130 years of History
From the very beginning of White Star Watch, in a time of technical and cultural effervescence, Henri Weiss, its visionary creator, perceived the importance of an international opening. Thanks to new means of communication, he quickly positioned the brand beyond the Swiss borders.
Henri Weiss filed several revolutionary patents, introducing ingenious technical functions and concepts and played a pioneering role in offering watches that could be worn from the pocket to the wrist.
Henri Weiss died prematurely in 1927, leaving the management to his son, also named Henri, a brilliant watchmaker who prospered White Star Watch until the Second World War. In 1942, Philippe-Joseph Weiss took the reins of the company, overseeing its expansion with the opening of a second and then a third manufacture. Under his leadership, White Star Watch became a key supplier to many Swiss brands and created the iconic Diagrafic model in 1951.
During the watchmaking crisis of the 1970s and 1980s, the brand, attached to its heritage and refusing quartz movements, reduced its activities until the end of the 1980s. The last descendant of the Weiss family then sold the brand to a buyer, who put it into hibernation. Today, White Star Watch is reborn with a renewed creative momentum and an expert, passionate team determined to transcend its heritage through innovation.
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Cradle of Watchmaking
Since the 17th century, La Chaux-de-Fonds has become the heart of world watchmaking. The art of watchmaking, initially practiced by peasants who alternated between farming in the summer and watchmaking in the winter, propelled Switzerland's reputation. The town gave birth to eminent watchmakers such as Daniel Jeanrichard and Pierre Jaquet-Droz and from the 18th century onwards, watchmaking stimulated the rapid development of the region.
Advances in watchmaking mechanics, the creation of automata and music boxes played an important economic and social role, influencing the architecture and urban planning of the city. La Chaux-de-Fonds' unique urban plan, with its parallel and perpendicular lines, served as a model for many cities in North America and contributed to its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Imbued with the spirit of this city that saw the birth of emblematic figures such as Le Corbusier, Louis-Joseph Chevrolet and Blaise Cendrars, the descendants of Henri Weiss and the current management of White Star Watch perpetuate the cultural heritage of their watchmaking cradle, nourishing Excellence and instilling Innovation at the heart of the brand for 130 years.