Bergeon is a tool company that is 228 years old in 2019 (to be precise, as the Swiss are) and has recently moved into their new purpose-built headquarters in La Chaux-de-Fonds which I was shown around in early 2018 and features state-of-the-art manufacturing, quality control and logistics areas.
While 228 years is younger than a few of the “grandfather” Swiss watch manufactures, it still means that they have a lot of experience in making and supplying specialist tools to the watch and jewellery industry. These days of course, with so many references in their catalogue not everything is Swiss-made, and many of the tools and especially consumables they sell are sourced in Asia or elsewhere. However many of their core range watchmaker tools are either Swiss or European made, and in any case the company has strict quality assurance across its supply chain.
When I started watchmaker training at Audemars Piguet years ago, my compulsorily purchased tool ‘layette’ (a 75cm high beautifully crafted wooden chest of 20 little drawers of varying sizes) was quickly filled with mostly Bergeon tools, half of which I had no clue as to the usage or purpose. Within a couple of years I had mastered most of them or at least learnt how to use them correctly. If anyone could be praised for “having a tool for every job”, it would surely be these guys.
Bergeon tools are commonly cited amongst watchmakers as being the highest quality, and often the highest priced. You usually get what you pay for, but tool prices that are already high in the Swiss domestic market are only exaggerated further in international markets such as Australia by distributors or intermediaries within the sales network.
With direct access to Bergeon factory distribution channels, Geneva Blue will be selling a very small number of basic tools from the Bergeon range, starting with their high quality spring bar removal tool, and later on magnification loupes, microfibre cloths and other tools/accessories. Please ask if there is something else from their extensive online catalogue (www.bergeon.swiss) that you wish to enquire about.
UPDATE 6/2020: NOW ALSO STOCKING SPECIALIZED TWEEZERS (EG. SPRING BAR), SCREWDRIVER SETS, ETC. !