Le Locle

Le Locle is one of the most important "watch cities" of Switzerland.

Located just West of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Canton of Neuchâtel, Le Locle was the site of important developments in both the business and technology of watchmaking.

Starting in 1705, Daniel JeanRichard established a watchmaking industry in Le Locle. He began the etablissage tradition, where small workshops specialized in various watch components with a central manufacture bringing them together under their own branding. This practice continued for centuries, with major manufacturers gradually emerging, including Tissot, Zenith, Ulysse Nardin, and many others. Today, these companies remain in the town, along with watch manufacturing for many other famous names, including Montblanc, Rolex and Swatch Group.

Also located in Le Locle is a clock museum called "Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle," which is located at the Château des Monts.

Watch People

• Paul Castella
• Frédéric DuBois
• Philippe DuBois
• Georges Ducommun
• Georges Favre-Jacot (1843-1917)
• Henri Grandjean
• Jacques-Frédéric Houriet
• Daniel JeanRichard (1664-1741)
• Jules Jürgensen
• Abraham-Louis Perrelet (1729-1826)
• Olivier Quartier

Watch Companies

Watch Company Headquarters

• Charles Aerni
• Angélus (founded; re-launched in 2015 in La Chaux-de-Fonds)
• Astin
• Christophe Claret (active since 1986)
• Cyma (moved from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Doxa facility in 1978)
• Paul Buhré (established in 1880, purchased by Dixi, defunct since 1980s)
• Doxa (established in 1889, re-launched in Bienne in 1997)
• Luxor
• Montblanc (factory/maison since 2000s)
• H. Moser & Cie. (factory established in 1829, currently located in Schaffhausen)
• Prexa
• Tissot (founded in 1853)
• Ulysse Nardin (founded in 1846)
• Universal (founded in 1894, moved to Geneva in 1930s)
• Vulcain (founded in La Chaux-de-Fonds, re-launched in Le Locle in 2001)
• Zenith (founded in 1865)

Watch Company Factories

• Rolex

Component Companies

• Nivarox-FAR (hairsprings)
• Audemars Piguet Renaud et Papi (complicated movements, established in 1992)
• Bergeon (tools)