-Etienne was continued by his sons as Les Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne and retains his name to this day. They survived into the 1950s, when the third generation took over.

Family Tree

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