Renan: Difference between revisions
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'''Renan''' is a small | {| class=wikitable width=320px align=right | ||
!Renan | |||
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|[[File:1930 ETH-BIB-Villeret, St. Imier v. O. aus 1600 m-Inlandflüge-LBS MH01-006045 small.jpg|center|300px]] | |||
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|align=center|[[Jura triangle]] / [[Canton Berne]]<br>[[Bernese Jura]] / [[Vallon de Saint-Imier]] | |||
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|align=center|[[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] - '''Renan''' - [[Sonvilier]] | |||
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'''Renan''' is a small town in the [[Bernese Jura]] at 900 m above sea level, belonging to [[Canton Bern]] in the western end of the [[Vallon de Saint-Imier|Saint-Imier valley]]. | |||
Renan is not as well-known as many other [[Jura Triangle]] towns, but its close proximity to [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] made it a useful location for suppliers. Watchmakers were present there from the 1840s, but their products were not high quality. Eugène Tissot was one early watchmaker there, sending bulk watches to France and America at low prices. | Renan is not as well-known as many other [[Jura Triangle]] towns, but its close proximity to [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] made it a useful location for suppliers. Watchmakers were present there from the 1840s, but their products were not high quality. Eugène Tissot was one early watchmaker there, sending bulk watches to France and America at low prices. | ||
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[[Category:Watch_towns]] | [[Category:Watch_towns]] | ||
[[Category:Renan]] | [[Category:Renan]] | ||
[[Category:Vallon de Saint-Imier]] | |||
[[Category:Jura_triangle]] | [[Category:Jura_triangle]] | ||
Revision as of 13:18, 20 February 2024
| Renan |
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| Jura triangle / Canton Berne Bernese Jura / Vallon de Saint-Imier |
| La Chaux-de-Fonds - Renan - Sonvilier |
Renan is a small town in the Bernese Jura at 900 m above sea level, belonging to Canton Bern in the western end of the Saint-Imier valley.
Renan is not as well-known as many other Jura Triangle towns, but its close proximity to La Chaux-de-Fonds made it a useful location for suppliers. Watchmakers were present there from the 1840s, but their products were not high quality. Eugène Tissot was one early watchmaker there, sending bulk watches to France and America at low prices.
Wuilleumier Frères was perhaps the most important watchmaker to arise in Renan. Started in 1859, Wuilleumier specialized in timers and measuring devices. The company relocated to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1932 and found modest success with pedometers and golf timers in the 1920s and changed its name to Pedos in 1929. The company gained infamy as a target for Fidhor in 1934 and was convicted for violating export and price controls. Pedos gave way to Derby in 1939 and left Renan, though it later found success as a specialist in electric and electronic movements as part of ETA. An unrelated case-making firm called Wuilleumier Frères existed in Tramelan-Dessus.
Another successful Renan company was S. Gräber, which grew in the post-war period to be a major producer of watch cases. Joining holding company Gramex with Fleurier-based Métalex, Gramex moved to La Chaux-de-Fonds in the 1970s.
Framont and Myret were also based in Renan in the 1970s and 1980s, respectively.