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Joël Pynson
May 2025
1. Creation in St Imier
Albert Jeanneret left the Alb. Jeanneret & Frères in 1893 to join forces in St Imier with Fritz Moeri, who had worked with him, and create the company Moeri & Jeanneret [1].
Both were chronograph specialists, Fritz Moeri in particular having patented a chronograph with independent push-button and aperture minute counter in 1892 [2].
But Fritz Moeri's aim was to produce a simple, high-quality watch for the widest possible audience. To this end, he registered another patent in 1893 [3], and together with Albert Jeanneret set up the mass production of a simplified caliber using modern processes, in line with the " Moeri's patent " that would later give the company its name.
Albert Jeanneret died in 1900, and Fritz Moeri continued the venture alone under the name Fritz Moeri, successor to Moeri & Jeanneret.
1895
1902
The Moeris trademark is registered in 1901. The quality of the factory's watches was recognized, and the company won numerous awards at national and international exhibitions. In 1904, Fritz Moeri's wife Lina joins the Board of Directors.
Around 1910, Fritz Moeri turns his attention back to chronographs and begins producing chronographs and counters.
1910
1910
1912
1924
In 1912, Fritz Moeri's sons Adrien and Roger joined the Board of Directors [4]. In 1920, Adrien set up a trading company in Geneva, Adrien Moeri & Co. before moving to London.
In 1914, Moeris watches win a Grand Prix at the Berne Exhibition. Production diversified to include wristwatches and jewelry watches, as confirmed by a fine presentation at the Barcelona Exhibition in 1929.
In 1930, the company became Fabrique de montres Moeris [5].
Fritz Moeri died in 1935, but his sons continued the business.
1937
1939
Production of simple watches continues, also under the Civitas brand.
1942
1944
1953
But even though the company tried to adapt to technical improvements and changes in watch design, it had no model policy and did not name its watches, which would have ensured their success. The only notable model is the James Bond watch, launched in 1966.
1963
1966
1963
Around 1973, the Moeris brand was taken over by SSIH (Omega-Tissot-Lémania), via the Rayville-Blancpain subsidiary, for the production of pocket watches under the name Replica.
Fabrique des Montres Moeris disappeared in 1979 [6].
1979
1983
In 1980, SSIH restructured its production, and the manufacture of Moeris pocket watches was transferred to Tissot in Le Locle.
Production of Moeris watches ceased definitively in the mid-1980s.
[1] FOSC 1893, see also Excelsior Park. Note that there is another company, Moeri & Jeanneret, founded in 1919 by Émile Moeri and Henri Jeanneret, with no connection to the company founded in 1893.
[2] Patent CH 4872
[3] Patent CH 7547
[4] FOSC 1912
[5] FOSC 1930
[6] FOSC 1979
Notes :
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