REVOLUTION_International_Vol 54

THE FIRST FULLY
INDUSTRIALIZED WATCH
MANUFACTURE
Founded in 1865 by Georges Favre-
Jacot, Zenith has only ever been
located in one place: Le Locle,
Switzerland. Le Locle, for your
information, is the very definition
of “quaint”, as is fitting for the third
smallest city in a country not renowned
for its geographically outsized
footprint. This should explain why it
was such a big deal that Mssr. Favre-
Jacot put his roots down here. Not
only was Zenith to become a major
local employer, but the factory itself
was also a marvel of modern efficiency
as the first truly industrialized Swiss
watch manufacture (to say nothing of
being the first structure in the town
to feature electricity throughout).
That’s right, the principles of
modern industrialization, which
dictated that manufacturing be done
under one roof, and in a logical
progression by people manning
specific stations and performing
specific actions found its first foothold
in Switzerland thanks to Zenith.
In essence, Zenith was the textbook
definition of “in-house” at a time when
outsourcing was the name of the game.
In addition to stamping presses, and
case and dial production, Zenith also
had its own foundry to process the raw
materials that would eventually become
complete, functional watches. This
is evidenced today by the trademark
smokestack that is still standing at the
center of the complex.
And while the manufacture is now
as up-to-date and modern as any
that you’ll find elsewhere, it all exists
within the same structures that were
erected in 1865, just updated with the
latest technology where applicable.
That said, it did benefit from the
architectural foresight of its founder,
given that Favre-Jacot designed
the buildings from the outset with
large windows to take full advantage
of natural light. And so it is today,
with the wide open floors generously
illuminated with the Swiss sun.
PRESERVED IN TIME
Of course, the main attraction at the
Zenith manufacture is the so-called
“attic”, or “Le Grenier”, where Zenith
watchmaker Charles Vermot sealed
away the plans and tooling required to
manufacture the legendary El Primero
chronograph movement. Spurred by
the then management’s decision to
forsake mechanical watchmaking in
favor of quartz, he painstakingly moved
all the necessary items — including
over 150 metal presses — through a
back door and up 52 stone steps to a
disused storage area, which he then
sealed off, hoping that the proverbial
“rainy day” would come when they
would be called into use once more.
As we all know, that day came and
the El Primero rose from the ashes to
reclaim its rightful place as one of the
preeminent mechanical movements
still produced by the Swiss.
You know what? The storage area
is still there, as are the 52 steps that
Charles Vermont trod upon. It’s not
often that a room can give you chills —
positive ones to be sure — but that’s
very much the case here. Each step
you take up to the fateful attic is heavy
with history, and once you’re there
you know that you’ve arrived at a very
This page
Awatchmakertakes
guests through the
details of Zenith’s El
Primero movement.
Today, augmented
technologies allow
guests to discover
the El Primero
in a 3D digital
experience.
Previous spread
The Zenith
manufacture in Le
Locle, seen at night.
70 THE MODERNIST