he Jura Arc is home to a remarkable concentration of both artisanal and industrial expertise. From small traditional watchmaking workshops to industrial sites developing cutting-edge technologies, the range of skills is both broad and diverse. Numerous interactions take place between these different players, often behind the scenes.

It was from this observation that the idea of a new platform emerged in the mind of Fabio Monti, CEO of Swiza since 2022. He explains: “We work with local expertise and the Jura ecosystem every day. The aim of Ateliers du Jura is to formalise that framework and make it easier to create synergies within this fertile environment.”

Creating value

The results were not long in coming, demonstrating that the concept can be applied across every price segment. Swiza had already put this into practice in 2024 when moving upmarket with its Urbex^® collections, whose knife handles were developed with BIWI (read our article on this other well-known Jura company here, ed.), a specialist in advanced composite materials, and with Legacies™, for which every component is entirely manufactured in the Jura region by the same suppliers and craftspeople who serve the watch industry.

The concept also extends to the very high end, as demonstrated by the launch of Striking™ in collaboration with Richard Mille in June 2026. This unique Swiss knife is reserved for Richard Mille clients visiting the manufacture in Les Breuleux. Its blade, made from 352 successive layers of Damascus steel, is hand-forged by local craftsman Marc Grélat in Asuel, making every blade unique.

Quartz TPT^® plates are inserted between the knife’s tools — a first for a Swiss knife — while the handle is made from Carbon TPT®. Only a highly specialised company can work with materials of this kind. Striking™ perfectly embodies the Ateliers du Jura vision, bringing together technical innovation and exceptional craftsmanship.

Fabio Monti shares another telling example: “With Pomoca^® and PB Swiss Tools^®, we brought together the best of Swiss tooling with the world leader in climbing skins to create a dedicated bit holder presented at the Patrouille des Glaciers. This collaboration illustrates the ability of Ateliers du Jura to bring together expertise from very different sectors in response to highly specific uses.” It is a model that clearly creates value — and one that can be replicated in countless ways.

The Striking™ knife, developed in collaboration with Richard Mille, embodies the Ateliers du Jura vision, where technical innovation meets exceptional craftsmanship.

Synergies at every level

As the previous examples show, Ateliers du Jura creates exceptional products by drawing on a cutting-edge industrial platform — but that is only part of the story. The company also sees itself as a hub for collaboration, where design and engineering can develop side by side, where different artisanal skills interact and enrich one another, and where exchanges can even lead to distribution synergies. Swiza, for example, has been distributed by Kirchhofer since 2023, while Girolle^®, which joined Ateliers du Jura in June, is sold through Manor and Coop.

Fabio Monti emphasises: “We are a genuine platform for exchange. The projects and our own brands remain the stars, but Ateliers du Jura is there to support them through every stage required for their development.”

Looking ahead

Now that this ecosystem has been formalised under the Ateliers du Jura banner, what comes next? “We are demonstrating that the concept works at entry level, in the mid-range and at the very high end. This ecosystem could also serve other brands and companies.”

Ultimately, this value creation benefits not only the brands involved in individual projects, but the entire Jura Arc ecosystem, strengthening its profile first within Switzerland and increasingly on the international stage.

“The projects and our own brands remain the stars, but Ateliers du Jura is there to support them through every stage required for their development.”