Pforzheim

Pforzheim, a small German town of 120,000 inhabitants situated between Stuttgart and Karlsruhe, is the country's second-largest watchmaking town after Glashütte and has close historical ties with Switzerland.

In 1767, Margrave Karl Friedrich of Baden, Sovereign Prince of Germany, offered the Frenchman Jean-François Autran the "privilege" of setting up a watch manufactory and later of starting production in the jewellery sector. Pforzheim's reputation was subsequently built on the presence of the watch and jewellery industries which, though often closely related to one another, have enjoyed differing fortunes.

Some companies are still active in both sectors today. Whereas the watch industry gave rise to few companies and even closed down briefly in 1845, the jewellery industry continued to develop. After 1850, specialisation and the division of labour in jewellery flourished to such an extent that watch and clock production was revived in the early 20th century. The reason for this revival lay in the fact that jewellers specialised in pocket watches, medallions or even women's watches. Around 1910, the wristwatch was becoming increasingly prominent and the region's manufactories were the first to offer them in precious metal. It was the start of a massive trend. 

1954 at Pforzheim, on the right in the white coat is Karl Scheufele III, and seated in the middle is his father Karl Scheufele II.

1954 in Pforzheim, on the right in white blouse Karl Scheufele III, and seated in the middle his father Karl Scheufele II

The movements were bought in Switzerland and put together at Pforzheim. The dials and hands were then made to meet the dictates of fashion. When the use of precious metal for jewellery production was banned in 1936, the industry converted to watch production. Following the wholesale destruction of the town in 1945, Pforzheim's two main industries rose from the ashes and jewellery occupied a dominant position once again on the world market. The takeover of Chopard by the Scheufele family of Pforzheim is a good example of this success.