Tissot watch company founded at Le Locle

Background. Le Locle, located in the Canton of Neuchâtel, is recognized as a center of Swiss watchmaking with roots dating back to the 1600s. The industry was introduced by Daniel Jeanrichard, who encouraged local farmers to manufacture components. This environment fostered a community of skilled artisans and inventors, creating the industrial foundation necessary for new firms like Tissot to emerge in the mid-19th century.

Founders. Charles-Félicien Tissot and his son Charles-Émile established the company in 1853. Charles-Félicien worked as a casemaker, while Charles-Émile served as the watchmaker. Charles-Émile had expressed an interest in watchmaking from a young age, suggesting a familial transmission of skills that aligned with the town's long-standing tradition of horological craftsmanship and component manufacturing.

Early Production. In its founding year, Tissot introduced the first mass-produced pocket watch and the first pocket watch with two time zones. These innovations occurred within the context of Le Locle's reputation for precision watch manufacturing, which had transformed the town into an industrial city. The firm's early products reflected the technical capabilities developed in the region since the 17th century.