FHF-Fontainemelon Watch Co.: The Oldest Swiss Ebauche Movement Manufacturer

The FHF-Fontainemelon Watch Company is a cornerstone of Swiss watchmaking history, renowned as the world’s oldest ébauche (movement blank) manufacturer and a major contributor to the rise of Swiss horology.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1793 in Fontainemelon, Switzerland, by Isaac and David Benguerel with Julien and François Humbert-Droz, originally as “Benguerel & Humbert”

Pioneering Industrialization: In 1816, FHF began industrial production of watch movements in its first purpose-built factory—laying the groundwork for modern Swiss mass production

Growth and Expansion: Expanded throughout the 1800s, purchasing a steam and hydraulics-powered factory in Corgémont in 1838 and producing nearly 250,000 ébauches per year by 1876 with about 400 employees

Modernization: Modernized with American machinery in 1900, raising the quality of Swiss movements to match U.S. standards

Merger and Consolidation: Merged with Landeron in 1925; became a founding member of Ebauches SA in 1926, later absorbed by ETA SA in 1985

Movement Innovations: Introduced popular calibers such as the FHF Standard 608 in the 1960s, with over 40 million units produced—making it the most widely used mechanical movement of its era

Affordable Swiss Movements: Specialized in robust, affordable movements used by countless Swiss brands, helping democratize quality Swiss watch ownership

Mini-Quartz Debut: Released the world’s smallest quartz movement, the “mini-quartz,” in 1979 as part of innovation efforts

Decline and Absorption: As the quartz crisis devastated the industry, FHF’s production was wound down and fully integrated into ETA by 1985

Why FHF-Fontainemelon Matters

Swiss Movement Pioneer: Oldest continuously operating ébauche factory—defined the industrial standard for Swiss movement production

Mass Market Impact: Movements powered millions of everyday watches, from vintage pocket watches to affordable wristwatches, worldwide

Legacy: Played a pivotal role in shaping Swiss watchmaking, with its legacy continued through ETA and the global reach of Swiss movements

Collectibility: FHF-marked movements, especially early and mid-20th-century models, are prized by collectors for reliability and historic value

FHF-Fontainemelon stands as a testament to Swiss industrial ingenuity and the tradition of quality at the heart of mechanical watch history.