Fabrique d'Ebauches de Peseux
Fabrique d'ebauches de Peseux, S.A., commonly known as Peseux for the Neuchâtel locale in which it is located, was an ebauche maker dating to 1923. The company was founded by Charles Bernese and was incorporated into Ebauches S.A. in 1933 as part of the overall industry restructuring at that time. It remained independent within Ebauches, however, producing calibres for many watchmakers. Peseux was consolidated into Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon in 1979 and into the larger ETA conglomerate in 1985, with ebauche production moved to Grenchen.
One of the best-known Peseux calibres was the hand-winding chronometer movement, Peseux 260. It was used by many high-end brands and was quite capable at chronometry competitions. Another well-known product is Calibre 7001, an ultra-thin hand-wound movement introduced in 1971 and still produced today.
Timeline
- 1923, August 8 - Fabrique d'Ebauches de Peseux SA is established in Peseux; share capital is 50,000 francs; Charles Berner is the sole administrator; the company is located at Rue de Neuchâtel 34 in Peseux
- 1949 - Francis Berner and Marc Colomb are given power of attorney
- 1950, June 5 - Charles Berner is promoted from director to managing director; Francis Berner takes his place as director
- 1951 - Following the death of Charles Berner Sydney de Coulon becomes president with Philippe Jequier and Pierre-William DuBois as directors
- 1952 - Marc Colomb's power of attorney is removed
- 1958 - Henri Ménétrey is appointed managing director
- 1959 - Pierre-William DuBois has moved to Neuchâtel and director Francis Berner to Corcelles
- 1964 - Pierre-William DuBois is appointed chairman of the board of directors in place of Sydney de Coulon, who resigned
- 1968 - President Pierre-William DuBois and director Philippe Jéquier resigned; Léo DuPasquier becomes president and André Beiner joins as a director
- 1971 - Henri Ménétrey resigns as director; director Francis Berner becomes administrator as well; André Beiner has moved to Saint-Blaise
- 1975, August 29 - The company is reorganized; Léo DuPasquier resigns; André Biner becomes president of the administrative council, Pierre Albert Stueker, Marcel Huguenin, Louis Marius Rochat, and François Alfred Alain Sandoz are appointed administrators; Stucker and Sandoz are given power of attorney
- 1976 - Robert-Maurice Maire is appointed proxy
- 1979, April 6 - Fabrique d'Ebauches de Peseux, along with Fabrique d'Ebauches de Fleurier, Valjoux, Ebauches Tavannes, and Fabrique d'Ebauches Unitas are merged into Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon