History of Pictet
On 23 July 1805, two young bankers both aged under 30, Jacob-Michel-François de Candolle and Jacques-Henry Mallet, signed a partnership deed in Geneva, together with three limited partners. After changing its corporate name on several occasions, this partnership would eventually become Pictet & Cie.
220 years of Pictet
The origins of Pictet in an animated account
Find out about the origins of the Pictet Group, and the historical context in 1805, when two young entrepreneurs joined forces to create a new form of independent financial partnership, later to be known as a ‘private bank’. Every story starts somewhere. Ours goes back over 200 years. Our values as well.
The Pictet lion
The Pictet Group’s logo famously includes a ‘lion issant’, known affectionately as Leo. The lion first appeared in the early 17th century on the coat of arms of the Pictet family, rearing above the ramparts of the old city walls of Geneva – a symbol of strength, courage and defiance. The lion was adopted to become the symbol of the Pictet Group in 1955. It has since had four incarnations.
Engraving by Jean Dubois “Vue depuis le Bois de la Bâtie” (View from the Bois de la Bâtie), 1830, Collection Pictet.
Portrait of Jacob-Michel-François de Candolle, Collection Pictet.
Due to the way limited partnerships are structured, the Bank’s name was changed practically every time there was a change of partners during the 19th century: De Candolle, Turrettini & Cie (1807 -1812), J. de Candolle & Cie (1812 -1819) and De Candolle, Turrettini & Cie (1819 -1841), Turrettini, Pictet & Cie (1841 -1848), Edouard Pictet (1848 -1856), Edouard Pictet & Cie (1856 -1878) and Ernest Pictet & Cie (1878 -1909).
Credit: Archives Pictet.
How much was this capital of 125,000 in Geneva pounds worth in today’s money? The equivalent of 30 million Swiss francs.
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The Bank then moved to 26, rue de la Cité (1819 -1856) and 8, rue de la Corraterie (1856 -1878).
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Turrettini and Necker were two prominent names in banking and finance in Europe. Originally from Lucca in Tuscany, the Turrettinis moved to Geneva in the 16th century and have been one of the most influential families in the city ever since. Jacques Necker, born in 1732 in Geneva to a Protestant family of Prussian descent, pursued a brilliant career in banking in Geneva and Paris. He was appointed by King Louis XVI to the highest positions in France’s royal financial administration. Under Necker’s administration, financial exchanges between Geneva and France developed massively.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Bibliothèque de Genève.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
This house was built in 1724 by the banker Gédéon Mallet, cousin of Jacques-Henry, another founder of the Pictet Group. Today it hosts the Museum of the Reformation, which was created with the financial support of Pictet to commemorate its bicentenary in 2005.
Credit: Bibliothèque de Genève.
Credit: Bibliothèque de Genève.
The Pic-Pic was a well-known automobile brand between 1905 and the early 1920s, built by the Ateliers Piccard-Pictet & Cie, a company owned by Lucien Pictet, an enthusiastic engineer, who teamed up with entrepreneur Paul Piccard to produce the cars. On this picture, we see Lucien Pictet and his wife driving a Pic-Pic.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Video: La Pic-Pic: When Swiss elegance meets speed
Credit: Bibliothèque de Genève.
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Jean-Pierre Demole, Partner from 1945 to 1975
Edouard Pictet, Partner from 1950 to 1975
Michel Pictet, Partner from 1955 to 1979
Claude de Saussure, Partner from 1959 to 1986
Denis de Marignac, Partner from 1963 to 1987
Pierre Pictet, Partner from 1963 to 1988
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
From left to right, standing: Ivan Pictet (1982-2010), Claude Demole 1982-2008), Philippe Bertherat (1995-2014), Nicolas Pictet (1991-2019), Renaud de Planta (1998-2024), Jean-François Demole (1998 - 2015), Rémy Best (2003-2023). Seated in the car: Charles Pictet (1979-2005) and Jacques de Saussure (1987-2016).
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Video: La Pic-Pic: When Swiss elegance meets speed
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Discover Collection Pictet
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
Credit: Archives Pictet.
