====== Dixi ======

{{wst>author|[[Foskett, Stephen|Stephen Foskett]] ([[https://grail-watch.com/|Grail Watch]])}}

**Dixi** is a Swiss-French machine tools conglomerate founded in [[Le Locle]] in [[1904]], which incorporated many local watch companies in the 1970s including [[Zenith]].

Dixi was founded by [[Le Phare|Charles Barbezat-Baillot]] in [[1904]] as part of his firm, which would soon be renamed [[Jean d'Eve|Le Phare SA]]. Dixi supplied machinery to the nascent [[Vallee de Joux]] watchmakers. One critical component was the first jig borer precise to within 0.01 mm. The company continually expanded throughout the century and today remains a crucial manufacturer of carbide and diamond tools, screw cutters, avionics, refrigeration, and medical equipment. When Le Phare went bankrupt due to the Great Depression, Dixi was spun out as its own firm in [[1931]].

Dixi owned several notable watch brands in the 1960s through 1990s during the leadership of Paul Castella. On October 29, [[1988]], Dixi officially dissolved all of its watch brands except Zenith. This included [[H. Moser & Cie.]], [[Jean Perret]], [[Luxor]], [[Paul Buhré]], [[Robert Cart]], [[Terrasse]], and [[Zodiac]]. These brands were abandoned in [[1989]].

Dixi continued with Zenith alone until November 15, [[1999]], when the company was acquired by [[LVMH]].

  * [[1963]] - [[Paul Buhré]], acquired in [[1963]] and run as a separate watchmaking company under Dixi through [[1987]]
    * [[1963]] - [[Erguel]], acquired in [[1963]] and run separately through [[1969]], then integrated with [[Paul Buhré]] and closed after [[1987]]
    * [[1968]] - [[Passerat]], acquired in [[1968]] and absorbed into Paul Buhré
    * [[1970]] - [[Robert Cart]], acquired in [[1970]] and absorbed into Paul Buhré that year
    * [[1974]]-[[2002]] - [[H. Moser & Cie.|Henry Moser & Co.]], acquired in [[1974]] and operated through [[1979]]; re-launched in [[2002]] as [[H. Moser & Cie.]]
    * [[1976]]-[[1985]] - [[Jean Perret]], acquired in [[1976]], operated independently, sold in [[1985]] to John Buser
    * [[1978]] - [[Luxor]], acquired in [[1978]] and absorbed into Paul Buhré
  * [[1978]] - [[Movado-Zenith-Mondia]], acquired in [[1978]]
    * [[1978]]-[[1999]] - [[Zenith]], acquired as part of [[Movado-Zenith-Mondia]] in [[1978]] and sold to [[LVMH]] on November 15, [[1999]]
    * [[1978]]-[[1983]] - [[Movado]], acquired as part of [[Movado-Zenith-Mondia]] in [[1978]] and sold to [[North American Watch Company]] in February, [[1983]]
    * [[1978]] - [[Mondia]], acquired as part of [[Movado-Zenith-Mondia]] in [[1978]] and absorbed into Dixi
  * [[1979]]-[[1998]] - [[Zodiac]], acquired by Dixi subsidiary [[Paul Buhré]] in [[1979]], merged with [[Zenith]] in [[1982]], re-launched in [[1990]], bankrupt in [[1997]], sold to [[Genender]] in [[1998]] and later to [[Fossil Group]]


{{tag>Le_Locle Dixi}}