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The Encyclopedia of Horology

Geneva, Switzerland

A. Golay-Leresche & Fils

Partially verified

High-end watches and jewelry

History

The company was founded in 1837 in Geneva by David-Auguste Golay, who initially named the firm Aug. Golay-Leresche à Genève after himself and his wife, Susanne-Henriette Leresche.

Following the death of Auguste Golay in 1895, his sons assumed control of the firm.

The extended history summarises the open references listed under Sources; each statement was checked against the cited passage. Confirm key dates in period documents before relying on them.

Current watchmaking & later fate

  • In 1961, the company was acquired by Jacques Wolfgang and later led by his son, Jesse Wolfgang.
  • Since 1997, the company has ceased its retail sector and focuses exclusively on high-end jewelry and diamond trading.
  • As of 2020, the firm is a member of the Responsible Jewellery Council.

As stated in the references listed under Sources, retrieved 2026-11-03. Ownership and collections change; check the maker's own announcements for the latest position.

Major innovations

  • Henri Golay is credited with inventing a mechanism for striking grande sonnerie watches with minute-repeating in 1859.
  • The firm was known for producing fine dress watches equipped with ultra-thin Bagnolet calibers.

Known markings

  • The firm operated under the trade name A. Golay-Leresche & Fils.
  • Following the 1896 partnership, the brand was known as Golay Fils & Stahl.

Serial numbers

No serial-number system for this maker is recorded in the cited references.

Collecting significance

The catalogued pieces listed on this page show the kinds of objects auction houses, dealers and museums attribute to this maker; each attribution is the source's own.

In the object catalogue

2 catalogued objects are recorded under A. Golay-Leresche & Fils. Attributions are as given by each source and are not independent authentication.

  • A. Golay Leresche & Fils pocket watch with an associated 30-inch 18k rose gold chain.
  • Front view of closed 18k gold half hunter pocket watch showing the case aperture and external Roman numerals

Sources & references

  1. Golay-Leresche & Fils - Watch-Wiki - Das Uhrenlexikon, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  2. A. Golay - Leresche à Genève - Watch-Wiki - Das Uhrenlexikon, Watch-Wiki, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  3. Realized price for A. Golay-Leresche & Fils, archivedauctions.com, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)
  4. Golay Fils & Stahl – Joalliers Diamantaires depuis 1837, golayfils.ch, retrieved 2026-11-03 (paraphrased; text © the publisher)

Where sources disagree, the disagreement is stated rather than resolved silently.