History of Montres Niton SA

The manufacture, already established in 1919 at the address "Rue de Mont Blanc 19, Geneve" under the name "Jeannet, Morel et Bourquin" in Geneva in 1919 by Williams-Auguste Jeannet, born in 1888, and two craftsmen from Vacheron Constantin, Edouard-Henri Morel, born in 1887 and Achille-Alfred Bourquin, born in 1887. 

Niton S.A., Geneva Swiss trademark registered by their formers Jeannet, Morel and Bourquin under No. 45,822, on December 12, 1919, under the name "Niton S.A., Fabricants d'horlogerie, Manufacture de montres artistiques, chronometres, montres plates et ultra-plates, montres-bracelets à heures sautantes, a quantieme et phases de lune” (Niton S.A., Manufacturers of timepieces, Manufacture of artistic watches, chronometers, flat and ultra-flat watches, jumping hours wristwatches, with calendar and moon phases).

It wasn't until October 10, 1922 that Jeannet, Morel and Bourquin officially changed their company name and company form into "Manufacture des Montres Niton S.A.". It was in 1924 that Niton was located at "Rue de la Servette 24".

At first, they specialize in the manufacture of watches whose movements are designed and manufactured by them. They are distinguished by their ultra-thin pocket watch calibres and their “baguette” movements with winders from below, at 12 o’clock or 3 o’clock; although they manufacture a whole range of other calibres, in particular of form, and, jewellery watches.

The sales method consists in selling directly to stores like Gubelin, Beyer, Mauboussin, L 'Emeraude, Golay Fils & Stahl, Cartier, Gübelin, J.E. Caldwell & Co., Cresarrow Watch Co., A. Weber & Cie., E. Dreyfous, C.F. Bucherer, Van Cleef & Arpels, C.D. Peacock, Garrard & Co. and Tiffany & Co..

Or selling to watch manufacturers, to which it provides either the movements alone or complete watches like H.W. Matelene, Breguet, A. Lange & Sohne, Patek Philippe, Tempor Watch & Co. by Schwab Loeillet, Pavillions Watch Co. and Henri Blanc.

Production remains artisanal. Changing modes, the crisis of the 1930s, industrial productions will force them to change course and move towards other manufacturing concepts.

In 1940, Niton sold their manufacturing rights to Ebauches SA. and produced e.g. for Rolex and Chopard.

Niton was bought in 1957 by Carlo Sarzano, who will give it a new impetus by producing gold plated and that gold and jewelry watches of quality.

In 1971, Niton merged with Sarcar SA which was owned by Carlo Sarzano since 1948, and the brand name Niton disappeared from the market.