141 Maison Gabus
The Gabus Archive

Maison Gabus

The Jura’s Quietest Dynasty

A primary-source reference for the Gabus name in watchmaking. Three documented enterprises — W. Gabus of Imperial Moscow, Gabus Frères of Le Locle, and Gabus-Guinand of Les Brenets — and the living collection that continues the line.

View Collection The Enterprises
Primary Enterprises

Three Documented Houses

Each stands on its own primary-source evidence. The shared Jura origin is confirmed; direct familial links between specific houses remain under active research.

W. Gabus storefront, Moscow, signed 'W.GABUS'

W. Gabus storefront, Moscow

Maison of the Imperial Court

W. Gabus / В. ГАБЮ

Moscow · 1868–1922

Founded by Louis William Gabus of Le Locle at age 21. Became one of Imperial Russia’s three dominant Swiss watch houses, official commercial agent for Patek Philippe, and retailer of high-grade pieces including Ulysse Nardin. From 1895 the firm occupied premises on Nikolskaya Street. By 1908 it was listed first class in the Moscow Merchant Guild registers.

Moscow archive documents · Trademark №2291 · Double-signed pieces
Gabus Frères workshop, Le Locle, 1915–1918

Gabus Frères · Le Locle · 1915–1918

Case Maker to Horological Dynasties

Gabus Frères

Le Locle · c. 1881–1979

Supplied gold and platinum cases to Rolex (including the square “Gabus” references), Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breitling, Universal Genève, and Lucien Piccard. Noted for shaped and fancy-lug work. In 1964 Gabus Frères patented a square case for a round movement (CH 427 658; inventor Jean-Louis Gabus).

Swiss PdM №141 · Case patents incl. CH 427 658 · CEJARE 066-GAB
Fabrique d’Horlogerie Gabus-Guinand, Les Brenets

Fabrique d’Horlogerie Gabus-Guinand · Les Brenets

Historic Swiss Exporter

Gabus-Guinand

Les Brenets · late 19th–early 20th c.

Workshop on Grande Rue, Les Brenets. Surviving pieces carry engraved casebacks and Russian silver hallmarks, indicating sales into the Imperial market.

Factory photograph · Engraved casebacks · Russian hallmarks
The Collection

The Gabus Horological Collection

Pieces from The Gabus Horological Collection, with documented reference examples.

Held
W. Gabus gold hunter-case pocket watch
The Gabus Horological Collection

Gold Hunter-Case Pocket Watch

W. Gabus. High-grade Swiss movement in gold hunting case. Signature piece.

Held
F & 3
et Cie.
W. Gabus silver trench watch
The Gabus Horological Collection

Silver Trench Watch

В. ГАБЮ, Moscow. Russian silver case, wire lugs. Transitional wartime form.

Held
F & 3
et Cie.
W. Gabus officer travel clock
The Gabus Horological Collection

Officer’s Travel Clock

Plain brass carriage clock signed W. GABUS. French movement, original écrin.

Held
F & 3
et Cie.
В. ГАБЮ black dial WWI officer's wristwatch
The Gabus Horological Collection

WWI Officer’s Wristwatch

Black steel case, black Arabic dial. Designed for legibility under stress.

Held
F & 3
et Cie.
Reference Examples
Rolex Precision Ref. 8206 caseback, Gabus Frères Hammerhead 141 hallmark
Documented

Rolex Precision Ref. 8206

Approximately 74 examples. Square case by Gabus Frères, Le Locle.

Reference
Line of Descent

The California Line

The Gabus name holds sole Swiss Heimatrecht in Le Locle, Canton Neuchâtel (pre-1800). A branch of the family emigrated from the Doubs border region to the United States around 1860.

Peter George Gabus · Charles Henry Gabus Sr. · Jack Wixon Gabus · Susan Jane Gabus

Her son Jason Zahorenko and her brother Jack Gabus compile this archive and hold the collection.

The California line and the Jura Gabus name share a documented regional origin. The precise family connection remains under active research.

Maison Gabus F & 3
et Cie.
Identification

Marks & Authenticity

Hammerhead №141

141

The hammerhead (marteau sans manche) was registered as a Swiss collective mark on 11 June 1926 for gold and platinum cases outside Geneva. Gabus Frères of Le Locle received №141 in 1934 — among the earliest Le Locle numbers. The Maison Gabus mark is taken from this case punch. It appears on cases for Rolex, Vacheron Constantin, Breitling, and Universal Genève.

Gabus Frères Usine Safir S.A. case-back engraving with 18K 0.750 fineness mark and Hammerhead 141 punch

Gabus Frères, Usine Safir S.A. — case-back engraving (CEJARE 066-GAB)

В. ГАБЮ / W. GABUS

The Moscow house used both Cyrillic and Latin signatures. From the 1890s, products also carried Moscow trademark №2291 as an authenticity mark. Genuine pieces often show Russian customs seals and period hallmarks alongside the name.

Gabus-Guinand / Gabus & Fils

The Les Brenets workshop registered several Swiss trademarks between 1887 and 1897. Surviving casebacks are typically engraved with the workshop name and technical specifications; some also carry Russian silver hallmarks.

Documentation

Sources

Claims on this site rest on the primary and specialist sources below. Unconfirmed points are noted in the relevant section.

Chronology

Key Dates

1563
Perrin Gabus receives citizenship in Le Locle.
1715
Jacob Gabus christened in Les Brenets.
1759
Pierre Felix Gabus born in Les Brenets.
c. 1840
Earliest documented Gabus watchmaking (Veuve Gabus, La Chaux-de-Fonds).
1863
Louis Gabus active as watchmaker in Le Locle.
1868
Louis William Gabus founds the Moscow enterprise at age 21.
c. 1881
Georges Gabus opens gold case workshop in Le Locle.
1897
W. Gabus becomes official Patek Philippe representative in Russia.
1913
Gabus Frères formalized by the sons of Georges Gabus.
1934
Hammerhead PdM №141 registered.
1979
Gabus Frères / Gramex SA ends.