Adolf Michel

Adolf Michel (1866-1928) was a watch movement manufacturer in Grenchen and founding member of Ebauches SA. He founded the firm of A. Michel in 1898 with Jean Schwarzentrub. Note that his name is consistently spelled "Adolf" in German and "Adolphe" in French, both at the time and today.

Adolf Michel was born in 1866 in Bönigen but lived in Grenchen for most of his life. After an apprenticeship in Couvet he worked in La Chaux-de-Fonds and Saint-Imier before establishing his own business. Michel moved to Grenchen by 1891 to work for the firm of Aumann & Cie, manufacturer of pendants, with Jean Aumann and Alfred Hofer.

It is generally accepted that it was in 1898 that Michel and Jean Schwarzentrub established a manufacture of metal goods, including pendants and bows for watches. The pair is recorded as establishing a manufacture of ebauches in Lengnau on September 1, 1901 called Ad. Michel & Cie, Ebauches-Fabrik. On June 26, 1903, the company was moved to Grenchen.

A. Michel AG was established in 1918 as a Société Anonyme. The board consisted of Adolf Michel, and his son, also named Adolf Michel. Michel (the elder) remained with the firm through his death.

Adolf Michel died in Grenchen on February 21, 1928, at 62 years of age.