From left to right, seated: François Pictet, Elif Aktuğ, Marc Pictet (Senior Partner) and Laurent Ramsey. Standing: Raymond Sagayam, Sébastien Eisinger and Sven Holstenson.
Credit: Guillaume Megevand for the Pictet Group
To pursue the development of its activities, the Pictet Group will build an avant-garde building at the heart of the major Praille Acacias Vernets urban development project in Geneva. The Campus Pictet de Rochemont will be an environmental reference in its construction, design, energy consumption and accessibility.
The name Pictet de Rochemont is a reference to Charles Pictet de Rochemont (1755-1824), agronomist and diplomat who represented Geneva, then Switzerland at the Congresses of Paris, Vienna and Turin (1814-1816).
Discover the Campus
How Swiss banking started and evolved in Geneva
Geneva and its old town
Swiss private banking began to develop on a national scale from the 18th century onwards. At the time, Geneva was an independent republic. Thanks to its central position in Europe, close business ties with France and vibrant economy, it became a fertile ground for the emergence of numerous private banks.
The Swiss banking system as we know it today formed gradually throughout the 19th century. Securities trading began in Geneva in 1850, when the city was still the banking capital of Switzerland.
Stories from the past
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Edouard Pictet, first partner
In 1841, when Edouard Pictet-Prevost (1813-1878) became a partner in the bank of De Candolle, Turrettini & Cie, which had been established in 1805, the name of Pictet was added to the company name of the business and has remained part of it to this day.
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Charles Pictet de Rochemont
He negotiated the expansion of the Geneva territory at the Congresses of Paris, Vienna and Turin with a view to admitting Geneva to the Swiss Confederation. A statesman, a gentleman farmer and an officer, Charles Pictet de Rochemont was a liberal, independently-minded, upright and dynamic man.
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A small mystery solved
How much was Pictet’s initial capital of 125,000 Geneva pounds (livres argent de Genève) worth in today’s money? And was it something to do with the British pound sterling?
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Flashback stories
The Flashback series explores the stories of people linked to Pictet who have made history. Each episode features interviews with Laurent Christeller, Pictet's Corporate Archivist, and visual storytelling that brings history to life.
Philanthropic tradition
Pictet expresses its social responsibilities through a tradition of philanthropy that is rooted in the spirit of the Reformation. Over the years, Pictet’s partners have made contributions in the fields of medical research, culture, and social and humanitarian causes. Through our initiatives and supported projects, we aim to stimulate action on matters of sustainability, not only as they affect our clients and ourselves, but also the future generations who will inhabit this planet.
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The Pictet Group Foundation
The Pictet Group Charitable Foundation was created in 2009, with a view to formalising the approach to the charitable and philanthropic work supported by Pictet’s Partners over a number of years. After supporting a wide range of causes for more than 10 years, the Foundation evolved into the new Pictet Group Foundation which will continue and extend our philanthropic activities.
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The Collection Pictet
Preserving and promoting art and artists is part of the long tradition of patronage that the Pictet’s Partners have cultivated from the Group’s very beginnings in 1805. In building the collection, Pictet was determined to remain close to its Swiss heritage, so the artists included all have a strong cultural link to Switzerland, irrespective of their place of origin.
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Original of the "scripte de société" which ratified the foundation of the bank De Candolle, Mallet & Cie which eventually became Pictet & Cie.
The Henokiens: The world’s oldest family-run business
Banque Pictet & Cie SA was admitted to the Henokiens Association in 2005 at the time of the Bank’s bicentenary. The Association brings together the world’s oldest family-run businesses. Continuity is synonymous with success for the Henokiens. Every year they meet to reflect on the unique nature of their long-standing businesses, on the new challenges facing them and on the evolutions of their markets and of the economy in general. Today the Henokiens number around 50 members, all of whom share two essential characteristics: longevity – they have been in business for at least 200 years – and ownership – they're still owned by the founders' descendants. The Henokiens was founded as an association with no commercial, industrial or financial aims. Based on values traditional to family businesses and set apart from multinationals, the Association seeks to place emphasis on partnership and sharing while at the same time offering moral, cultural and philosophical support to its members. The oldest member is Hotel Hoshi in Japan, founded in the 8th century by Garyo Hoshi and currently run by the 47th generation of the founding family.
