Georges Ruedin SA

Georges Ruedin was a watch case factory in Bassecourt, the same small town that was also home to their primary competitor, EPSA. Formed by Georges Ruedin-Mathez, his son Georges Ruedin, and Albert Jaquat following the failure of the original E. Piquerez case making operation, the company was managed by, and renamed for, the younger Georges Ruedin from 1926 through his death in 1953. It was then run by Ruedin's nephew François Charles.

Predecessors

See Also: EPSA

Jean-Baptiste Monnier, mayor of Bassecourt, founded a factory to produce watch cases in 1874. It was sold to the Société d'Horlogerie de Bassecourt in 1882, which was itself acquired by the Société d'Horlogerie de Porrentruy soon after.

Gustave (1864-1931) and Ervin Piquerez (1869-1921) founded the case making company Piquerez Frères in Bassecourt in 1886, taking over the former tooling and factory space. This became known as E. Piquerez in 1898 and grew to be a sizable producer of watch cases. Ervin Piquerez died suddenly on July 7, 1921 and his factory was closed.

Jaquat & Ruedin

This 1930 advertisement shows the Bassecourt factory under its original name

Bassecourt was the home of Ervin Piquerez, a pioneering watch case manufacturer around the turn of the century. When he died in 1921, Ervin's brother Arthur Piquerez attempted to continue but was not successful. The firm of E. Piquerez was a primary supplier to the Reconvilier Watch Company, but that firm's head Georges Ruedin-Mathez was unsatisfied with the prospects of the factory. He approached local watchmaker Albert Jaquat (1885-1971) to form a new case making operation.

The pair started a small case-making workshop in the old Piquerez factory, which was officially initiated on February 1, 1926 as Jaquat & Ruedin. But ownership and management of the company was entrusted to with Georges Ruedin's son, also named Georges Ruedin, who had studied to become a technician-mechanic at the Technicum in Bienne. Although he lacked watch case expertise, he was skilled in manufacturing and was a prudent business manager. He would lead the company until his death in 1953.

The company was leveraged the equipment of the old Piquerez factory, which had been purchased by Jaquat, as well as supplies contributed by him. A financial investment from the Reconvilier Watch Company enabled the younger Georges Ruedin to establish operation even as Swiss watchmaking was faltering. The inexpensive Reconvilier watches continued to be in demand worldwide through the depression, giving the Bassecourt case making factory a reliable customer.

In October 1933 the company was renamed Georges Ruedin, successeur de Jaquat and Ruedin, with Georges Ruedin taking overall ownership of the firm. Albert Jaquat remained with the firm and served later as technical director.

Georges Ruedin SA

This dynamic 1967 ad shows the continued success of the Georges Ruedin factory

The company was reorganized as a Société Anonyme called Georges Ruedin SA on January 1, 1950. Georges Ruedin and his wife Paulette comprised the board of directors, with Georges also serving as manager of the firm. Albert Jaquat remained technical director while Jean-Pierre Lehmann became head of manufacturing.

Lacking a son to take over, Georges Ruedin took his nephew François Charles (1925-1988) under his wing. In the summer of 1952, while he was in London, Georges summoned his nephew to join him in Bassecourt to help manage the firm.

Georges Ruedin died in Bassecourt on September 16, 1953. Operation of the factory was continued by François Charles with his cousin Jacques Ruedin (1910-1997) and nephew André Ruedin (1931-?) also involved. Georges' widow Paulette Ruedin-Honsberger, accountant, had long had financial control of the firm and became chairman of the board. François Charles was managing director, assisted by his brother André Ruedin.

In the 1960s the Bassecourt factory was key in the production of tungsten carbide watch cases for Rado, which became famous as the Rado Diastar system. This was introduced in 1962 and remains a signature product for Rado, which joined Sagiter in 1966, General Watch Co in 1970, and thus became part of ASUAG.

From Ruedin to Swatch Group

In 1971 the Ruedin family's industrial operations were unified as Tréfileries Réunies de Bienne, with Georges Ruedin SA sold to its largest customer, the Bieler Drahtwerke.

In 1977 ASUAG invested a large amount of money in the Georges Ruedin factory to integrate watch case manufacturing into the cartel. This lead to the complete takeover of the Bassecourt company by SMH in 1989, fore-runner of today's Swatch Group.

