====== La Chaux-de-Fonds ======
La Chaux-de-Fonds is one of the most important watch towns in the Canton of [[Neuchâtel]] in the [[Swiss]] [[Jura]]. It is the seat of famous companies such as [[Breitling]], [[Ebel]], [[Corum]], [[Dubey & Schaldenbrand]], [[Eberhard|Eberhard & Co]], [[Girard-Perregaux]], [[Daniel JeanRichard]], [[Omega]], [[Parmigiani]], and [[Tissot]]. During the early part of the 20th century, as much as half the world's watches were produced in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is located a few kilometers East of the related Swiss watch town of [[Le Locle]] and is often considered the Western apex of the [[Jura triangle]].

There is also one of the major watchmaking schools in Switzerland, the [[Ecole d'horlogerie]].

===== History =====
Watchmaking was well-established in La Chaux-de-Fonds in the 19th century, and the city dramatically expanded home production of watches and components in the second half of the century. By [[1900]], La Chaux-de-Fonds featured hundreds of watchmaking suppliers and dozens of producers of finished watches. But the city was at the crossroads of mechanization versus [[etablisseur|home workshops]]. Some, including [[Couleru-Meuri|Charles Couleru-Meuri]], were outspoken critics of mass production and instead advocated electrification as a means to continue home watchmaking work. But larger factories were already being constructed in the city, notably along the road to [[Le Locle]] to the West.

By the turn of the century, some of the first larger factories in La Chaux-de-Fonds were those of [[Courvoisier Frères]], [[Charles Léon Schmidt]], [[Wille|Wille & Co.]], and [[Maurice Blum]]. The largest new construction would be [[Election]], which built a large complex at the end of Rue de la Paix in the Eplatures district. This factory, finished in [[1905]], would employ over 250 workers and would dominate watchmaking in the city for two decades. [[Girard-Perregaux]] also built a new factory in the city for 100 workers, as did [[Electa]].

The next large expansion of production occurred in the 1920s, with companies like [[Universo]] building more factories west of the city. The [[Montbrillant Watch Manufactory]], home of [[Breitling]], was one of the first to be constructed in the hills above town in [[1884]] but it was soon joined by others as the city expanded.

Consolidation of the watch industry in the post-war period saw La Chaux-de-Fonds become one of the focal points for the industry. Many [[group]]s were centered there, along with [[Geneva]] and [[Bienne]]. But the crash of the 1970s hit the city hard and many companies closed and jobs were lost.

In the 1990s to today, La Chaux-de-Fonds has once again emerged as a home of watchmaking. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city is home to such notables as [[Greubel Forsey]], [[Corum]], and [[TAG Heuer]]. It also remains important for watch components, with [[Universo]], [[Sellita]], and [[La Joux-Perret]] located there.

===== Watch Companies =====
==== Watch Company Headquarters ====
  * [[Auréole]] ([[Auréole]], [[Remo]], [[Shell]])
  * [[Ball Watch Company]]
  * [[Benedict]]
  * [[Brailowsky]]
  * [[British Masters]] (former [[Graham]] and [[Arnold & Son]])
  * [[Buser]]
  * [[Busga]]
  * [[Cordébert]]
  * [[Corum]]
  * [[Cyma]]
  * [[Dubois]]
  * [[Ebel]] (founded)
  * [[Eberhard]]
  * [[Eigeldinger]]
  * [[Ernest Borel]]
  * [[Gallet]]
  * [[Greubel Forsey]]
  * [[Girard-Perregaux]] (founded)
  * [[Arthur Imhof]]
  * [[Invicta]]
  * [[Jean d'Eve]]
  * [[JeanRichard]]
  * [[Juvenia]]
  * [[Marvin]]
  * [[Mildia]]
  * [[Movado]] (founded)
  * [[National]]
  * [[Omega]] (founded, moved to Bienne-[[Biel]])
  * [[Ogival]]
  * [[Le Phare]]
  * [[Schild]]
  * [[Schwarz-Etienne]]
  * [[Sultana]]
  * [[TAG Heuer]] (moved from [[Marin]])

==== Watch Company Factories ====
  * [[Patek Philippe]]
  * [[Ulysse Nardin]]
  * [[Jaquet Droz]]
  * [[Breitling]]
  * [[Tissot]]
  * [[Movado]] (moved to Bienne-[[Biel]])
  * [[Roskopf]]

===== Component Companies =====
  * [[Montremo]] (dials)
  * [[Cronal]] (engraving)
  * [[Oréade]] (cases)
  * [[Universo]] (hands)
  * [[Sellita]] (movements)
  * [[G&F Châtelain]] (Owned by [[Chanel]] and also produces for [[Bell & Ross]])
  * [[La Joux-Perret]]

==== Museums ====
  *[[Musée d'Horlogerie, Le Locle|Musée d'Horlogerie]]
  *[[Tour Espacité]]
  *[[Musée des Beaux Arts]]


{{tag>Watch_towns La_Chaux-de-Fonds Jura_triangle Canton_of_Neuchâtel}}