Magnenat-LeCoultre

The firm of Magnenat-LeCoultre traces its origins to 1887, when Henri-Gabriel Magnenat-LeCoultre founded a watchmaking workshop in Le Sentier. The son of François Magnenat, Henri Gabriel came from Vaulion but lived in the area called Derrière-la-Côte near Le Sentier.

H. Magnenat-LeCoultre specialized in complicated watches, notably repeaters.

In 1901, H. Magnenat-LeCoultre registered the brand name "Le Risound" with a logo featuring two pine trees to represent the Vallée de Joux.

The firm was reorganized as a limited partnership called H. Magnenat-LeCoultre et Cie on October 1, 1902. The new company was headed by Henri Magnenat-LeCoultre as unlimited partner, along with eight investors: Two sons of Eugène Piguet John and Charles-Henri Piguet, Louis Droz, son of Charles-Frederic, Henri Moret, son of Jules, Eugène-Samuel Aubert, son of Eugène, Paul-Olivier Magnenat, son of Francois, Paul-Alfred Guignard, son of Alfred, Louis-Samuel Meylan, son of Charles, each of whom bought in for 1,000 francs.

The limited partnership H. Magnenat-LeCoultre et Cie was replaced by a simple company called H. Magnenat-LeCoultre in January 1908. Henri-Gabriel Magnenat remained in charge.

On January 1, 1910, H. Magnenat-LeCoultre was taken over by Jeanneret-Brehm & Cie of Saint-Imier. Later known as Excelsior Park, the firm wanted to expand production outside Saint-Imier to meet demand. Henri Magnenat-LeCoultre joined management of the firm and became a limited partner at 7,000 francs, though the Jeanneret family was firmly in charge. The Le Sentier operation was henceforth known as Jeanueret-Brehm & Cie, Fabrique Le Risoud.