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La Concorde was the name used in the early 20th century for the [[Le Locle]]-based [[assortiment]] factory established in [[1850]] by the Huguenin brothers that became the foundation for [[Nivarox-FAR]].
La Concorde was the name used in the early 20th century for the [[Le Locle]]-based [[assortiment]] factory established in [[1850]] by the Huguenin brothers that became the foundation for [[Nivarox-FAR]].


In [[1850]], the brothers [[Williams Huguenin-Virchaux]] and [[Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux]] came from [[La Brévine]] to settle in [[Le Locle]] to produce [[assortiment]]s for watches at Quartier du Progrès 59. Their earliest products included the anchor and escape wheel needed to produce watches. After his death, Charles-Louis Huguenin's widow Sophie took over managing the firm in [[1885]] until her sons were old enough.
==Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux==


[[Charles-Louis Huguenin]] ([[1869]]-[[1940]]) and his brother [[Charles-Adolphe Huguenin-Perrenoud]] took over the family business in [[1892]]. Officially called "Chs et Ls Huguenin," it was commonly called Fabrique d'Assortiments pour Echappements à Ancres. At this time it was located at 59 and 60 Quartier Neuf in Le Locle. Under their leadership, the company acquired a reputation for quality and became the largest such factory in Le Locle. It was later known by the brand name "La Concorde," named for the large factory building they built at Rue de la Concorde 29 in Le Locle.
In [[1850]], the brothers [[Williams Huguenin-Virchaux|Williams]] and [[Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux]] came from [[La Brévine]] to settle in [[Le Locle]] to produce [[assortiment]]s for watches at Quartier du Progrès 59. Their earliest products included the anchor and escape wheel needed to produce watches.
 
After his death, Charles-Louis Huguenin's widow Sophie took over managing the firm in [[1885]] until her sons were old enough. Williams left the firm around this time, forming his own company called W. Huguenin and soon expanding with a second workshop in nearby [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]].
 
==Charles & Louis Huguenin and La Concorde==
 
[[Charles-Louis Huguenin]] ([[1869]]-[[1940]]) and his brother [[Charles-Adolphe Huguenin-Perrenoud]] took over the family business in [[1892]]. Officially called "Chs et Ls Huguenin," it was commonly called Fabrique d'Assortiments pour Echappements à Ancres. At this time it was located at 59 and 60 Quartier Neuf in Le Locle. Under their leadership, the company acquired a reputation for quality and became the largest such factory in Le Locle.
 
Charles & Louis Huguenin's products were widely recognized, winning silver medals in Paris in [[1889]] and Geneva in [[1896]] and five other medals and diplomas by this time. The company boasted of interchangeability (though their products were still produced by hand) and produced artistic levers suitable for the fashionable [[open heart]] watches of the time. They also produced escapements for [[chronometer]]s and [[Glashütte style]] movements.
 
The company was later known by the brand name "La Concorde," named for the large factory building they built at Rue de la Concorde 29 in Le Locle.


Louis Huguenin's contributions to the watchmaking industry extended beyond his own company, and he replaced [[Jules Huguenin]] on the board of [[Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies]] in [[1897]] following his death. He would press for greater consolidation following the establishment of FSR and was a driving force behind the setting up of watchmaking organizations. As part of FSR he was active in the conclusion of agreements and the constitution of [[ASUAG]], where he was part of the management committee. He pressed for the creation of the [[Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies]], which took over his family firm and others in the 1930s, culminating with a monopoly on production of assortiments in [[1945]].
Louis Huguenin's contributions to the watchmaking industry extended beyond his own company, and he replaced [[Jules Huguenin]] on the board of [[Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies]] in [[1897]] following his death. He would press for greater consolidation following the establishment of FSR and was a driving force behind the setting up of watchmaking organizations. As part of FSR he was active in the conclusion of agreements and the constitution of [[ASUAG]], where he was part of the management committee. He pressed for the creation of the [[Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies]], which took over his family firm and others in the 1930s, culminating with a monopoly on production of assortiments in [[1945]].


In [[1917]], [[Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux]] brought his sons [[Louis-Edouard Huguenin-Jeanneret]] ([[1894]]-[[1973]]) and [[Charles-William Huguenin]] into ownership of the business. Louis Huguenin became especially involved in the industry and took over the firm in [[1940]] following his father's death. He had worked at La Concorde since [[1914]] and took over management with his brother when their father died. When [[Nivarox SA]] was formed in [[1937]], Louis Huguenin (junior) was named secretary of the board, a position he retained until [[1972]].
In [[1917]], [[Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux|Louis Huguenin]] brought his sons [[Louis-Edouard Huguenin-Jeanneret|Louis]] ([[1894]]-[[1973]]) and [[Charles-William Huguenin|William]] into ownership of the business. Louis Junior in particular took to the business, having worked with his father since [[1914]].
 
The factory was integrated into [[FAR]] in [[1933]] as "Branch B, Le Locle" though operation remained the same. It was managed by [[Charles-Louis Huguenin|Louis Huguenin, Sr.]] along with his sons, [[Louis-Edouard Huguenin-Jeanneret|Louis Huguenin, Jr.]] and [[Charles-William Huguenin|William]]. Louis Huguenin became especially involved in the industry and took over the firm in [[1940]] following his father's death. When [[Nivarox SA]] was formed in [[1937]], Louis Huguenin (junior) was named secretary of the board, a position he retained until [[1972]].


