Peseux Watch Co.: Swiss Excellence in Watch Movement Manufacturing Since 1923

Peseux Watch Company (Fabrique d’ébauches de Peseux, S.A.) is a historic and highly respected Swiss watch movement manufacturer established in 1923 in the village of Peseux, near Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Known for producing reliable, high-quality mechanical movements, Peseux played a significant role in Swiss horology throughout the 20th century and continues to influence fine watchmaking today.
Key Highlights

Founded: 1923 by Charles Berner, a watchmaker from Val-de-Travers and son of Paul Berner, a notable watchmaking professor in La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Location and Early History: The factory existed before Berner’s leadership as part of other firms but was formally incorporated as an independent ébauche manufacturer in Peseux, Neuchâtel.

Industry Integration: Joined the Swiss ébauche producers’ holding company Ebauches S.A. around 1932–1933 but retained operational independence while supplying movements to many watch brands.

Notable Movements:

The Peseux 260, a hand-winding chronometer-grade movement, highly regarded in chronometry competitions and used by prestigious watchmakers.

The Peseux 7001, an ultra-thin hand-wound movement introduced in 1971, famous for its slim profile and long production run, later integrated into ETA’s portfolio as the ETA 7001 and still produced today.

Innovations: Patented compact, oval, rectangular (“baguette”), tonneau-shaped, and jump hour movements in the 1920s and 1930s, catering especially to ladies’ watches and jewelry timepieces.

Later History: In 1979, Peseux was consolidated into Fabrique d’Horlogerie de Fontainemelon (FHF) and ultimately absorbed into ETA in 1985, moving production to ETA’s Grenchen facilities.

Legacy: Peseux calibers remain prized for precision, thinness, and mechanical elegance and continue to be used or referenced in vintage and modern fine watches.

Why Peseux Watch Co. Matters

Swiss Movement Pillar: Key contributor to Swiss mechanical watchmaking through quality ébauche production supplying many prestigious brands.

Chronometry Excellence: Peseux movements earned acclaim at observatory competitions, confirming precision and reliability.

Innovative Designs: Early adopter of compact and non-round movement shapes, influencing ladies’ watch design.

Continuity: The Peseux 7001 movement’s longevity highlights enduring Swiss engineering and influence within ETA and beyond.

Peseux Watch Co. symbolizes the essence of Swiss horological craftsmanship—melding tradition, innovation, and precision—making it an indispensable part of the luxury watch movement heritage since 1923.