At the Enlightenment age

The founder

Christian-Wilhelm Weber (1808-1866) founded this very popular house when opening in Bienne in 1842 his goldsmith’s craft and jewellery workshop.

A committed artisan

His son Auguste Weber (1848-1923) took the succession of the business in 1866 at the age of 18. His skills are equalled only by his relentless commitment in favour of the development of the crafts industry. Thanks to the fervour of his political commitment within the Grand Council of Bern and then at its presidency he was able to participate in the works of the very new Federal Commission of the Beaux-arts..

Manufacturer for the greatest

Auguste retired from his everyday business in 1899 leaving to his son Albert (1876-1955) the commands of the Weber house. Under the dynamic administration of Albert, the workshops moved from Bienne to Berne, where the buildings of this factory, inaugurated at the exact turn of the century, can still be admired today in the Embassy quarter. The name of Albert Weber also forged itself a reputation in Gstaad : since 1915, his jewellery and goldsmith’s craft shop has been a testimony to his great professional value. His growing success lead him to embrace the new artistic movements and come closer to the diversity of watch making professions, by opening in 1919 a second factory in Geneva. Spurred on by this new expansion, the factory became more industrialized but never disowned its traditional qualities. The watch cases in precious metals were integrated into his production in 1924 and soon his jewellery watches got the signature of the greatest jewellers of Europe and America.

Two experts

When he died, in 1955, Albert’s sons Hans J. (1903-1998) and Albert Jr (1904-1981) Weber were already a worthy pair of successors. Hans was born in 1903 and completed his jewellery course at the Ecole des Beaux-arts of Paris. He increased his knowledge in the profession during various trainings in Germany, South America and the United States. His younger brother Albert Jr graduated as mechanical engineer at the Federal Polytechnic College of Zurich. The correlation of their talents allowed them, in 1973, to leave a flourishing company in the hands of Hans’ two sons, Adolphe and Jean H. Weber.

Six years later, in 1979, Jean H. Weber decided however to answer the call of a new challenge and left the family house to co-found and take the head of Start, Style & Art SA. For over 20 years, this company manufactured under exclusive licence and distributed worldwide the watches of the famous and prestigious jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels. Enriched by this fantastic experience, Jean H. Weber wishes today to revive the long going tradition of his ancestors. At the very place where his grand-father once held a boutique, the one he is now inaugurating is refined and dedicated to the presentation of the most beautiful examples of top range watches and jewellery.