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LOUIS WILLIAM GABUS
The company’s founder, Louis William Gabus, was born on 6 May 1847 in Le Locle, Switzerland, to Louis Gabus, a watchmaker from a long line of watchmakers, and his wife Heloise Jeanneret-Gris.
Inspired by his father’s dedication and talent, Louis William learned the craft of watchmaking from him and carried on the family tradition. At the age of 20, he established his own watch company in Switzerland and the Russian Empire.
In 1868, Louis William Gabus founded the watch company bearing his name in the Russian Empire and received the title of merchant of the second guild, later rising to the first guild. Around the same time, the Berna Watch Company factory opened in Switzerland, followed by the Gabus Frères watch case factory.
In 1871, a son, Maurice Gabus, was born to Louis and Hélène Gabus. As an adult, he helped his father develop the watch business.
By 1891, the company was among the three largest watchmakers in the Russian Empire.
In 1895, Louis William Gabus opened a boutique near Moscow’s Red Square at 15 Nikolskaya Street.
For watch production in the Russian Empire, Louis William imported the finest movements and components from Switzerland. He set watches with precious stones, decorated dials with enamel painting, expanded production and became a supplier to government ministries and departments.
The family owned substantial property in Moscow, including land with residential and other buildings in the Meshchansky and Tverskoy districts, a house at 6 Zvonarny Lane and land in Moscow Governorate.
In 1899, Louis William traveled to Switzerland to develop the future Gabus Frères factory with his cousin Georges Gabus. His wife Hélène and son Maurice managed W. GABUS in the Russian Empire.
In 1886, the office of Moscow Governor-General Prince Vladimir Andreyevich Dolgorukov issued a residence and travel permit to Swiss citizen Louis William Gabus for movement within the Russian Empire. Under pre-revolutionary law, it had to be renewed each year. His signature appears at the bottom. It is believed to be the only surviving historical document bearing the founder’s own signature. The original is held in the Central Historical Archive of Moscow.
In 1899, a Moscow district police officer issued a certificate confirming Louis William Gabus’s identity and residence at 15 Nikolskaya Street.
The certificate effectively confirmed that no claims by private creditors or the authorities prevented him from traveling abroad. Both citizens of the Russian Empire and foreign nationals such as Louis William Gabus were required to obtain one. The original is held in the Central Historical Archive of Moscow.
In 1894, the office of Moscow Governor-General Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov issued a residence and travel permit to Hélène Gabus, wife of Louis William Gabus, for movement within the Russian Empire. Under pre-revolutionary law, it had to be renewed annually. Her signature, written as Helen Gabus, appears at the bottom. The original is held in the Central Historical Archive of Moscow.
In 1897, the office of Moscow Governor-General Grand Duke Sergei Alexandrovich Romanov issued Louis William Gabus a passport for travel abroad. Foreign nationals, as well as citizens of the Russian Empire, were required to obtain such a passport. Under the contemporary passport rules, a foreign national departing from a provincial city or district had to appear in person at the governor’s office and present the passport under which they resided in the Empire; no written application was required.
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