Lot Essay
Edouard Juvet in Fleurier lived from 1820 to 1883, son to a farmer, established his first watchmaking manufacturer in Buttes in 1842 before moving to Fleurier in 1844. His begining of Chinese watch manufacturing started in 1856.
It seems to be proven that there were several relations with the Juvet house of which many supplied finished movements to the company.
At this time he apparently ordered a Chinese hallmark presumably to apply on his movements and cases for export to China. Later, in 1873, he had patented, at Val-de-Travers, a trademark in Chinese calligraphy which he applied to the watches of his manufacture.
As of 1857, his nephews and sons were all involved in the family business and moved to China to set up and look after the Juvet business overseas. It is in fact mainly the dynamism and activity of Leo in Shanghai, Tien-Tsin and then in Saigon, where the Juvet firm opened branches, that developed the firm's notoriety and success in Asia.
At that time, the Juvet name was fourth among the more renowned watchmaking manufacturers established in China. Even though Juvet and Bovet were in immediate business competition the two company's and their represantitive maintained a friendly relation and also used to meet to discuss and establish the prices of their watches.
In 1875 Edouard Juvet gave procuration to his son Leo who succeeded him at the death of his father as the head of the firm. The Juvet firm was one of the last to still execute the movement referred to as "Chinese". Leo Juvet finally returned to Fleurier where he died in 1891. The firm continued under the supervision of three of his sons and became known as Juvet Freres, still exporting to china though producing new styles of watches.
It seems to be proven that there were several relations with the Juvet house of which many supplied finished movements to the company.
At this time he apparently ordered a Chinese hallmark presumably to apply on his movements and cases for export to China. Later, in 1873, he had patented, at Val-de-Travers, a trademark in Chinese calligraphy which he applied to the watches of his manufacture.
As of 1857, his nephews and sons were all involved in the family business and moved to China to set up and look after the Juvet business overseas. It is in fact mainly the dynamism and activity of Leo in Shanghai, Tien-Tsin and then in Saigon, where the Juvet firm opened branches, that developed the firm's notoriety and success in Asia.
At that time, the Juvet name was fourth among the more renowned watchmaking manufacturers established in China. Even though Juvet and Bovet were in immediate business competition the two company's and their represantitive maintained a friendly relation and also used to meet to discuss and establish the prices of their watches.
In 1875 Edouard Juvet gave procuration to his son Leo who succeeded him at the death of his father as the head of the firm. The Juvet firm was one of the last to still execute the movement referred to as "Chinese". Leo Juvet finally returned to Fleurier where he died in 1891. The firm continued under the supervision of three of his sons and became known as Juvet Freres, still exporting to china though producing new styles of watches.