Huguenin-Girard

Huguenin-Girard was a maker of balance springs in the 19th century. It was one of the five companies that combined in 1895 to form a cartel to corner the production of these springs, Société des Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (FSR).

History

The firm was founded by Jules Henri Huguenin, who died by 1889 leaving the company to his widow, Laure Huguenin (née Montandon). She soon brought his son, also named Jules Huguenin, into management and he ran the company from that point forward.

In 1895, the firm of Huguenin-Girard became one of the founding members of Société des Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (FSR), with Jules Huguenin becoming a director of the cartel. After this the firm moved away from the manufacture of balance springs to focus on pendants, rings, and crowns for watches.

Jules Huguenin (junior) died by 1897 with Louis Huguenin taking ownership.

Timeline

• 1883 - The firm of J. Huguenin-Girard is noted in a survey of existing businesses; the company was run by Jules Henri Huguenin of Le Locle who lived in La Chaux-de-Fonds, with Charles Perrin and Auguste Ali Bourquin, both of Savagnier, as managers; the company was a maker of balance springs, pendants, rings, and crowns and was located at Rue St-Pierre 20 in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1889 - January 21 - After the death of Jules Henri Huguenin the firm is reorganized as Veuve de J. Huguenin-Girard under the ownership of his widow Laure Huguenin (née Montandon); Charles Perrin remains in management and the address remains at Rue St-Pierre 20 in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1897 - October 2 - The authority of Jules Huguenin is revoked following his death and conferred on Louis Huguenin of Le Locle
• 1898 - May 5 - The firm is reorganized as L. Huguenin, successor of Vve. de J. Huguenin, with Louis Huguenin as owner; the firm now focuses on manufacture of pendants, rings and crowns at Rue St-Pierre 20 in La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1911 - January 6 - The company is reorganized as Huguenin & Cie, former house of J. Huguenin-Girard; it is managed by Louis Huguenin and Louis-Henri Calame of Le Locle and is located at Rue du Parc 8, La Chaux-de-Fonds
• 1925 - August 24 - The firm is reorganized as a Société Anonyme called Huguenin & Cie, maker of pendants, rings and crowns