CAPSA celebrates 90 years of watchmaking excellence
Located in the heart of the Bernese Jura, on the shores of Lake Biel, CAPSA has been a trusted name in watchmaking subcontracting for 90 years, and a 100% Swiss Made reference in the machining, assembly and finishing of metal components for the watchmaking industry. An anniversary that marks unique industrial know-how and continued growth.
Société anonyme Camille Piquerez was founded in Bassecourt, Jura, in 1935. The company manufactured bicycles, first under the Jurassia brand, then under the Stella brand. In 1951, Camille Piquerez SA moved to La Neuveville, route du Château 34, to manufacture watch components. At that time, CAPSA employed 10 people in the factory and 15 at home, and had 15 machines at its disposal. And it was in 1958 that the decision was taken to focus exclusively on the manufacture of spring bars, being the first to automate certain manufacturing operations and the first to use new Esco-type machines where the tools revolve around the raw material. Camille Piquerez SA quickly became the world’s leading producer of spring bars for the watchmaking industry, under the CAPSA brand, a symbol of quality.
Today, CAPSA has 180 employees, one of the largest fleets of bar turning machines in the country with 400 machines, 12 5-axis CNC machining centers and 30 automatic bar assembly machines. It also boasts 10,000 m2 of production space, thanks to the construction of a new building in 2017.
The undisputed leader in the production of watch bars
Over the years, CAPSA has established itself as a benchmark in high-end watch decoration, combining expertise and exceptional know-how. Mastering the art of machining and assembly, the company excels in the manufacture of essential components such as bars, axles, nuts, screws, pins, lugs, lugs and links. These parts, at the heart of the watchcase and its mechanisms, embody CAPSA’s unique expertise and contribute to the sublimity of each exceptional watch.
In 2008, Daniel Streit acquired the majority of shares and became Chairman of the company, while Camillo Piquerez, as Vice-Chairman, and Paulette Piquerez, as Director, remained the sole partners. In 2022, CAPSA joined the Acrotec Group, becoming one of its flagship companies.
watchmakers. In January 2024, after 25 years of exemplary commitment, Daniel Streit will hand over the CEO post to his son Kevin, 33, who has been with the company for over 11 years. “CAPSA has a wonderful history, enthuses Kevin Streit. Thanks to its microtechnical expertise, CAPSA belongs to the exclusive club of the world’s largest 100% Swiss Made production centers for watch components. But we owe this above all to the combined talents that form our teams, in the spirit and family values of our company.”