Swiss Watch Case Marking Information

[dognose]

JEAN AEGLER

Bienne



Jean Aegler - Bienne - 1889


Mark registered on the 15th May 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

ARTH. MULLER

Granges



Arth. Muller - Granges - 1889

'A.M.'

Mark registered on the 17th June 1889.

Trev.

[dognose]

ERNEST FRANCILLON & Cie.

St. Imier



Ernest Francillon & Cie. - St.Imier - 1889

'E F Co - LONGINES'

Mark registered on the 27th May 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

LOUIS MARILLIER-DENZLER

Neuveville



Louis Marillier-Denzler - Neuveville - 1889

'PROGRÈS'

Mark registered on the 3rd May 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

Js CALAME-ROBERT

Chaux-de-Fonds



Js Calame-Robert - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1889

'JCR'

Mark registered on the 12th March 1888



Js Calame-Robert - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1889

'HERCULANOS'

Mark registered on the 29th May 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

JULIEN GALLET & Cie.

Chaux-de-Fonds



Julien Gallet & Cie. - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1889

'COMMODORE'

Mark registered on the 7th May 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

Ls BOUVERAT-LACHAT

Porrentruy



Ls Bouverat-Lachat - Porrentruy - 1889

Mark registered on the 17th April 1889

Trev.

[dognose]

FABRIQUES DES MONTRES ZENITH SA. - GEORGES FAVRE-JACOT & Cie.

Le Locle


Georges Favre-Jacot & Co. - Le Locle - 1908
















This Zenith mark is thought to have been registered in 1907.




Source: Schweizerisches Finanz-Jahrbuch - 1921

Trev.

[dognose]

ASSAY OFFICE RETURNS 1839

At Locle, and La Chaux de Fonds, two of the principal watch-making places in the canton of Neufchatel, there were made and stamped, in 1839, as follows: at Locle, 37,700 watch-cases, of which 15,047 were gold, 22,653 silver; besides 3,480 articles of jewellery. At La Chaux de Fonds, 64,705 watch-cases, of which 21,302 were gold, and 43,403 silver; besides 16,155 articles of jewellery.

Source: The Literary World - 28th March 1840

Trev.

[dognose]

American Watch Case Manufacturers Run Against Switzerland's Stamping Laws

Washington, D. C, Nov. 9.—Adolph Frankenthal, United States Consul at Berne, Switzerland, calls attention to the fact that several United States firms who have been shipping gold filled watch cases to Switzerland have subjected themselves to punishment because they have put stamps on the cases contrary to the Swiss laws. The imprint "14k" or "18k," on filled watch cases is an evasion of the law in Switzerland, as such a stamp is supposed to represent the quality throughout the article; a gold filled case can have only the stamp "gold filled." Goods marked "14k" or "18k" in addition to this will be confiscated and an additional fine will be imposed.

Article 41 of the law of Nov. 15, 1892, says articles plated with gold or silver can only be stamped "gold plated'' (plaque or) or "silver plated" (plaque argent). Besides these words nothing is allowed, especially anything which would produce on the mind of the buyer an erroneous impression of the value of the metal; consequently no such designation as "plated with gold 18 karats," "plated with gold 14 karats," or "plated with silver 0.800." The marks "18 karats," "14 karats," and "0.800" are designations applied to goods consisting of gold and silver as defined by Articles 1 and 2 of the Federal law, that is to say, gold and silver of specified fineness throughout. The stamping of these goods is obligatory.

The following articles from the Swiss Federal law should be borne in mind when manufacturing gold and silver ware for the Swiss market:

Art. 42. Whenever gold or silver ware is found to contain either in parts, inside or outside, a less degree of fineness than the stamp indicates, and after a test this fact is confirmed, those goods shall he confiscated and destroyed, independent of punishment according to law.

Art. 43. As deceptive are declared stamped gold or silver where the inner, not visible, parts contain alloy or other substances of less fineness than the main part of the article.

Art. 44. Stamped ware declared to be deceptive shall be destroyed by the sworn assayer, independent of penalty adjudged.

In the annual report of the Federal Department of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, for 1897, it appears that in October last the Chamber of Commerce, of Leuenberg, called attention to the fact that a certain quantity of plated watch cases, stamped as 14k, was imported from the United States into Switzerland. Inspectors were instructed to watch the ports of entry of Locle, Prentrut, Basle and Verrieres and to be particular in their inspection of entries of watches or watch cases from the United States. The result of this inspection was the discovery of the delinquents, who were punished with a heavy fine. It is claimed that this unlawful opposition would have entailed a great loss on Swiss manufacturers had it been allowed to continue. The reshipment of those cases from Switzerland would be as goods of Swiss manufacture, thereby bringing into bad repute the reputation of the Federal assay office.

Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - 16th November 1898

Trev.

[dognose]

LAW RESPECTING THE CONTROL AND TRADE OF ARTICLES OF GOLD AND SILVER IN THE CANTON OF NEUCHATEL, SWITZERLAND






Source: The Horological Journal - 1st November 1866

Trev.

[dognose]

G. DUCOMMUN-ROBERT

Temple Allemand, Chaux-de-Fonds



G. Ducommun-Robert - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1922

Trev.

[dognose]

CHARLES REINBOLD

Chaux-de-Fonds



Charles Reinbold - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1934


Charles Reinbold - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1934


Charles Reinbold - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1941

Trev.

[dognose]

S. GRABER S.A.

Renan



S. Graber S.A. - Renan - 1947

Mark used: 'SGR' within a shield.

Trev.

[dognose]

PONTI, GENNARI & Co.

Genève



Ponti, Gennari & Co. - Genève - 1929

Marks used:

26 within a hammer-head:

26 within a key:

26 within a shield:

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=33672&p=85779&hili ... ari#p85779

Trev.

[dognose]

WERTHMÜLLER

Bienne



Werthmüller Frères - Bienne - 1924


Werthmüller Frères - Bienne - 1941


Werthmüller S.A. - Bienne - 1945


Werthmüller S.A. - Bienne - 1947

The mark of Werthmüller Frères:

W.F/B (Registered 17-11-1920)

Established in 1900.

Trev.

[dognose]

BERTHOUD & Cie

Bienne


The mark of Berthoud & Cie:


Berthoud & Cie - Bienne - 1934

'B&C'

Trev.

[dognose]

STILA

Chaux-de-Fonds



Stila S.A. - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1947

Marks used:

353 within a hammer-head:

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=33672&p=85779&hilit=stila#p85779

Trev.

[dognose]

BOITES BOUVIER

Saint-Ursanne



Boites Bouvier S.A. - Saint-Ursanne - 1947

Trev.

[dognose]

PFENNIGER & Cie S.A.

Chaux-de-Fonds



Pfenniger & Cie S.A. - Chaux-de-Fonds - 1947

Marks used:

123 within a hammer-head:

and:

See: viewtopic.php?f=38&t=33672&p=85779&hilit=uSH#p85779

Trev.