Camille Sébastien Nachet

Camille Sébastien Nachet (1799-1881) was a Parisian optician who began his career making lenses in the workshop of Charles Chevalier, the renowned microscope maker in 1834. In 1840, he set up his own business. He sold achromatic lenses to microscope makers at home and abroad, including Lerebours, Brunner, J.G.A. Chevallier, Abraham Abraham, and others. At the great London exhibition in 1851, Nachet was awarded a gold medal for his work.

In the late 1850s, Nachet was joined by his son, Jean Alfred Nachet (1831-1908), who went by the name of Alfred. The firm was renamed Nachet et Fils around 1862, when Alfred was made a partner and the workshop was relocated to Rue St. Séverin, 17 in Paris.

When Camille Nachet died, Alfred took over sole control of the business and renamed it A. Nachet. Around 1890, Alfred's son joined the partnership, and the firm once again became known as Nachet et Fils.