In 1997 it was announced that SMH would invest over 30 million francs in the factory, creating over 100 new jobs. The factory today is the last watch manufacturer in Bassecourt and remains a key component of the modern Swatch Group. It produces cases for Omega, Rado, Longines, Tissot, and others in stainless steel, titanium, and tungsten carbide (Rado Diastar).

Timeline

• 1926, February 1 - The company Jaquat et Ruedin was formed by Albert Jaquat, son of Charles, from and in Bassecourt, and Georges Ruedin, son of Georges, from Landeron and Neuchâtel; the headquarters are in Bassecourt; the company was a manufacture of watch cases and accessories in Bassecourt
• 1933, October - The general partnership Jaquat et Ruedin, manufacture of watch cases and accessories in Bassecourt was dissolved; it was taken over by a new company called Georges Ruedin, successeur de Jaquat and Ruedin; Georges Ruedin, son of Georges, from Le Landeron, of Bassecourt owns the new firm; individual power of attorney went to Albert Jaquat, from and of Bassecourt
• 1943, March 18 - A provident foundation for the staff of the watch case factory Georges Ruedin is established in Bassecourt; the company "aims to provide for the benefit of the company's staff against the economic consequences of old age and death, possible illness and disability"; the board is composed of president Georges Ruedin, Albert Jaquat, secretary and treasurer Alexandre Maffiolini, and Ernest Schnegg, the latter representing the staff
• 1945, January - Individual power of attorney is given to Alexandre Maffiolini
• 1949, April - Individual power of attorney for Alexandre Maffiolini is cancelled and he is no longer a member of the foundation board; he is replaced by Ernest Monnin, from and of Bassecourt
• 1949, December 31 - The firm of Georges Ruedin, successeur de Jaquat and Ruedin is deregistered and taken over by Georges Ruedin SA
• 1950, April 26 - Georges Ruedin SA of Bassecourt is organized as a public limited company for the purpose of the manufacture of watch cases and accessories; share capital of 300,000 francs (290,000 paid); assets of 619,123 francs (buildings, machinery, car, furniture, goods, claims, cash, patent of invention) and liability of 265,202 francs (mortgage and miscellaneous creditors) left a net asset of 353,921 francs; the difference of 63,921 francs was paid out; the board of directors is composed of president Georges Ruedin and member Paulette Ruedin (his wife); Georges Ruedin was nominated manager, Albert Jaquat as technical director, and Jean-Pierre Lehmann as deputy head of manufacturing; the company was located at Rue de la Combe 10 in Bassecourt
• 1952, June - The signature of Jean-Pierre Lehmann is extinguished; Georges Ruedin, Paulette Ruedin, and Albert Jaquat remain
• 1953, October - Following the death of Georges Ruedin, he and Albert Jaquat are removed as directors; Paulette Ruedin becomes president and managing director, Jacques Ruedin becomes Secretary, François Charles joins as member; Pierre Brandt, Jean Ott, and Ernest Schnegg join as managers
• 1964, November - Following the death of Paulette Ruedin, Jacques Ruedin becomes president, François Charles becomes managing director, Etienne Rossetti joins the board, and André Ruedin is appointed proxy officer and secretary of the board
• 1969, May - André Ruedin is appointed deputy director; Ernest Schnegg is removed from management
• 1972, December 7 - Jacques Ruedin and Etienne Rossetti have resigned; managing director François Charles remains a director; André Ruedin is appointed a member of the Board of Directors and Secretary; Hans Thomann becomes President and Chief Executive Officer; Rudolf-César Schild of A. Schild SA becomes Vice-President; Walter Jakob is a member
• 1975, May - Following the death of Rudolf-César Schild, Dr. Peter Berger takes over as vice president
• 1977, February 1 - Share capital is increased from 300,000 to 2,400,000 francs by issuing 2,100 new registered shares of 1000 francs each; François Charles and Andre Ruedin have resigned from the board of directors, though they remain director and deputy director of the firm; Peter Berger is no longer vice-president though he remains a member of the board of directors; Dr. Marco Brüesch and Walter Schaeren join the board, with the latter becoming the new vice-president