Robert & Fils 1630/en
Robert & Fils 1630
(see also: Robert)
Swiss watch manufacturer
Robert & Fils 1630 enjoys what is probably the longest watchmaking tradition in the world. Over a period of nearly 400 years, the Robert family, from generation to generation, has designed timepieces under their own name and hundreds of mechanical movements for the timekeeping industry. One of the first watchmakers in Swiss history was Abram Robert. In 1630, he was appointed by the municipal authorities in Le Locle to assess the reliability of the town’s clock. In 1725, Josué Robert was named “Horloger du Roi” (Watchmaker to the King) by His Majesty King Friedrich Wilhelm I of Prussia. Less than a century later, Jacob Robert became the founder of the world’s oldest manufacturer of watch movements. The ownership, then management, of this enterprise remained in the hands of his descendants until 1981. As heir to this amazing heritage, Gilles Robert—who represents the 11th generation of the Robert family—decided, in 2002, to revive this unique watchmaking tradition by creating exclusive timepieces in a classic contemporary style. Each Robert & Fils 1630 watch is made using “Robert” calibres that have been entirely restored by hand, in line with Swiss watchmaking tradition. Inspired by the Robert family’s artistic heritage—which includes the paintings of Léopold Robert (1794-1835), on display in museums around the world—the timepieces designed by the brand are unique pieces or made in very limited series. Each watch requires ancestral techniques mastered by only a few craftsmen worldwide, such as “grand feu” enamelling or hand-engraving. Each year, Robert & Fils 1630 creates exclusive watch collections that showcase this totally unique patrimony with a single goal in mind: to perpetuate Swiss artisanal “savoir-faire” in keeping with these ancestral traditions.