Georges Ducommun

Georges Ducommun (1866-1936) was a watchmaker and businessman from Le Locle, Switzerland. He founded the Doxa factory there and became involved in many other local businesses, including Zenith, Le Phare, and H. Moser & Cie.

Georges-Arthur Ducommun-dit-Verron was born in 1866 in Le Locle. He did a practical apprenticeship in watchmaking there, becoming adept at all aspects of watch assembly.

Desiring to rise further in the business, the 23 year old Ducommun began assembling watches on his own in 1889. He set up a small operation in a small house at Girardet 68, below the Crêt-Vaillant in Le Locle. Georges Ducommun married Lucie Droz-dit-Busset in June 1896.

In 1896, after his marriage, the Ducommun family and workshop moved to a larger house at Rue des Billodes 28, close to the rapidly-expanding factory of Georges Favre-Jacot which would soon become world-famous as Zenith. In 1900, he built the first part of the Doxa Factory, which was expanded greatly in 1919. He was known as a tireless worker, full of initiative, and encouraged his workers to exhibit the same qualities. He was involved and supportive in the lives of his staff, who considered him fair, easy-going, and understanding.

The Nardin family had two children, a son, who died in 1920 while on a business trip to New York, and a daughter, Hélène-Lucie, who married Jacques Nardin. Following his son's death, Hélène became heir to the Doxa factory, with Jacques Nardin joining management later that year.

Georges Ducommun was very well-known in business circles, admired for his practical business sense. In 1905, he served as a member of the jury at the Liège Exhibition, where Doxa also exhibited its watches. At the Decorative Arts Exhibition in Paris in 1925, he was appointed vice-president of the International Group and president of the Swiss Watchmaking Group.

Georges Ducommun dies on August 25 in Le Locle at the age of 68. He had suffered for a few days and left a widow, who took over his business. She was bought out when Jacques Nardin incorporated the business the following year, with a payment of 300,000 francs. When Jacques died unexpectedly in 1950, Hélène Nardin became chairwoman of the company. She managed it until her death in 1955.