Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

Chopard

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History

Founded

1860

Established

Sonvilier, Switzerland

Chopard's history

1860 - Birth of a manufactory of finely crafted watches

In 1860, 24 year-old Louis-Ulysse Chopard (1836-1915) creates his L.U.C manufactory in Sonvilier, Switzerland. To distinguish himself from his numerous competitors, he chooses to focus on making finely crafted ultra-thin high-precision pocket-watches intended for daily wear. He travels across Eastern Europe, Russia and Scandinavia to win customers, becoming a supplier to Tsar Nicholas II.

1904 - A young entrepreneur from Pforzheim

Karl Scheufele I (1877-1941) founds a company in Pforzheim, Germany, specialising in jewellery watches distributed under the Eszeha brand name. He invents a special clip device serving to attach a pocket-watch to the wrist thanks to an innovative system patented in 1912. His son, Karl Scheufele II (1907-1966) is to take over the firm after World War I, before passing it on in 1958 to 20 year-old Karl III, the founder's grandson.

1922 - Chopard at the turn of the 20th century

After the death of Louis-Ulysse, his son Paul-Louis (1959-1940) continues to develop Chopard. In 1922, he opens a subsidiary company in La Chaux-de-Fonds, which becomes the corporate headquarters in the following year. In 1937, the firm relocates to Geneva, an internationally renowned watchmaking centre. Paul-André Chopard (1898-1968), grandson of Louis-Ulysse, pursues the family tradition there, but his sons are not interested in taking over the firm.

1963 - A decisive encounter and new beginnings

Creative and meticulous by nature, Karl Scheufele III designs small objects and jewellery watches. He is nonetheless keen to make his own watch movements and advertises his wish to acquire a Swiss movement manufacturer. In 1963, Karl Scheufele III visits the selected companies. On the very last day, after several unanswered phone calls, he finally gets through to Paul-André Chopard and makes an appointment. The two men hit it off immediately and the deal is sealed on the spot.

1976 - Happy Diamonds : free-roaming diamonds, a revolutionary concept.

Karl Scheufele buys up Chopard and creates watches equipped with high-quality calibres. The company grows and new production premises are built in Pforzheim and Meyrin-Geneva. Chopard's highly original watches are a great success. 1976 sees the birth of the Happy Diamonds concept which is to make an indelible imprint on contemporary jewellery. It sets the scene for diamonds held between two sapphire crystals and moving freely around the dial.

1980 - St. Moritz : ultra-chic sporting elegance and innovation.

In 1980, Chopard springs a surprise by imagining a sports watch. St. Moritz is the first model designed by 22 year-old Karl-Friedrich Scheufele.
This elegant and sporty model is perfectly watertight and dustproof. It is the first steel model by Chopard. Equipped with a conventional mechanical self-winding or chronograph movement and available in men's and ladies' versions, the St. Moritz watch proves ideal in all circumstances.

1985 - The clown: a young woman’s master stroke

The first model drawn for Chopard by Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, the clown symbolises the brand's new jewellery-minded orientation. This creation also heralds the company's development in the field of marketing, communication and distribution. The Happy Diamonds collection is regularly enriched with highly creative models stemming from Caroline's daring and talented approach to design. Karl-Friedrich Scheufele and Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele are appointed vice-presidents, before subsequently taking over joint presidency of the company.

1988 - A love of fine mechanics

Karl-Friedrich Scheufele shares his father's passion for classic cars. 1988 sees the start of the partnership between Chopard and the Mille Miglia, the legendary vintage car rally. Chopard creates the 1000 Miglia watch collection distinguished by its resolutely sporting lines. Together with the Jacky Ickx and Grand Prix de Monaco Historique models, it will later form the Classic Racing collection, thereby perpetuating the alliance between the world of automobiles and high-precision watchmaking.

1993 - Happy Sport : sporting femininity and contemporary spirit

Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele’s favourite, the Happy Sport watch line makes a memorable impact on its era. Launched in 1993, it becomes the first watch daring to combine steel and diamonds within an innovative global concept. It has remained one of the watch industry's enduring success stories ever since.
The concept is interpreted in a wide variety of shapes and materials and features a constantly renewed design that continues to surprise aficionados by its originality and its decidedly contemporary spirit.

1994 - Impériale: my empire for a watch!

In 1994, Chopard brings the splendours of the French empire back to life. Echoing the diamond-pavé watches that asserted Chopard's originality in the 1970s, a new jewellery-watch is born. The Impériale collection comprises a series of round or square, chronograph, and/or gem-set watches for both men and women.

1996 - The renaissance of the manufacture

Chopard returns to its roots. In 1996, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele founds a watch manufacture dedicated to the production of high-precision movements in Fleurier, in the Jura mountains. Since then, nine lines of complete calibres have been created. In parallel, Karl Scheufele and José Carreras jointly create a line of limited-edition watches from which the proceeds are devoted to the latter's fight against leukaemia.

2007 - Launch of the Red Carpet collection: a movie love story

In 2007, a year marking the 60th birthday of the Cannes International Film Festival and the 10th anniversary of its partnership with Chopard, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele – who had launched this successful association by redesigning the Palme d'Or – presents the first Red Carpet collection comprising 60 Haute Joaillerie creations.

2010 - The passion for excellence

Chopard is still pervaded by the spirit that governed its founding in 1860, nurtured by values combining hand-crafted expertise and technical audacity. In 2010, this venerable House is celebrating its 150th anniversary and is marking this milestone date by introducing an animal-themed Haute Joaillerie collection as well as four new high-end watch calibres eloquently expressing its blend of modernity and expertise.