06 The Forgotten History of Jaquet-Droz, An Experiment in Cooperation

On April 4, 1960, 70 independent Swiss watchmakers joined forces to form a remarkable new cooperative. Intent on standing their ground against the consolidation of watchmakers into corporations, the Coopérative de Fabricants Suisses d'Horlogerie would launch a shared watch brand three years later, using the name of famous watchmaker Pierre Jaquet-Droz. The Coopérative grew rapidly, accounting for over 15% of Swiss watchmaking exports in 1968 and boasting a catalog of over 2,000 different models. Yet this unique experiment, and the famous brand they used, is entirely forgotten. Join Serge Maillard, Publisher & CEO of Europa Star, and Stephen Foskett, Publisher of Grail Watch, as we tell the stories of the events that changed the horology industry. More Information: The Forgotten History of Jaquet-Droz, Switzerland’s Shared Watch Brand, Grail Watch, 2021 La Concentration Dans le Secteur Horloger, Europa Star 4, 1960 Interview with Dr. Charles-Edouard Virchaux, President of the Cooperative of Swiss Watch Manufacturers, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 85, 1964 Scope of the Technical Control Center of the Swiss Manufacturers' Cooperative at Bienne, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 89, 1965 Jaquet-Droz Sales Centre Opens at Bienne, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 91, 1965 The Cooperative of Swiss Manufacturers Publishes Report for 1965, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 94, 1966 1966 a Prosperous Year for Jaquet-Droz, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 100, 1967 Jaquet-Droz Strike their Balance, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 111, 1969 Jaquet-Droz Six Years' Presence on Watch Markets, Europa Star Eastern Jeweler 133, 1973 Jaquet-Droz: A Great Name Becomes a Great Brand, Europa Star 199, 1993