The Story of the Oldest Swiss Watch Factory
As the oldest watch factory in Switzerland, we look back on a rich past. Since 1751, everything we do has revolved around exceptional timepieces – first as pocket watches and today on the wrist.
Jubiläumsedition
Das Bewusstsein für Geschichte, das Erbe der Handwerkskunst und der Mut, neue Wege zu gehen besteht seit unseren Anfängen. Zum 275-jährigen Jubiläum vereint die DBF011 all das in einer Uhr.
Atelier in Muttenz
DuBois et fils has over 200,000 original movements from a unique find in western Switzerland. The calibres date from the 1930s to the 1970s and were manufactured by renowned Swiss factories. Recently, DuBois et fils acquired a further 18,000 movements from the last century and millions of spare parts. A workshop in Muttenz now makes it possible to preserve and restore all the historical movements.
Alex Frei becomes partner and board member of Switzerland's oldest watch factory
Footballer, coach and record goalscorer for the Swiss national team, Alex Frei joins our Board of Directors and supports the management in the expansion of our business activities. Together we want to intensify and develop the brand. Find out more here.
Successful live connection: Digital chronicle
Watch owners can write the diary of their watch on our website. From now on, you can add your own pictures, texts, videos or audio files on our website. They will be saved in the chronicle of your personal watch. Thanks to blockchain technology, entries created today will be preserved for generations to come.
Tokenisation of 330 movements
DuBois et fils, in collaboration with SwissValueCHain GmbH (SVCH), developed the tokenisation of historical movements. Completely new in the watch industry, this enables a link between the analog and digital worlds.
Via a blockchain, all important data of each new watch is stored in the customer account at DuBois et fils. The process creates transparency, protects against counterfeiting and ensures that the origin of the movement can be traced years later.
Swiss original from the 1950’s
Nearly 70 years after its invention, DuBois et fils brings back the first automatic movement with a double-sided winding rotor – the Bidynator – in its original form. The DBF006 watches are available and can also be found on our online shop.
A watch for 230 years of passion
230 years of passion for watches, history, craftsmanship and innovation. DuBois et fils is celebrating this historically significant moment with the launch of a very limited anniversary collection, the DBF004 'montre anniversaire 230 ans'.
Worldwide participation
Within 5 months, a total of 587 people from 21 countries subscribed to DuBois et fils shares and invested CHF 1.5 million in the traditional Swiss brand.
Inventive and successful
DuBois et fils is the first luxury watch brand in the world to launch an equity-based crowdfunding campaign via the company's own website. An unusual, but successful, act in the watch industry.
Basel entrepreneur takes over watch company
Thomas Steinemann, an experienced (watch) manager and passionate 'watch aficionado', becomes the new owner of Philippe DuBois & Fils SA. This marks the brand's return to Switzerland after the company was sold to new owners in Hamburg in the 1980s.
Limited production
The company decided to focus on the production of limited timepieces in the future.
"Autorist" by DuBois et fils
The "Autorist" wristwatch with automatic winding via the movement of the lugs is launched.
Development
DuBois et fils adds the first wristwatches to its range.
Strong relations abroad
The company has offices in Switzerland, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. The location in Frankfurt was an expression of the particularly strong ties that the DuBois family maintained from the Swiss Jura to Germany.
Successful pocket watches
During the first 55 years, the company sold more than 110,000 pocket watches.
Founding of DuBois et fils
Philippe DuBois takes his two sons on as partners in the company – the Philippe Du Bois & Fils company is born.
Expansion of the company
Mois’ children, Philippe and Isabeau, take over the company, which is then renamed to Philippe DuBois & Soeur.
The start of watch production
Moise DuBois begins to produce watches.
Entering the watch industry
Moise DuBois begins trading in pocket watches.
Joining the company
Moise DuBois takes over his father’s textile trading company.