Chopard

To the credit of the Scheufele owners, they chose to relocate to Switzerland. Retain the Chopard trade name, build the brand from the ground up (using the Chopard family connections).

On Page 16, there's a family portrait (from 2010) where the elderly Karl III and Karin look well.

Like the Chopards, their primary interest has always been on jewelry watches. Karl Scheufele I founded his company in Pforzheim (close to Stuttgart), Germany, with the Eszeha brand name.

In the 1930s, Karl I shifted their emphasis to watches. Importing Swiss movements that he encased. The business was devastated by WW 2. However, Karl II quickly rebuilt. By 1956, the company had sales of a million marks and 35 employees. Ill health forced Karl II to hand over the company to 20-year old Karl III.

It's Karl III (with his wife Karin Ruf) who brought the family business into the modern era. Buying a respected Swiss manufacture, and moving to Switzerland. Building the company from the ground up.

The succession was ensued by the involvement of both children in the company. Chopard launched its first sports watch, St. Moritz, designed by Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, then just 22. 

https://www.chronext.com/guide/chopard/st-moritz

There is an amusing anecdote about Karl-Friedrich (Page 97). In Hong Kong, there was doubt about Chopard's ability to produce “watertight” watches. Impulsively, Karl -Frederich plunged a prototype into the champagne bucket, “without knowing if it would survive this treatment”. 

After two hours, the watch was retrieved and it was still ticking. That's how it was done in those days.

Since then, Karl-Friedrich has taken over corporate management, drives the company's technology, and serves as the face of Chopard. Promoting sports and cultural events.

www.watchprosite.com 

 
Meanwhile, Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele has charge over the design of jewelry and accessories; for lady's watches and manages the boutiques.
In 1976, the Happy Diamonds concept was launched. Since then, the jewelry and accessories product lines have become a major contributor. In 1997, the Chopardissimo (874 diamonds and 163 carats) sold for $25 million (Page 131).

www.watchprosite.com 

 
Interestingly, half of Chopard's watches (same as Cartier) are driven by quartz movements. 

www.bespoke-magazine.com 

 
In the last 200 pages, the book goes into details about the different product lines. Many beautiful pictures for the reader. As well as Karl-Friedrich's role in the creation of the new Chopard manufacture.

Credit goes to the author and editor for bringing the characters to life, and for providing color to by-gone eras. My comments and conclusions are in parenthesis. I have tried to fact check the book. Please comment if corrections are needed.

BTW, there is no mention in the book of a new generation of Scheufele in the company!

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