====== Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies ======

{{wst>author|[[Foskett, Stephen|Stephen Foskett]] ([[https://grail-watch.com/|Grail Watch]])}}

**Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (SR)** was a [[holding company]] and later [[corporation]] for production of [[spring]]s, especially [[hairspring]]s, for watches. Formed in [[1895]], it was merged with rival [[Nivarox SA]] and sister companies, [[Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies|Fabriques d'Assortiments Réunies (FAR)]] and [[Fabriques de Balanciers Réunies|Fabriques de Balanciers Réunies (FBR)]] to become [[Nivarox-FAR]] in [[1984]].

Fabriques de Spiraux Réunies (SR) was one of the first examples of [[industry consolidation]] when, in [[1895]], it brought together five major producers of [[hairspring]]s into a single company. The initial members were [[Huguenin]] of [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]], [[Baehni]] of [[Bienne]], and [[Guye]], [[Sandoz]], and [[Dufaux]] of [[Geneva]].

The force behind the formation of the SR was Charles-Edouard Guillaume, director of the International Office for Weights and Measures who won the Nobel Prize in [[1920]] for his discovery of self-compensating alloys including [[Elinvar]]. This material was brought to market by SR in the 1920s.

This concentration did not last long. By [[1901]], a rival firm was set up at the [[Montbrillant Watch Manufactory]] to distribute hairsprings from smaller firms, [[Société Suisse des Spiraux]]. Another major rival, [[Fabrique Nationale de Spiraux]] was also set up in La Chaux-de-Fonds, and numerous smaller firms joined the competition. Many of these would later be folded into SR as the industry continued to consolidate, especially after World War II. Guillaume's work was also the impetus for the creation of the [[Société des Spiraux Francais]] in [[1919]].

A major new rival to appear in the 1930s was [[Nivarox SA]]. Begun by [[Straumann, Reinhard|Reinhard Straumann]], inventor of [[Nivarox|the namesake material]], Nivarox SA was set up in [[Saint-Imier]] to commercialize the alloy in [[1934]]. It would grow to be a major competitor for SR through the war years.

In [[1954]], [[Fabrique Nationale de Spiraux|Nationale]] was merged with SR, and [[W. Ruch & Cie.]] were also acquired in [[1956]]. This gave SR access to the **Inox**, **Isoval**, and **Acier Bleus** alloys. Société Suisse ceased operation after [[1955]].

By [[1966]], SR was affiliated with [[Fabrique National de Ressorts]] of [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]], enabling the production of precision springs, wire drawing, lamination, and pre-assembly of complete hairspring assemblies. SR was producing hairsprings using their **Isoval** alloy, which boasted great thermal resistance and was nearly [[anti-magnetic]].

During the [[quartz crisis|ascendance of quartz]], the industry no longer needed as many hairsprings. In [[1984]], long-time rivals [[Nivarox SA]] and SR were merged, creating the modern company [[Nivarox-FAR]]. This was the only producer of balance springs in Switzerland by [[1990]], but even this was not enough demand. To save the company, Nicolas Hayek directed [[Swatch]] to sell a mechanical watch. This would provide just enough sales to keep Nivarox-FAR in business.


{{tag>ASUAG Defunct_watch_and_luxury_trusts}}