Watchmakers and watch companies starting with the letter N
Navigate through notable watchmakers and noteworthy watch companies starting with the letter N. Explore their histories, design innovations, and craftsmanship. Essential for horology lovers and collectors!
Nardin, James
James Nardin was born in 1814, he was the first cousin of Ulysse Nardin. Nardin worked in La Chaux-de-Fonds under the name of James Nardin-Perret, Perret being his wife’s name. He was granted a U.S. patent (No. 93,735) in 1869 for a self-winding watch and deposited a marine chronometer at the Neuchâtel Observatory in 1873. The company won a Gold Medal for Horology at the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1878. His son also called James Nardin continued the business after his father died in 1885.
Nardin SA, Ulysse
Ulysse Nardin SA is a Swiss luxury watchmaking company. Founded in 1846 in Le Locle, Switzerland bearing the name of its founder Ulysse Nardin. It has remained in continuous production since. The company became best known for manufacturing highly accurate marine chronometers (of which the anchor in the company logo is a reminder nowadays) used by over 50 of the world’s navies from the end of the 19th century till 1950. Furthermore, pocket watches with complications such as moon phases, a perpetual calendar, repetition and an alarm function were produced. According to the last official report of Neuchâtel Observatory in Switzerland, Ulysse Nardin had won numerous awards and honours for its marine chronometers from 1846 to 1975, including 4324 certificates, 2411 special prizes and 18 gold medals at International exhibitions.
Ulysse was born in 1823 in Le Locle, Switzerland. He first trained as an apprentice horologist under his father, Léonard-Fédéric Nardin and perfected his skills under the tutelage of Frédéric-William Dubois and Louis JeanRichard-dit-Bressel. Two master watchmakers who were experts in precision watches and whose fame extended beyond the mountains of Neuchâtel. Ulysse established his own workshop at the age of 23. Despite growing up in the Jura mountains, he was fascinated by the sea and therefore produced nautical timekeeping instruments. The number of employees in 1900 was an impressive 300. The company was taken over and re-invigorated in 1983 by Rolf W. Schnyder who transformed it into a profitable business. Since 2014, it has been a subsidiary of the French luxury group Kering. Ulysse Nardin has operated out of the same building headquartered in Le Locle since 1865.
Newsam, Bartholomew
Bartholomew Newsam carried on business in London as a clockmaker, apparently from the date of the accession of Queen Elizabeth I in 1558. He obtained from the crown a thirty years’ lease of premises in the Strand, near Somerset House, on April 8th, 1565, and there he resided through life. Newsam was skilled in his craft and was on familiar terms with Sir Philip Sidney and other men of influence at court. About 1572, the post of Clock Master to the Queen was promised to him on the death of Nicholas Urseau (Ursiu, Veseau or Orshowe). The latter had held the office under Queen Mary and was reappointed to it by Queen Elizabeth. He succeeded to the office before 1582. On June 4th, 1583, he received, under the privy seal dated 27 May previous, 32s. 8d. for mending of clocks during the past year. With the post of clockmaker, he combined that of clock-keeper. The two offices had been held by different persons in Queen Mary’s reign and Newsam appears to have been the first Englishman appointed as clock-keeper. Bartholomew Newsam was probably born in York and died in 1593.
Nicole, Nielsen & Co
Nicole, Nielsen & Co. had a reputation for the fine quality of their watches, they were one of the main suppliers for Charles Frodsham. It started as a manufacturer of chronographs but extended its product range to include pocket chronometers, carrousel watches and tourbillons for well-known brands in London. The Swiss parent company Nicole & Capt was founded in Geneva in 1837. Adolphe Nicole and his partner Henry Capt opened their first branch in 1840 in London. Jules Capt joined the company as a partner in 1843 after Henry Capt had died.
One year later Adolphe Nicole received his first patent. He was issued two more patents, in 1862, for a chronograph movement and in 1870, for a resilient lever. Shortly after Jules Capt’s death in 1876 Sophus Emil Nielsen, son-in-law and employee of Nicole, became a partner and applied for a patent for an up-and-down mechanism. In 1888 Nielsen sold the company to Mr North and held the position of managerial director together with Harrison Mill Frodsham. Whereas Nicole, Nielsen & Co probably had many of their special parts made in Switzerland, the majority of parts were produced on the premises at Soho Square. In 1898 31-year-old Robert Benson North became the director of the company. Sophus Emil Nielsen died in 1899.
In 1904 the production range was extended to include tachometers for cars and a new factory for this line was built in Watford in the northwest of London. In 1917 the company name changed from ‘Nicole Nielsen & Co Ltd’ to ‘North & Sons Ltd’, 14 Soho Square. After the First World War, the company suffered heavy sales losses. Robert Benson North died in 1929 and in 1932 the company entered into liquidation, truly a sad ending for a staff of 350 in Watford and for the employees at headquarters at Soho Square.
