Bergeon reviews the past and embraces the future

Established in Le Locle in 1791 by Frédéric Faure, supported by his three sons, the company Faure frères started out by providing supplies and tools to watchmakers. By the end of the 18th century it had expanded not only in Switzerland, but also abroad, more particularly in Paris. Wars, revolutions, fires, burglaries, industrialisation… the company survived all these ravages and upheavals down the decades thanks to the principles adopted by its founders and the dedication of its managers.

At the end of the First World War, the Faure family had no descendants able to take over the reins of the firm. It was then that a group of employees, including Jules Bergeon, decided to act jointly to keep the business afloat. The firm Jacot, Bergeon & Cie was born. In 1927, it changed its name to Bergeon & Cie. And in 1931, Jules Bergeon and his son Marcel were left alone at the helm following the deaths of the two other associates. The business grew in tandem with new products and improvements in the world of tooling. Despite the economic conditions of the inter-war period, ever stricter customs barriers and fierce competition, the company achieved remarkable success in a short space of time. Its customer base extended well beyond the circle of watchmakers per se, to encompass the precision engineering industry as a whole.

However, it was not until the middle of the 20th century that Bergeon & Cie began to focus more on industrial activity. The Le Locle based company has made great strides in the past decade under the direction of Vladimir Zennaro, its CEO since 2005. Today it has around 65 employees working on two sites in Le Locle and can count on the services of a subsidiary in Hong Kong. The latter meets demands from customers in the former British colony, China and South-East Asia. In 2014 another office, in Shenzhen, was set up to strengthen this market.

More than 10,000 products are referenced in Bergeon’s «Essential» bible, the yellow catalogue well known to watchmakers. The majority of products offered in the catalogue are the fruit of in-house development.

A team of six technicians and engineers takes stock daily of market requirements and develops tools and equipment, sometimes in partnership with other companies, the great majority of which are Swiss. For other products, Bergeon plays the role of distributor, and in this way provides a one-stop-shop capable of meeting the needs of its clients the world over. From tweezers, watchmaker’s screwdrivers and loupes to more complex equipment such as stereomicroscopes, laminar flow cabinets and even watchmaker’s benches, Bergeon does its utmost to keep its customers satisfied with its comprehensive range of products. Clients can also commission the development of a project for a new tool or concept. The R&D department is available for this type of request.

In marketing, some products, such as eyeglasses, screwdrivers and files, can be personalised by laser marking and are often featured in customised after-sales service kits personalised in the colours of the brand. For this work, the company has a laser engraving department. Through its «Integrator» department, Bergeon also proposes the complete turnkey installation of watch repair workshops and training rooms around the world.

Who are Bergeon’s clients? The firm has 3,000 in Switzerland. Its distribution network includes 400 points of sale abroad, located in 100 countries. Service centres operated by Swiss brands, schools and a training centre are also among its loyal buyers. While 90% of the company’s activities are devoted to the watch industry, it also serves the jewellery and microtechnology sectors (10%).

In terms of the spread of its activities, the Le Locle firm deploys 40% of its capacity in Switzerland, 30% in Europe - more particularly Germany, France, Italy, Spain and Great Britain - and 30% in the rest of the world, specifically Asia and North America.

It is also a regular at different watch industry fairs in Switzerland such as Baselworld and EPHJ, as well as overseas: Hong Kong, Shenzhen (China) and Las Vegas (AWCI).

Novelty EPHJ 2016
The «Limite Force» Runner, which fits with the ref. 8935 setting tools, enables the user to limit the output force on hands through a gear system. This force can be regulated with a screwdriver, from 5N to 40N with a precision of ±15%.

June 02, 2016