Brand History
1903 advert that declares Société d'Horlogerie Electa is a long-established watchmaking company in Geneva. Copyright Image courtesy of VintageWatchstraps.com © David Boettcher.
Timeline
- 1466 - Humbertus Gallet brings his tower clock business from Bourg-en-Bresse in France to Geneva
- 1685 - Two centuries later, the descendants of Gallet’s family are recorded as goldsmiths and watchmakers who continued to establish the Gallet watchmaking business
- 1826 - Julien Gallet founds Gallet & Co watchmaking in La Chaux-de-Fonds
- 1833 - Sons Lucien and Leon take over with Leon as a significant figure in the Freemasons as a Grand Master
- 1890 - Prosper Nordmann founds a company in Geneva to make complicated watches, chronographs, and repeaters
- 1897 - The Société d'Horlogerie de Genève is formed to take over the company of Prosper Nordmann
- 1900 - The brand name Electa is registered, a name based on Freemason tradition meaning the “chosen lady” to whom the Apostle John’s 2nd letter is addressed
- 1902 - The Société d'Horlogerie de Genève is renamed the Société d'Horlogerie Electa
- 1906 - Gallet acquired the Société d'Horlogerie Electa, and the name "Gallet & Cie, Fabrique d'Horlogerie Electa" is registered to reinforce Gallet's ownership and control of the Electa brand