La Concorde

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La Concorde was the name used in the early 20th century for the Le Locle-based assortiment factory established in 1850 by the Huguenin brothers that became the foundation for Nivarox-FAR.

Quartier-Neuf ou du Progrès and Rue de la Concorde

In the 1850s, Le Locle sought to add affordable worker housing to the east along the road towards La Chaux-de-Fonds. This new area was called "Quartier-Neuf" ("the new district") or simply "Progrès", after the central road built there. The densely-packed housing was pleasant and affordable and attracted industry to this side of town. The streets in this quarter reflect this optimistic viewpoint, including Rue du Progrès, Rue de l'Industrie, Rue de la Concorde, Rue de l'Union, and Rue de la Paix.

Along the southern axis of the Progrès district is Rue de la Concorde, which connects the district with the center of town. It was here that Charles and Lewis Huguenin hired architect Albert Theile to construct their new factory for the production of assortiments. La Concorde 29 was a landmark in this section of town, and was completed in 1897. It includes both offices and workshops, with limestone masonry, and cement for the former and cast iron posts for the latter. The office was raised in 1899 to add more workshop space, and a 2-story wing was added to the west in 1904. The factory was updated in 1919 with the installation of a hipped roof, and it was further modernized in following decades.

The factory became known as "La Concorde" like the street and remains a landmark in eastern Le Locle to this day, occupied by Metalem. In 1902, Charles-Adolphe Huguenin hired Albert Theile to construct a villa just up the hill from the factory at Chemin de la Combe-Sandoz 4, and this remains much as it was.

Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux

In 1850, the brothers Williams and Charles-Louis Huguenin-Virchaux came from La Brévine to settle in Le Locle to produce assortiments for watches at Quartier du Progrès 59. Their earliest products included the anchor and escape wheel needed to produce watches.

After his death, Charles-Louis Huguenin's widow Sophie took over managing the firm in 1885 until her sons were old enough. Williams left the firm around this time, forming his own company called W. Huguenin and soon expanding with a second workshop in nearby La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Charles & Louis Huguenin and La Concorde

Charles-Louis Huguenin (1869-1940) and his brother Charles-Adolphe Huguenin-Perrenoud took over the family business in 1892. Officially called "Chs et Ls Huguenin," it was commonly called Fabrique d'Assortiments pour Echappements à Ancres. At this time it was located at 59 and 60 Quartier Neuf in Le Locle. Under their leadership, the company acquired a reputation for quality and became the largest such factory in Le Locle.

Charles & Louis Huguenin's products were widely recognized, winning silver medals in Paris in 1889 and Geneva in 1896 and five other medals and diplomas by this time. The company boasted of interchangeability (though their products were still produced by hand) and produced artistic levers suitable for the fashionable open heart watches of the time. They also produced escapements for chronometers and Glashütte style movements.

The company was later known by the brand name "La Concorde," named for the large factory building they built at Rue de la Concorde 29 in Le Locle.

Louis Huguenin's contributions to the watchmaking industry extended beyond his own company, and he replaced Jules Huguenin on the board of Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies in 1897 following his death. He would press for greater consolidation following the establishment of FSR and was a driving force behind the setting up of watchmaking organizations. As part of FSR he was active in the conclusion of agreements and the constitution of ASUAG, where he was part of the management committee. He pressed for the creation of the Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies, which took over his family firm and others in the 1930s, culminating with a monopoly on production of assortiments in 1945.

In 1917, Louis Huguenin brought his sons Louis (1894-1973) and William into ownership of the business. Louis Junior in particular took to the business, having worked with his father since 1914.

The factory was integrated into FAR in 1933 as "Branch B, Le Locle" though operation remained the same. It was managed by Louis Huguenin, Sr. along with his sons, Louis Huguenin, Jr. and William. Louis Huguenin became especially involved in the industry and took over the firm in 1940 following his father's death. When Nivarox SA was formed in 1937, Louis Huguenin (junior) was named secretary of the board, a position he retained until 1972.

The next generation, also named Charles-Louis Huguenin, continued the family work through the consolidation of all spring factories as Nivarox SA in 1976 and the consolidation of this with FAR and FBR as Nivarox-FAR in 1984.

Huguenin Family

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