Louis Huguenin's son, [[Charles-Louis Huguenin]] continued the family work through the consolidation of all spring factories as [[Nivarox SA]] in [[1976]] and the consolidation of this with [[FAR]] and [[FBR]] as [[Nivarox-FAR]] in [[1984]].
The next generation, also named [[Charles-Louis Huguenin]], continued the family work through the consolidation of all spring factories as [[Nivarox SA]] in [[1976]] and the consolidation of this with [[FAR]] and [[FBR]] as [[Nivarox-FAR]] in [[1984]].


==Huguenin Family==
==Huguenin Family==
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*** [[Charles-Adolphe Huguenin|Charles-Adolphe "Ch. Ad." Huguenin-Perrenoud]] ([[1865]]-between 1915 and 1929) married [[1893]] Cécie Perrenoud ([[1874]]-?)
*** [[Charles-Adolphe Huguenin|Charles-Adolphe "Ch. Ad." Huguenin-Perrenoud]] ([[1865]]-between 1915 and 1929) married [[1893]] Cécie Perrenoud ([[1874]]-?)
*** [[Charles-Louis Huguenin|Charles-Louis "Louis" Huguenin]] ([[1869]]-[[1940]]) married [[1891]] Adèle Favre ([[1870]]-?) (and perhaps later ? Gugelmann)
*** [[Charles-Louis Huguenin|Charles-Louis "Louis" Huguenin]] ([[1869]]-[[1940]]) married [[1891]] Adèle Favre ([[1870]]-?) (and perhaps later ? Gugelmann)
**** [[Louis-Edouard Huguenin|Louis-Edouard "Louis" Huguenin-Jeanneret]] ([[1894]]-[[1973]])
**** [[Louis-Edouard Huguenin-Jeanneret|Louis-Edouard "Louis" Huguenin-Jeanneret]] ([[1894]]-[[1973]])
***** [[Charles-Louis Huguenin]]
***** [[Charles-Louis Huguenin]]
**** [[Charles-William Huguenin|Charles-William "Willy" Huguenin-Perret]]
**** [[Charles-William Huguenin|Charles-William "Willy" Huguenin-Perret]]

Revision as of 20:25, 10 May 2023

La Concorde was the name used in the early 20th century for the Le Locle-based assortiment factory established in 1850 by the Huguenin brothers that became the foundation for Nivarox-FAR.

Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux

In 1850, the brothers Williams and Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux came from La Brévine to settle in Le Locle to produce assortiments for watches at Quartier du Progrès 59. Their earliest products included the anchor and escape wheel needed to produce watches.

After his death, Charles-Louis Huguenin's widow Sophie took over managing the firm in 1885 until her sons were old enough. Williams left the firm around this time, forming his own company called W. Huguenin and soon expanding with a second workshop in nearby La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Charles & Louis Huguenin and La Concorde

Charles-Louis Huguenin (1869-1940) and his brother Charles-Adolphe Huguenin-Perrenoud took over the family business in 1892. Officially called "Chs et Ls Huguenin," it was commonly called Fabrique d'Assortiments pour Echappements à Ancres. At this time it was located at 59 and 60 Quartier Neuf in Le Locle. Under their leadership, the company acquired a reputation for quality and became the largest such factory in Le Locle.

Charles & Louis Huguenin's products were widely recognized, winning silver medals in Paris in 1889 and Geneva in 1896 and five other medals and diplomas by this time. The company boasted of interchangeability (though their products were still produced by hand) and produced artistic levers suitable for the fashionable open heart watches of the time. They also produced escapements for chronometers and Glashütte style movements.

The company was later known by the brand name "La Concorde," named for the large factory building they built at Rue de la Concorde 29 in Le Locle.

Louis Huguenin's contributions to the watchmaking industry extended beyond his own company, and he replaced Jules Huguenin on the board of Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies in 1897 following his death. He would press for greater consolidation following the establishment of FSR and was a driving force behind the setting up of watchmaking organizations. As part of FSR he was active in the conclusion of agreements and the constitution of ASUAG, where he was part of the management committee. He pressed for the creation of the Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies, which took over his family firm and others in the 1930s, culminating with a monopoly on production of assortiments in 1945.

In 1917, Louis Huguenin brought his sons Louis (1894-1973) and William into ownership of the business. Louis Junior in particular took to the business, having worked with his father since 1914.

The factory was integrated into FAR in 1933 as "Branch B, Le Locle" though operation remained the same. It was managed by Louis Huguenin, Sr. along with his sons, Louis Huguenin, Jr. and William. Louis Huguenin became especially involved in the industry and took over the firm in 1940 following his father's death. When Nivarox SA was formed in 1937, Louis Huguenin (junior) was named secretary of the board, a position he retained until 1972.

The next generation, also named Charles-Louis Huguenin, continued the family work through the consolidation of all spring factories as Nivarox SA in 1976 and the consolidation of this with FAR and FBR as Nivarox-FAR in 1984.

Huguenin Family

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