Schwarz Etienne Watches

Founded in 1902 by husband and wife team Paul Arthur Schwarz and Olga Etienne in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, Schwarz Etienne today continues to reside in the cradle of watchmaking but creates incredibly contemporary-looking wristwatches. Privately owned (by entrepreneur, Raffaello Radicchi), Schwarz Etienne is committed to building most of its own watch components in-house, including the pendulum. Top collections include the Fiji, with artful dials, modular construction, and a hint of diamonds, the mechanical Roswell with in-house-made hairspring and so much more.

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History of Schwarz Etienne

Paul Arthur Schwarz and his wife Olga Etienne founded Schwarz Etienne in 1902. Based in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, this family business began as a mechanical movement manufacturer producing calibers for several different brands under its umbrella, like Venus Alpha, Sultana Le Phare, and Astin.

Over the years, Schwarz Etienne developed its reputation by forming partnerships. They dedicated their expertise to several renowned names such as Chanel, Dunhill, Mauboussin, and Caran d’Ache. Schwarz Etienne quickly earned admiration for their movements’ quality and reliability and as a benchmark in the creation of mechanical movements.

The Second Generation

Schwarz Etienne was taken over by its founders’ sons in 1940, gradually expanding its activities into Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In the mid-60s, their clients included the Vatican and Leonid Brezhnev, the President of the Soviet Union.

In the 1970s and 1980s, a general crisis overwhelmed the watch industry. In response, Schwarz Etienne diversified its production and returned to its core know-how, developing movements and producing timepieces in 1985. It was at this moment that the brand Schwarz Etienne with a dedicated collection saw the light. 

Raffaello Radicchi

The next significant chapter in Schwarz Etienne’s history happened in 2007, when a local entrepreneur, Raffaello Radicchi, took over Schwarz Etienne. He decided to concentrate on manufacturing exceptional collections of watches. He collaborated closely with the Radicchi Horlogerie group to produce unique and genuine timepieces.

Schwarz Etienne offers timepieces with a perfect balance between modern and traditional. They have complete control over the production process of each watch from start to finish.

Who Owns Schwarz Etienne?

Schwarz Etienne is an independent watch brand owned by Swiss entrepreneur Raffaello Radicchi, based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

Fun Fact

The name Schwarz Etienne originated from the surnames of the two founding partners, Paul Arthur Schwarz and Olga Etienne. 

Schwarz Etienne Collections

  • La Chaux-de-Fonds

  • Roswell

  • Roma

  • Fiji

  • Special Editions