Paul Schwarz-Etienne

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Paul-Arthur Schwarz (1870-1940) was a watchmaker known for the La Chaux-de-Fonds firm of Schwarz-Etienne which he founded in 1902 or 1905. He married Olga Etienne, taking on her name to become Schwarz-Etienne, by 1912.

Paul Schwarz was born in 1870 in Lauperswil and was active as a watchmaker in La Chaux-de-Fonds early after the turn of the century. Although many sources claim that he established his firm in 1902, it is specified in a 1918 registration of the business in his alliance name that it was founded in 1905.

On July 1, 1918, Paul-Arthur Schwarz re-registered his business as Schwarz-Etienne, though he had used the name as early as 1912.

It appears that the first child of Paul and Olga Schwarz-Etienne was a daughter, Helyette Schwatz. She was born in Le Noirmont and appears to have remained unmarried until her death in 1955. She lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds most of her life. His son Gaston Schwarz was born in Trubschachen, as were his brothers Herbert Schwarz and Henri Schwarz.

Paul-Arthur Schwarz was a musician as well, playing double bass in "Les Armés-Reunies" in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1898 through 1920. He also served as an administrator for the group and was its chairman. He also instigated a music competition in the city in 1913 and encouraged his sons to join the group as well.

The company was a specialist in the manufacture of movements and supplied the Venus de Milo (or simply Venus), Alpha, Sultana, Le Phare, Levrette, Glorys, and Astin brands. A different company, Venus SA of Moutier, produced chronograph movements under Ebauches SA at this time. It was merged with Valjoux in 1964.

Paul Schwarz initially located his company at Rue du Prix 85 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Schwarz-Etienne was located at Rue du Parc 128 in La Chaux-de-Fonds from 1920 until about 1926 when it moved to Rue Jacob Brandt 61. By 1932 it was moved back to Parc 130. In 1936 the company leased the famous and iconic "Palais Invar", formerly the home to Achille Hirsch's Montres Invar, at Avenue Léopold-Robert 94. This high-profile showroom along the main road in La Chaux-de-Fonds would be home to the company through at least 1988. The building also housed Le Phare (later Sultana and Jean d'Eve) starting in 1961.

After Paul Schwarz-Etienne's death in 1940, the company became known as Les Fils de Paul Schwarz-Etienne. The new focus was on building the Alpha brand, which would cause some legal issues due to confusion with the Alfa or Alpha brand watches sold by G. Kessel of Mexico.

Family Tree

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