Presented as wider Schild surname history in Swiss watchmaking, not a confirmed direct ancestor. Not the same person as Theodor Schild of Grapetown, Texas, documented elsewhere on this site.
See the other Theodor Schild, of Grapetown, Texas →
- Years
- 1870–1950
- Role
- Watch Manufacturer
- Family
- Son of Urs Schild
Theodor Schild, a son of Urs Schild, took charge of the family watch business in 1899, after his brother Max left the company the year before. Theodor led the firm for more than three decades, until 1932.
Under his leadership, the company moved firmly into the emerging wristwatch market, patented a protective watch lug in 1904, and saw the Eterna trademark registered and put into public use starting in 1905. No authenticated portrait of Theodor Schild has been located for this archive, so this page uses a plain initials portrait rather than an invented image.
Timeline
-
1899
Takes Charge of the Family Business
Leads the company for more than three decades, guiding it into the wristwatch era.
-
1905
The Eterna Trademark Is Registered
The name Eterna is registered as a trademark on November 11, 1905, and begins appearing publicly soon after.
-
1932
Eterna and ETA Become Separate Companies
The watch business, Eterna, and the movement business, ETA, become separate companies within a shared industry holding structure.