Ernest Borel was founded and established in 1856 in Neuchâtel by Jules Borel and Paul Courvoisier. Jules Borel’s son Ernest took over the firm’s management in 1898 and gave it his name. He served as director for about 40 years until his son Jean-Louis took over from him in 1936.

Ernest Borel underwent rapid international expansion. In 1859, contacts were established in various countries throughout Europe, South America and in the United States. The company then quickly expanded to Asia, with Japan, China and India becoming Ernest Borel’s main markets. In 1959, Ernest Borel was present on more than 70 markets across the five continents.

The firm’s history has always been closely tied to the watchmaking region of the Jura: ever since its foundation, the company has relied on regional manpower and savoir-faire to pursue its development. In recognition of this, Ernest Borel products have won numerous Swiss and International prizes and awards, the first as far back as 1861; amongst others, a first prize from the Observatory in 1866 and the Certificate of Award in Philadelphia in 1876. Shortly before celebrating its centenary, Ernest Borel was awarded two first prizes for wrist-chronometers by the Neuchâtel Observatory. Between 1945 and 1958, 4’172 timepieces obtained the bulletin de marche issued by the Swiss offices for the official verification of watch timing.

In the 1950s, Ernest Borel launched its famous Cocktail model, which is still protected. The distinguishing feature of this mechanical timepiece is its display in the form of an hour hand with 2 discs for the minutes and seconds, creating an unusual kaleidoscopic effect. This model was an immediate worldwide success, contributing to the expertise and reputation of Ernest Borel, especially in the United States, where the watch enjoyed rapidly growing sales.

Today, Ernest Borel benefits from a solid reputation in the promising South East Asian markets and is one of the best known quality Swiss Made brands. Thanks to a thriving business climate, and in order to cater to the expansion and further development of the brand, a new factory and headquarters were inaugurated in 2009 in Le Noirmont, in the heart of the Swiss Jura region, anchoring the brand’s identity even more firmly in this watchmaking heartland. The combination of this modern production plant, equipped with the latest watchmaking machines, and the charming village house, provides the ideal working environment for its dedicated team of motivated, qualified professionals, ensuring efficient production, sales and customer service.

Today, staying true to its roots in the heart of the Franches-Montagnes region with its age-old watchmaking tradition, Ernest Borel - guaranteed Swiss Made for over 150 years - is set to pursue its development throughout the world, with its focus on success and harmony. For the celebration of its 155th anniversary, Ernest Borel has set itself the objective of returning to the United States, which is historically an important market for the brand.

As a young man, Ernest Borel met a beautiful girl at a formal dance party. Their graceful dance attracted the envious eyes of all the other dancers and a picture was taken of this romantic encounter, suspending it in time. The elegant dance and the romance of the moment ignited Ernest Borel’s inspiration, prompting him to design the trademark logo to immortalize this magical experience.

The dancing couple has been the brand’s trademark and inspiration since the late 19th/early 20th century, this striking image becoming firmly established as the “Lovers” trademark.

For more than a century, and thanks to its rich history and tradition, Ernest Borel has succeeded in building an image of Romance and Elegance.

Ernest Borel collections cater for the medium to high-end markets, offering a wide range of products, in particular romantic couple watches. Alongside these classic and fashionable timepieces, it also produces sports models and a superior range of complication watches as well as certified chronometers recognized via the official seal of the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC) (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute). A testament to its quality, Ernest Borel was rewarded by becoming one of the top brands to receive COSC certification in 2009.

Ernest Borel's watchmakers and designers strive ceaselessly to create new collections, blending cutting-edge technology with meticulous attention to detail to satisfy customers pursuing perfection, fashion and romance.