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Brand history & owner guide

DuBois et fils

DuBois et fils distinguishes between family watch production beginning in 1751 and the company foundation it dates to 1785 in Le Locle. 1

A brand-history profile, not an authentication or valuation guide.

At a glance

Family production
Le Locle, since 1751 1
Company founded
1785 1
Wristwatch milestone
By 1910 2
Research priority
Exact reference and period documentation 2

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Selected reference records

65 documented configurations from 65 model names. These records are a selection, not the full DuBois et fils catalogue.

Browse 65 recorded DuBois et fils configurations →

1751 and 1785 mean different things

DuBois et fils says the family began manufacturing watches in Le Locle in 1751, while the company was founded in 1785. These dates describe related but distinct stages in its story.

Neither date alone identifies the age of a particular watch. 1

Trade preceded in-house production

The company says Moïse DuBois began selling watches in Le Locle in 1743, with its own production following several years later. It presents this as the start of a long development from trade to production.

Use period records to assign a particular pocket watch or wristwatch. 1

Pocket watches were an early success

An official DuBois et fils presentation says the company had branches in Switzerland, Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 1844 and traded as far as the United States. It describes pocket-watch manufacture and distribution as a historic high point.

This describes the company story, not a comprehensive production list. 2

Wristwatches arrived by 1910

The same official presentation says DuBois et fils added its first wristwatches to its range as early as 1910. A broad category date should not be confused with a model-level launch date.

Match exact references to dated catalogues and movements. 2

The heritage remains rooted in Le Locle

DuBois et fils says its historic Le Locle building remains family-owned and frames its present work around preserving Swiss watchmaking tradition. These are current first-party continuity statements.

They do not prove an individual watch's originality or condition. 1

Keep conclusions source-bounded

Official material supports the 1751 family-production account, 1785 foundation, 1844 trade footprint and 1910 wristwatch inclusion. It does not authenticate or value a particular DuBois et fils watch.

Record exact reference, serial, movement, dial, case and provenance before attribution. 12

Key dates

  1. 1751

    Family production

    DuBois et fils dates family watch production in Le Locle to 1751. 1

  2. 1785

    Company founded

    DuBois et fils dates the company foundation to 1785. 1

  3. 1910

    Wristwatches added

    Official presentation dates first wristwatches to 1910. 2

Ownership and continuity

DuBois et fils' account connects 1751 family watch production and its 1785 foundation with a long Le Locle-rooted history spanning pocket watches and wristwatches. 12

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
  1. source stated claim

    DuBois et fils says family watch production began in Le Locle in 1751 and the company was founded in 1785.

  2. source stated claim

    DuBois et fils says Moïse DuBois began selling watches in Le Locle in 1743 and own production followed several years later.

  3. source stated claim

    An official DuBois et fils presentation says the company had branches in Switzerland, Amsterdam and Frankfurt in 1844 and traded to the United States.

  4. source stated claim

    An official DuBois et fils presentation says the company added its first wristwatches to its range by 1910.

  5. source stated claim

    DuBois et fils says its historic Le Locle building remains family-owned.

Known limits

  • This guide does not authenticate or value a watch.
  • Company heritage dates do not establish the production date or originality of an individual object.

Direct sources

  1. DuBois et filsDuBois et fils · official history · accessed September 12, 2026

    Locator: Family production, foundation and Le Locle continuity. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

  2. Watches That Make HistoryDuBois et fils · official history · accessed September 12, 2026

    Locator: 1844 trade and 1910 wristwatch timeline. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.

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