Nicolet
Nicolet was a Swiss watch brand founded in Tramelan in 1914 century and continuing in production there in various forms until the present day. Today's Armand Nicolet is not derived from the traditional Nicolet brand but instead is an homage to a 19th century watchmaker.
Armand Nicolet
Today's Armand Nicolet brand suggests that the watchmaker Armand Nicolet founded his workshop in Tramelan in 1875, but there is no evidence for this claim.
The most likely ancestor is Alcide. Nicolet, who produced cylinder escapements from 1886 through 1893. Achille (or Alcide.) Nicolet produced watches in Tramelan-Dessus 1894 until 1916. This included complete watches as well as remonteurs in 1894.
Charles Nicolet
Charles Nicolet was a watch maker in Tramelan-Dessus between 1914 and 1928. It produced Swiss lever and cylinder escapement movements as well as watches, including bracelet watches. Many of Nicolet's movements were exported to the United States.
Charles Nicolet was a specialist in petite watches by 1918. His workshop was located in Tramelan-Dessus and produced 8 and 13 ligne movements, including bracelet watches.
Nicolet Watch
Nicolet Watch SA was incorporated around 1937 as a successor to the Charles Nicolet watchmaking business. The company focused on precision watches, including chronographs by 1938. By 1940, Nicolet was exporting movements to America, including 13, 14.5, and 15.5 ligne chronograph movements with 1 or 2 pushers.
Nicolet Watch SA celebrated their 50th anniversary in 1964, confirming the 1914 date.
Nicolet used the Nicolet trademark, along with Transmarine, Fidéa, Silex, Team, Steady, Crocus, Saturne, Roinek, and Nike in 1960. The Achille Nicolet SA corporation used the Mon Réve brand. By 1966, Nicolet Watch SA focused on the Nicolet Watch brand along with Transmarine, Saturne, "N", and Aster. These brands would continue through at least 1972.
Cominter SA
- See Also: Cominter
By 1970, most of the Tramelan factories had been merged into a single holding company, Cominter SA. This included Nicolet Watch SA along with Betina, Loyal, P.V. Mathez, and Nitella of Tramelan as well as Droz & Cie of Tavannes and Heba Watch of Alle. The group boasted 700 models at their Basel Fair stand that year. The individual companies continued to operate independently through most of the 1970s, with Nicolet Watch SA in operation through 1977.
Cominter continued in operation at least through 1982.
See Also
The Nicolet family had many watchmaking operations in Tramelan and beyond. The following are unrelated to the Nicolet brand:
- Marc Nicolet, La Chaux-de-Fonds, also used the Rondine brand
- Achille Nicolet, Tramelan, used the Mon Réve brand, absorbed into United Orbit by 1961
- Fernand Nicolet, Tramelan, maker of the ADO brand
- Gagnebin & Nicolet, Tramelan-Dessus, maker of the Niga brand
- Etienne & Nicolet, Villeret