Chopard
Louis-Ulysse Chopard (1836-1915), a farmer’s son, established his workshop in 1860 at the age of 24. At its height there were at least fifteen independent watchmakers living and working in the town but Chopard’s talent was apparent. His unique chronometers interested buyers and the precision and reliability of his watches attracted the court of Tsar Nicholas II in Russia. He became the official provider of watches for the Swiss Railways because of the accuracy of his pieces. Paul-Louis Chopard succeeded his father in 1915 and six years later opened another workshop in La Chaux-de-Fonds eventually making this the company headquarters. In 1937 he relocated the firm again, this time to Geneva, the internationally capitol of horology and fine watchmaking. This brought the company closer to its clientele. In 1943 the company passed to the third generation, Paul- André Chopard who spent the next twenty years building on his fathers and grandfathers legacy. Though none of his sons wished to inherit the company so in 1963 he began looking for a buyer. Karl Scheufele, a manufacturing jeweler and watchmaker from Pforzheim in Germany liked the idea and pursued the purchase. Karl Scheufele III wanted for many years to acquire a Swiss manufacturing business and in Chopard they found the perfect opportunity. The Scheufele family gradually transformed the Chopard name into a world wide brand not only offering fine Swiss watches but also developing an ever expanding range of fine jewelry such as the Happy Diamonds collection. Karl and his wife Karin's children Caroline and Karl-Friedrich, the firm’s current co-presidents run the organization.
