A dynasty dedicated to the music box
The Swiss clock and watchmaker Charles Reuge's enthusiasm led him to start making watches fitted with musical movements in 1865. Motivated by the same entrepreneurial spirit, his son Albert opened a music box workshop in Sainte Croix some twenty years later. A dynasty was born and was lead by Guido Reuge for more than sixty years.
In 1929 Guido Reuge ordered the construction of the building that today still houses the Reuge Manufacture and brings great movements back to life. An intuitive and brilliant designer, he invented and manufactured a ski binding that enabled him to continue making music boxes, even when times were tough, and acquired several competitor companies, bringing real added-value to Reuge and guaranteeing the rapid expansion of the business. As Guido Reuge had no direct descendants, in 1988 he decided to sell his company to a group of Swiss investors. They provided the company with the facilities and innovation required to increase production and improve quality. Nevertheless, craftsmanship remained the driving force behind the company's excellence.
In 2001, the Swiss Reuge Manufacture acquired the Italian company Arte, its main supplier of luxury wooden boxes and inlay, assuring Reuge complete control of the entire music box manufacturing process. Three years later, a Luxembourg-based investment fund took the majority of Reuge's capital, thus ensuring its future. New management was put in place, its main strategy involving modernisation of the product range – whilst conserving the traditional music boxes – and the creation of a very selective distribution network. In 2007, as part of these ongoing objectives, Reuge bought the watchmaking Manufacture MERMOD FRERES in order to launch a new line of top-of-the-range musical mechanical watches under this name.
Reuge is currently the world leader in manufacturing luxury music boxes worldwide, some of which can be compared to the great intricacy found in clock and watchmaking.
Tradition and modernity
Reuge philosophy can be summarised in a few words: manufacturing, a tradition of quality, exclusivity, modernity and creativity. Currently still the largest employer in Sainte-Croix, Reuge is the only company in the world still proficient in the delicate manufacture of luxury music boxes, demonstrated in the traditional “1865” collection as well as the more contemporary “Lounge” and “Studio” lines. This continuation of tradition is also visible in the complete range of singing birds and musical watches with or without automation.
The route taken by the new team heading the company starts from a source rich in tradition - clearly expressed by the slogan "The Art of Mechanical Music" - and looks towards the future with the aim of steering the company into the modern era that will guarantee its future prospects.
Reuge's challenge is an ambitious one: thrust the music box back into the spotlight and give it the strong and poignant image of an exclusive gift. From being a functional object - albeit one embellished by the refined decoration of the box that both protects the movement and helps to transmit the sound - the music box is becoming an object that appeals to the senses, a true mechanical musical instrument. The products have been completely redesigned to help achieve the company's aims. A new, more attractive musical movement, offers a clearer sound, has been designed for the contemporary lines.
At the dawn of the 21st century, the Swiss Reuge Manufacture's challenge is to revolutionise the image of the music box, to award it the status of a decorative object and to attract collectors using its more traditional articles housed in sublime cases with precious wood inlays, but it is also to appeal to younger customers using more modern designs.
