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+====== Ebauches SA ======
+**Ebauches SA** (often called **ESA**) was a holding company for Swiss watch movement manufacturers from [[1926]], becoming the main movement unit of [[ASUAG]] in [[1931]] until it was merged to become the modern [[ETA]] between [[1979]] and [[1985]].
+===== History =====
+The components of Ebauches SA date from as early as [[1793]], when the factory that would become [[FHF]] is founded in [[Fontainemelon]]. [[ETA]], the eventual successor to Ebauches SA, traces its history to the [[1856]] founding of [[Dr. Girard and Schild Ebauches]] in [[Grenchen]]. Another important component, [[A. Schild]], was established in [[1896]] in [[Grenchen]].
+Ebauches SA was created on [[27 December]] [[1926]] as a holding company with headquarters in [[Neuchâtel]]. Initial members were [[A. Schild AG|A. Schild AG (AS or ASSA)]] and [[Adolphe Michel|Adolphe Michel SA (AMSA)]] of [[Grenchen]] and [[FHF|Fabrique d' Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF)]] of [[Fontainemelon]]. The purpose of this merger was to bring order to the chaotic watch movement manufacturing industry. There were so many movement manufacturers that prices were falling and companies were failing. Many would sell components and ebauches abroad, where they were often used in "junk watches" with the "Swiss made" name.
+Ebauches SA quickly expanded, adding [[Hora|Hora SA]] of [[Cortébert]], [[Sonceboz]], [[Charles Hahn & Cie]], and [[Landeron]], among other smaller makers in [[1927]]. The next year, Ebauches SA added 10 more companies, including [[Felsa|Felsa SA]], [[Venus|Venus SA]], [[Bovet]], and [[Optima]]. [[1929]] saw 8 more, including [[Postala]] and [[Urania]]. Also added were [[Guerrin-Bourquin & Cie]] and [[Unitas|Unitas SA]], the movement maker of [[A. Reymond]].
+But even this concentration was not enough, and the value of Swiss watch movements continued to fall as other makers flooded the market. In [[1931]], Ebauches SA became a founding member of [[ASUAG]] and would become the focus for movement makers within that group. Ebauches SA brought order to the market by buying as many as 75 movement manufacturers by 1951.(([[http://www.worldtempus.com/wt/1/11615/4615|150 Jahre ETA Grenchen - Warum die Uhrenfabrik ihren Geburtstag nicht feiert]], 24 Nov. 2006, dortige Quelle: Oltner Tagblatt/ German Vogt / www.oltnertagblatt.ch. Internet Stand 7.2.2008 ))
+Many important movement makers would join Ebauches SA over the following decades. [[Fabrique d'Ebauches de Fleurier]] was added in [[1932]], [[Peseux]] in [[1933]], [[Derby]] in [[1941]], and [[Valjoux]] in [[1944]]. Most of the purchased manufactures were closed down or merged with others into stronger companies such as [[ETA]], [[A. Schild|AS]], [[FHF]], [[Unitas]], [[Peseux]], and [[Valjoux]]. The main goal was maintaining long-term economic independence for member companies, reducing competition, coordinating product development, and promoting specialization.
+Ebauches SA met its end in the 1980's, with most of the component companies brought into the [[Swatch Group]] under [[ETA]]. This process began in [[1979]], as [[A. Schild]] is merged into [[ETA]], still technically under Ebauches SA but increasingly strong. This new ETA focuses production and becomes the focal point for Swiss watch movement manufacturing. In [[1982]], more manufacturers are brought into ETA, including [[FHF]]. As [[ASUAG]] is merged with [[SSIH]] in [[1983]], Ebauches SA is no longer relevant. It is dissolved as part of the creation of [[SMH]] (now [[Swatch Group]]), in [[1985]].
+===== Company Timeline =====
+Ebauches SA allowed most companies to remain independent but promoted and enforced specialization to reduce competition and sustain higher pricing. [[Ebauches Bettlach]] focused on lower-end movements, [[FHF]] was the volume maker, [[Valjoux]], [[Venus]], and [[Landeron]] produced [[chronograph]]s, and [[Felsa]], [[ETA]], and [[A. Schild]] were allowed to dominate [[automatic]] movements once that technology was ready.
+  * [[1926]]
+    * [[A. Schild]], [[Grenchen]]
+    * [[FHF|Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF)]], [[Fontainemelon]]
+    * [[Adolphe Michel|Adolphe Michel SA (AMSA)]], [[Grenchen]]
+  * [[1927]]
+      * [[Landeron|Fontainemelon et succursale du Landeron (Formerly Charles Hahn & Cie/Landeron)]], [[Le Landeron]] (subsidiary of [[FHF]])
+    * [[Fabriques d'Ebauches Bernoises]]
+      * [[Sonceboz|Fabrique d'Horlogerie de Sonceboz]], [[Sonceboz-Sombeval]]
+      * [[Aurore|Aurore-Villeret]], [[Villeret]]
+      * [[Guerrin-Bourquin & Cie]], [[Villeret]]
+    * [[Hora|Hora SA]], [[Cortébert]] and [[Porrentruy]]
+  * [[1928]]
+    * [[Felsa]], [[Grenchen]]
+      * [[Felsa|Felsa Succursale d'Oberdorf]] ([[Bâle-Campagne]])
+    * [[Venus]], [[Moutier]]
+    * [[Bovet]], [[Biel]]
+    * [[Optima]], [[Grenchen]]/[[Biel]]/[[Genf]]
+  * [[1929]]
+    * [[Postala]]/[[Chatelain]], [[Tramelan]]
+    * [[Urania]], [[Biel]]
+  * [[1931]]
+    * [[ETA]], [[Grenchen]]
+  * [[1932]]
+    * [[Fabrique d'Ebauches de Fleurier]], [[Fleurier]]
+    * [[Unitas]] ([[A. Reymond]]), [[Tramelan]]
+    * [[Fabrique d'Ebauches Réunies d'Arogno]], [[Arogno]]
+    * [[Wasa]], [[Pieterlen]]
+    * [[Ebauches Bettlach|Fabrique d'Ebauches de Bettlach (Ed. Kummer)]], [[Bettlach]]
+  * [[1933]]
+    * [[Peseux|Peseux (Fabrique d'Ebauches de Peseux)]], [[Peseux]]
+  * [[1941]]
+    * [[Derby]]
+  * [[1944]]
+    * [[Valjoux]], [[Les Bioux]]
+  * [[1979]]
+    * [[A. Schild]] is merged with [[ETA]]
+  * [[1982]]
+    * Most movement makers are merged with [[ETA]]
+  * [[1985]]
+    * Ebauches SA is dissolved into [[SMH]]
+{{tag>Movement_manufacturers Movement_manufacturers_Switzerland Ebauches_SA ASUAG Swatch_Group}}