At a glance
The company hidden behind “Le Locle workshop”
In the Houriet context, “Le Locle workshop” is best resolved to Courvoisier & Houriet and Houriet’s associated practice, not an otherwise named modern Le Locle brand. The book synopsis says Houriet returned to Le Locle in 1768 and partnered with David Courvoisier in Courvoisier & Houriet, succeeding Courvoisier & Fils. 12
Why Houriet studied springs and magnetism
HDS links Houriet to family manufacturing and identifies marine chronometry, isochronism and magnetism among his research interests. FH associates Houriet with spherical balance-spring development in the pursuit of isochronism.
FH describes a chronometer made at age 85 as non-magnetic apart from its steel mainspring and pinions. 23
People, production and attribution
HDS describes training with his father and Abraham-Louis Perret, work in Paris from 1759, and his return to Le Locle in 1768. HDS dates Houriet’s concentration on marine chronometry to 1806.
HDS gives Houriet’s life dates as 25 February 1743 to 12 January 1830, with his death in Le Locle. HDS calls Henriette Courvoisier David’s daughter; the book synopsis calls her the partner’s sister. The matching David’s generation is not resolved. 21
Continuity and the record today
The documented partnership and family manufacturing context do not establish that all Courvoisier & Houriet output was designed or hand-made personally by Houriet. The evidence establishes a historical workshop and maker. It does not identify a present trading company or a verified modern corporate continuation under this label. 12
Key dates
- 1759
Paris training/work phase begins
HDS describes training with his father and Abraham-Louis Perret, work in Paris from 1759, and his return to Le Locle in 1768. 2
- 1768
- 1806
Concentrated marine-chronometry work
HDS dates Houriet’s concentration on marine chronometry to 1806. 2
- 1828
- 1830-01-12
Houriet dies; not a demonstrated company-closure date
HDS gives Houriet’s life dates as 25 February 1743 to 12 January 1830, with his death in Le Locle. 2
Ownership and continuity
The evidence establishes a historical workshop and maker. It does not identify a present trading company or a verified modern corporate continuation under this label. 12
Watchmakers and designers linked to Courvoisier & Houriet — Jacques-Frédéric Houriet’s Le Locle business context
These people have a sourced relationship to this brand in the Enjoy Watches register. The label beside each name states the relationship recorded; it should not be read as a broader employment or ownership claim.
- Jacques-Frédéric Houriet — Own watchmaking practice
Identification and service
For an individual watch, record the complete reference, serial, dial, case, and movement markings and compare them with dated primary documentation.
A brand history cannot authenticate, appraise, or establish the provenance of a particular watch.
Evidence and limits
How the claims are supported
- reasonable inference
In the Houriet context, “Le Locle workshop” is best resolved to Courvoisier & Houriet and Houriet’s associated practice, not an otherwise named modern Le Locle brand.
- source stated claim
The book synopsis says Houriet returned to Le Locle in 1768 and partnered with David Courvoisier in Courvoisier & Houriet, succeeding Courvoisier & Fils.
- verified fact
HDS describes training with his father and Abraham-Louis Perret, work in Paris from 1759, and his return to Le Locle in 1768.
- verified fact
HDS links Houriet to family manufacturing and identifies marine chronometry, isochronism and magnetism among his research interests.
- verified fact
HDS dates Houriet’s concentration on marine chronometry to 1806.
- verified fact
FH associates Houriet with spherical balance-spring development in the pursuit of isochronism.
- source stated claim
FH describes a chronometer made at age 85 as non-magnetic apart from its steel mainspring and pinions.
- verified fact
HDS gives Houriet’s life dates as 25 February 1743 to 12 January 1830, with his death in Le Locle.
- verified fact
HDS calls Henriette Courvoisier David’s daughter; the book synopsis calls her the partner’s sister. The matching David’s generation is not resolved.
- reasonable inference
The documented partnership and family manufacturing context do not establish that all Courvoisier & Houriet output was designed or hand-made personally by Houriet.
- reasonable inference
The evidence establishes a historical workshop and maker. It does not identify a present trading company or a verified modern corporate continuation under this label.
Known limits
- What deeds or trade records date Courvoisier & Houriet and its subsequent changes?
- Which David Courvoisier is described in each source, and how was Henriette related?
- Which museum inventory numbers, signatures and dated technical descriptions belong to the cited late works?
- This identity dossier is not a complete catalogue of every watch or reference.
Direct sources
- Frédéric Houriet, le père de la chronométrie suisseWatchprint · publisher book synopsis · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Publisher’s synopsis read, not the entire monograph. Historical company relationship used with that limitation; kinship wording conflicts with HDS.. External source.
- Houriet, Jacques-FrédéricHistorical Dictionary of Switzerland · scholarly historical dictionary · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Relevant identity/history passages read; not a registry audit or review of every linked page.. External source.
- Jacques-Frédéric HourietFederation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH · trade association historical profile · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Relevant identity/history passages read; not a registry audit or review of every linked page.. External source.
Corrections
The public correction mailbox has not yet been recorded as tested end to end. Read the reporting format and retain your evidence until receipt is acknowledged.
Read the corrections policy