Jules Favre

See Also: Favre Frères

Favre Frères in Neuveville and Cormoret

The Favre brothers established twin operations in Neuveville and Cormoret and operated these (along with many other workshops) as a joint factory.

As of 1883 both companies had the exact same ownership and structure and were explicitly related. The company was owned by the following:

• Jules-Constant Favre from Cormoret of Neuveville
• Louis-Constant Favre of Cormoret
• Alfred-Quintal Favre of Cormoret
• Eugène-Constant Favre of Cormoret
• Henri Favre from Cormoret of Cormoret
• Ulysse Huguelet-Favre from Vauffelin of Cormoret
• Charles Albert Favre from Cormoret of Neuveville

The company was incorporated jointly in Neuveville and Cormoret based on the business of Charles Albert Favre. All others were unlisted partners, with a total contribution of 13,000 francs. The company was engaged in manufacture of the watch by mechanical processes. Jules Constant Favre alone had power of attorney in Neuveville and Ulysse Huguelet-Favre had power of attorney in Cormoret.

An 1879 account of the factory was published in Journal Suisse d'Horlogerie: "In Neuveville, we find the hydraulic factory of Favre frères, providing the complete watch, and employing, for the various parts of the manufacture, several advanced machines; a movement-in-white factory; various case assembler workshops, as well as other detached parts. In addition, the surroundings of these various localities provide, as is the case throughout the Jura, with a fairly considerable number of workers working at hand for finishing, escapement, reassembly, etc., which thus complete the entire Biennese factory."

An 1890 article states: "We will finish our review of exhibitors from the canton of Bern with the Favre frères watchmaking factory (bronze medal), in Neuveville and Cormoret. The products exhibited by this house represented ordinary daily manufacture, not parts made especially for the circumstance; their real interchangeability is ensured, both for the 18-line cylinder part, with winder and key, where no part is numbered, and for the lever escapement. The time setting is done by the crown, without a stroller, and there is also point to point out a system of crimping the escapement with anchor, with bezel and perfectly interchangeable counter-pivots, without screws; a few spare parts, a metal dowel of any shape and a piece of hard wood, are enough to replace a broken stone."

The joint company was dissolved as of January 1, 1891. Jules-Constant Favre took over the operation in Neuveville under the name Jules Favre, successeur de Favre Frères, taking over all of the assets and liabilities of the operation in that town.

The Favre Frères operation in Cormoret was dissolved on April 1, 1892. Louis-Constant Favre and Eugène-Constant Favre took over the assets and liabilities of the company in that town, with Louis-Constant Favre primarily in charge. William Favre of Cormoret was given power of attorney and was likely the son of Louis or Eugène, managing operations there.

Alfred-Quintal Favre also continued the trade in watchmaking in Cormoret under his own name. He handed ownership of his firm to Marc Favre of Cormoret, likely his son, and the firm was renamed.