Joseph Fahys & Co.
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watchmaking |
| Founded | January 1, 1857 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Joseph Fahys |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
| Products | Mechanical watch cases, smartwatches |
Joseph Fahys & Co is a watchmaking firm based in New York City, established in 1857 by French immigrant Joseph Fahys. The company gained distinction in the 1880s for introducing innovations such as the Dust Proof Case and the Magnetically Shielded Case. Their handcrafted gold and silver timepieces continue to be highly prized by collectors. In 2013, the company broadened its product line to include premium American-made smartwatches, incorporating a patent-pending kinetically powered battery.
History
Born in Belfort, France, in 1832, Joseph Fahys emigrated to the United States in 1848. He trained under Ulysses Savoye, one of the early American watch case craftsmen, before founding his own enterprise in New York City in 1857. By 1861, Fahys had opened a manufacturing facility in Carlstadt, New Jersey, which was renamed Joseph Fahys in 1878.
The firm was incorporated in 1881 and shifted significant parts of its operations to Sag Harbor, New York, in 1882. The Sag Harbor site, branded as ‘The Fahys Watch Case Co.,’ specialized in producing watch cases, while the New York office retained the Joseph Fahys & Co. name. The company grew through acquisitions including the Brooklyn Watch Case Company and Alvin Manufacturing Company.
By the late 1800s, Joseph Fahys & Co had become the foremost American producer of gold and silver watch cases and was also a major manufacturer of silverware. Leveraging his industry stature, Joseph Fahys helped found the Jewellers Board of Trade in 1884 and served as the inaugural president of the Watchcase Manufacturers Association.
The Sag Harbor factory provided substantial employment opportunities, particularly attracting skilled engravers from Hungary, Poland, and Italy. Known for favorable working conditions and employee benefits, the company fostered a dedicated workforce. Economic challenges eventually compelled Fahys to sell the Sag Harbor facility to Austrian watchmaker Joseph Bulova, who operated it until its closure in 1975.
Factories and offices
Originally based in Hoboken, New Jersey, Fahys & Co relocated to New York City before establishing a factory in Carlstadt, New Jersey. In 1867, a second manufacturing plant was inaugurated in Brooklyn.
In 1880, Sag Harbor was selected as the site for a new watch case factory comprising multiple fire-resistant brick structures equipped with steam heating and gas lighting. This development triggered a housing expansion with approximately 80 homes built for workers. The factory’s design was notably austere and functional, often described as “Gradgrind” style.
A devastating fire in 1925 destroyed much of the Sag Harbor plant, which subsequently ceased operations by 1931 amid the economic downturn of the Great Depression. Austrian watchmaker Joseph Bulova leased and eventually purchased the premises in 1937, running it until foreign competition led to its closure in 1975. In 2014, the location was transformed into upscale residences known as ‘The Watchcase.’
While manufacturing sites relocated over time, Joseph Fahys & Co maintained its offices within New York City. Initially situated at 75 Nassau Street until 1861, the offices moved through various addresses on Maiden Lane. In 1896, the company established its office and showroom at the Fahys Building located at 54 Maiden Lane.
In 2015, Joseph Fahys & Co transferred its headquarters to the Empire State Building in New York City.
Mechanical watches
Since 1857, Joseph Fahys & Co has been manufacturing premium mechanical watchcases crafted from gold, silver, and nickel, earning a reputation throughout the industry for their robustness and superior workmanship. In the 1880s, the firm introduced Dust Proof Cases designed to resist both dirt and moisture. To combat magnetization issues emerging in the late 1880s, Fahys integrated the Giles Anti-Magnetic Shield into its case designs. The company showcased a variety of unique models such as the Raleigh, Boston, Olympia, and Cambridge, along with engraved patterns inspired by locomotives and vessels from the Spanish–American War. Throughout World War I, Fahys produced silver trench watch cases that accommodated movements from Marvin A. Cattin and Imperial Branded.
Smart Watches
Joseph Fahys & Co entered the smartwatch market in 2018 with the debut of In-Touch, which featured a kinetically charged battery protected by a patent pending status. This development represented the company's foray into wearable technology, supporting its broader strategy to innovate within contemporary timekeeping devices.