Jämes Favre: Difference between revisions
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Jämes Favre president of [[Zénith]] after the death of its founder (his uncle and father-in-law) [[Georges Favre-Jacot]]. Favre also owned [[Le Phare]] at this time but fell on difficulties and was forced out of all of these businesses in [[1926]]. He was born in [[1869]] and died in [[1934]]. | Jämes Favre president of [[Zénith]] after the death of its founder (his uncle and father-in-law) [[Georges Favre-Jacot]]. Favre also owned [[Le Phare]] at this time but fell on difficulties and was forced out of all of these businesses in [[1926]]. He was born in [[1869]] and died in [[1934]]. | ||
Jämes Favre was born in [[1869]] in [[Saint-Imier]] but [[Ponts-de-Martel]] is cited as his home town in legal filings. He | Jämes Favre was born in [[1869]] in [[Saint-Imier]] but [[Ponts-de-Martel]] is cited as his home town in legal filings. He attended the Polytechnic in [[Zürich]] by [[1889]], graduating with a diploma in mechanical engineering in [[1891]]. | ||
He worked for his father's watchmaking firm there before moving to [[Le Locle]] in [[1896]] to work at the factory of his uncle, [[Georges Favre-Jacot]]. Jämes soon married his daughter and was named second manager of the limited partnership, now commonly called [[Zénith]], in [[1905]]. He joined Montres de Précision Zenith SA in [[1910]]. | |||
The company "Fabriques des Montres Zenith Georges Favre-Jacot et Co." declared bankruptcy on November 2, [[1911]]. The same day, Jämes Favre founded a new company, "Fabriques des Montres Zénith", to purchase the assets of his father in law's company. Capitalized at 1.5 million francs, it would purchase the brands, tooling, and factory of the predecessor. On March 30, [[1914]] he formed a second company, "Fabriques Le Phare", for 600,000 francs to purchase the assets of [[Charles Barbezat-Baillot]]'s company, [[Le Phare]], which was located next to the Zénith factory in [[Le Locle]]. Georges Favre-Jacot soon retired, leaving the management of Zénith in the hands of Jämes and his partners. | |||
Jämes Favre was credited as "the great craftsman of the Zénith brand" in his obituary, and directed the company to create complete mass-produced watches. He also focused solely on the Zénith brand, retiring the firm's other makes, "Georges Favre-Jacot", "Billodes", and "Diogène" and more. | Jämes Favre was credited as "the great craftsman of the Zénith brand" in his obituary, and directed the company to create complete mass-produced watches. He also focused solely on the Zénith brand, retiring the firm's other makes, "Georges Favre-Jacot", "Billodes", and "Diogène" and more. | ||
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Jämes Favre was also one of the founders of the watchmaking association of the district of Le Locle and a member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Chamber of Horology from [[1917]] to [[1919]] and assisted in the reorganization of this organization as well. | Jämes Favre was also one of the founders of the watchmaking association of the district of Le Locle and a member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Chamber of Horology from [[1917]] to [[1919]] and assisted in the reorganization of this organization as well. | ||
He managed Zénith through World War I, adapting the factory to produce ammunition, and weathered the post-war economic crisis but was unable to retain his grip on the | He managed Zénith through World War I, adapting the factory to produce ammunition, and weathered the post-war economic crisis but was unable to retain his grip on the companies. He sold [[Le Phare]] on March 11, [[1924]]. In the spring of 1925 he was forced out of all of the Zénith entities and indeed the entire watchmaking industry. He left the Swiss Chamber in [[1926]]. | ||
Jämes Favre died in April [[1934]] at the age of 64. | Jämes Favre died in April [[1934]] at the age of 64 and was buried in [[Geneva]]. | ||
Revision as of 00:01, 17 January 2023
Jämes Favre president of Zénith after the death of its founder (his uncle and father-in-law) Georges Favre-Jacot. Favre also owned Le Phare at this time but fell on difficulties and was forced out of all of these businesses in 1926. He was born in 1869 and died in 1934.
Jämes Favre was born in 1869 in Saint-Imier but Ponts-de-Martel is cited as his home town in legal filings. He attended the Polytechnic in Zürich by 1889, graduating with a diploma in mechanical engineering in 1891.
He worked for his father's watchmaking firm there before moving to Le Locle in 1896 to work at the factory of his uncle, Georges Favre-Jacot. Jämes soon married his daughter and was named second manager of the limited partnership, now commonly called Zénith, in 1905. He joined Montres de Précision Zenith SA in 1910.
The company "Fabriques des Montres Zenith Georges Favre-Jacot et Co." declared bankruptcy on November 2, 1911. The same day, Jämes Favre founded a new company, "Fabriques des Montres Zénith", to purchase the assets of his father in law's company. Capitalized at 1.5 million francs, it would purchase the brands, tooling, and factory of the predecessor. On March 30, 1914 he formed a second company, "Fabriques Le Phare", for 600,000 francs to purchase the assets of Charles Barbezat-Baillot's company, Le Phare, which was located next to the Zénith factory in Le Locle. Georges Favre-Jacot soon retired, leaving the management of Zénith in the hands of Jämes and his partners.
Jämes Favre was credited as "the great craftsman of the Zénith brand" in his obituary, and directed the company to create complete mass-produced watches. He also focused solely on the Zénith brand, retiring the firm's other makes, "Georges Favre-Jacot", "Billodes", and "Diogène" and more.
Jämes Favre was also one of the founders of the watchmaking association of the district of Le Locle and a member of the Central Committee of the Swiss Chamber of Horology from 1917 to 1919 and assisted in the reorganization of this organization as well.
He managed Zénith through World War I, adapting the factory to produce ammunition, and weathered the post-war economic crisis but was unable to retain his grip on the companies. He sold Le Phare on March 11, 1924. In the spring of 1925 he was forced out of all of the Zénith entities and indeed the entire watchmaking industry. He left the Swiss Chamber in 1926.
Jämes Favre died in April 1934 at the age of 64 and was buried in Geneva.