At a glance
Founding evidence and patented case construction
Boettcher reports an 1880 business beginning but identifies the first official record on 28 February 1883: F. Borgel, silver-case manufacturer, Geneva. Patent CH4001 describes a one-piece case accepting the movement from the front through a threaded carrier, closed by the bezel.
Boettcher dates publication of Swiss case patent CH4001 to 28 October 1891. 21
Customers and one documented wristwatch case
Borgel supplied cases to other watchmakers, including IWC and Longines; later Taubert work retained the Borgel association. An IWC archive extract reported by Boettcher dates a Borgel wristwatch-case order to 15 September 1906 and delivery to 9 January 1907. 12
Louisa, Taubert and the persistence of the mark
After François’s death in 1912, daughter Louisa assumed the business; a June 1912 notice records the transfer from F. Borgel to L. Borgel. In 1924 the Borgel business passed to the Taubert family, subsequently operating as Taubert & Fils.
The Tauberts continued using the FB-and-key trademark after acquiring the business. A Collected Man explicitly uses “Borgel” for Taubert-era cases after 1924, including later Patek Philippe supply. 21
Names that require correction or qualification
Boettcher rejects “Francis Baumgartner” as a conflation of François Borgel and the separate casemaker Frédéric Baumgartner. Boettcher challenges the historical-continuity claim of a modern “François Borgel 1887” watch business discussed on his page. 2
Key dates
- 1880
Reported independent business beginning
Boettcher reports an 1880 business beginning but identifies the first official record on 28 February 1883: F. Borgel, silver-case manufacturer, Geneva. 2
- 1883-02-28
First official record identified
Boettcher reports an 1880 business beginning but identifies the first official record on 28 February 1883: F. Borgel, silver-case manufacturer, Geneva. 2
- 1891-10-28
Case patent published
Boettcher dates publication of Swiss case patent CH4001 to 28 October 1891. 2
- 1912
Louisa assumes the business
After François’s death in 1912, daughter Louisa assumed the business; a June 1912 notice records the transfer from F. Borgel to L. Borgel. 2
- 1924
Sale to Taubert family
In 1924 the Borgel business passed to the Taubert family, subsequently operating as Taubert & Fils. 1
Ownership and continuity
Patent CH4001 describes a one-piece case accepting the movement from the front through a threaded carrier, closed by the bezel. 1
Watchmakers and designers linked to François Borgel / Borgel case-making business, Geneva
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.
- François Borgel — 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
- verified fact
Borgel was a Geneva watch-case supplier. A Borgel case does not make the complete watch a Borgel-manufactured watch.
- verified fact
Boettcher reports an 1880 business beginning but identifies the first official record on 28 February 1883: F. Borgel, silver-case manufacturer, Geneva.
- verified fact
Patent CH4001 describes a one-piece case accepting the movement from the front through a threaded carrier, closed by the bezel.
- verified fact
Boettcher dates publication of Swiss case patent CH4001 to 28 October 1891.
- verified fact
After François’s death in 1912, daughter Louisa assumed the business; a June 1912 notice records the transfer from F. Borgel to L. Borgel.
- verified fact
In 1924 the Borgel business passed to the Taubert family, subsequently operating as Taubert & Fils.
- verified fact
Borgel supplied cases to other watchmakers, including IWC and Longines; later Taubert work retained the Borgel association.
- source stated claim
Boettcher rejects “Francis Baumgartner” as a conflation of François Borgel and the separate casemaker Frédéric Baumgartner.
- source stated claim
Boettcher challenges the historical-continuity claim of a modern “François Borgel 1887” watch business discussed on his page.
- verified fact
An IWC archive extract reported by Boettcher dates a Borgel wristwatch-case order to 15 September 1906 and delivery to 9 January 1907.
- verified fact
The Tauberts continued using the FB-and-key trademark after acquiring the business.
- verified fact
A Collected Man explicitly uses “Borgel” for Taubert-era cases after 1924, including later Patek Philippe supply.
Known limits
- This identity dossier is not a complete catalogue of every watch or reference.
Direct sources
- Borgel — The Master Casemaker You Haven’t Heard OfA Collected Man · specialist dealer editorial · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Relevant passage identified in the supplied research record. External source.
- François Borgel and Louisa Borgel — inventor and makers of the Borgel watch caseVintage Watch Straps · archival horological research · accessed September 15, 2026
Locator: Relevant passage identified in the supplied research record. External source.
Corrections
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