FEF-Fleurier Watch Co.: A Historic Pillar of Swiss Watch Movement Manufacturing

The FEF (Fabrique d’Ébauches de Fleurier) was a significant Swiss watch movement manufacturer based in Fleurier, in the Val de Travers region of Switzerland, known for its essential role in producing high-quality mechanical watch movements (ébauches) in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Key Highlights

Founded: Originated from a watchmaking company established in Fleurier in 1882 by Jules Jéquier and David-Louis Petitpierre. Petitpierre left in 1888, and Jéquier continued under Jéquier Frères.

Development: In 1920, production of watch movement blanks (rough structures or ébauches) was outsourced to a dedicated factory called Fabrique d’Ébauches de Fleurier (FEF) on rue des Moulins, Fleurier.

Connection to Fleurier Watch Co.: The successful Fleurier Watch Company, founded in 1894 by Paul Jéquier, consolidated its raw materials and movement production at the FEF facility.

Integration into Ebauches SA: In 1932, as part of industry consolidation during the interwar period, the FEF production facility was sold to Ebauches SA, a major Swiss conglomerate responsible for mass-producing watch movements.

Legacy: The original FEF building is now utilized by luxury watchmaker Chopard, reflecting a continuity of watchmaking tradition in Fleurier.

Industry Role: FEF specialized in the manufacture of watch movements for a variety of Swiss watch brands, supplying robust mechanical calibers essential to Swiss horology.

Location: The Vallée de Travers area, including Fleurier, has been a longstanding center of Swiss watchmaking expertise, augmented by early 18th-century watchmaking activity and export markets like China.

Why FEF-Fleurier Matters

Specialist Movement Manufacture: Played a vital role as a dedicated ébauche (movement) supplier in the flourishing Swiss watch industry.

Watchmaking Heritage: Part of the wider Fleurier watchmaking ecosystem, which includes historic families and companies dating back to the mid-19th century.

Contribution to Industry Consolidation: Its absorption into Ebauches SA illustrates the strategic industry reorganization that helped Swiss watchmaking survive and modernize through the 20th century.

Historical Continuity: The movement production legacy in Fleurier continues today through Chopard’s manufacture, linking centuries of watchmaking craftsmanship.

FEF-Fleurier Watch Co. remains a landmark example of Swiss industrial watchmaking heritage, symbolizing the blend of artisanal tradition and industrial scale that underpinned Switzerland’s global leadership in mechanical watch production.