Francéclat Presents A Tour of France’s Finest Watchmakers

At the dawn of watchmaking, the French were there. Alongside the early watchmaking centers of England, Germany, and Switzerland, France boasts a long and proud lineage of horological excellence. Even as the axes of watchmaking have consolidated elsewhere, the French watchmaking tradition remains distinct and lives on through brands both old and new. That is thanks in part to Francéclat, an economic development body that supports the development of French jewelers, tableware makers, and, of course, watchmakers. Now as Windup Watch Fair approaches, Francéclat is proud to present a watch enthusiast’s guide to 10 of the finest French watchmaking companies today.

AWAKE

Founded in 2019, AWAKE is an independent watch brand with a mission to bring the beauty of uniquely-treated dials into the modern age. To this end, the brand has embarked on a unique initiative to revitalize and modernize classic Métiers d’Art and combine innovation with tradition. Known particularly for its dedication to Sơn Mài lacquering, AWAKE is applying this old and beautiful craft and marrying it to a contemporary design language that can speak to a whole new world of enthusiasts. It took over a year of research and prototyping, but AWAKE’s special approach with Super-Luminova in conjunction with finely finished hands and hour markers creates an incredible backlit affect that allows the dials to shine even more. In particular, its Handmade collection offers a variety of styles, all with wearable dimensions to be worn and enjoyed every day.

Baltic

Baltic needs no introduction to the enthusiast community as it has become an undeniable crowd favorite. Baltic’s success in forging its own identity is a case study on how to effectively incorporate vintage cues in a thoroughly new and modern design language. From dress watches to divers and field watches, each model line expertly blends Baltic’s trademark elegance with legitimate functionality. The dials are well-known for standing out through the tasteful use of subtle textures, finely crafted hands , and shifting depths and dynamic reflections depending on light and angle. Baltic’s brand’s color palette also draws inspiration from the golden age of classic watchmaking. Virtually all of Baltic’s model lines are more than durable enough for everyday wear while remaining distinctive in its elegance.

Beaubleu

Few watchmakers have a design that is immediately recognizable as theirs, but Beaubleu is certainly one of them. Beaubleu’s founder, Nicolas Ducoudert, has an automotive and luxury product-focused background and leveraged it to create a watch company that celebrates diversity in thought and design. Beaubleu’s unmistakable design cue is its use of round second, minute, and hour hands that are sized in accordance with their ranks. These can be found on both the round and rectangular watches and creates a cohesive, consistent design language that Beaubleu has made all their own. As a whole, the spirit of the watches is one of carefree hedonism and the enjoyment of  free time or leisure, ideas that are at once very French and also universally appealing.

Briston

Briston is a French brand of British ‘Sport Chic’ watches that was launched in 2013 by Brice Jaunet. Jaunet’s vision is one of a chic yet accessible timepiece that utilizes uncommon and exciting materials like cellulose acetate. Briston works in partnership with the best Italian supplier of cellulose acetate, which is a natural and hypoallergenic material made from 70% cotton fibers. A sustainable, durable, and versatile material, this cellulose acetate is often used in eyeglass frames and textiles. Two Briston models that are build on this are the Clubmaster model, a square-cambered-shaped watch, and the Streamliner model, which has a basil-cambered shape.

Depancel

Depancel is an independent French watch brand founded in 2018 by Clément Meynier, an engineer with a passion for cars and watchmaking. Its name is a contraction of the prestigious names Delage, Panhard and Facel Vega. Depancel offers mechanical watches and chronographs with a vintage, sporty style, designed for lovers of fine mechanics and motor racing. The automotive-inspired designs are often sourced directly from feedback of the brand’s clients before being turned into limited production runs that provide a sense of exclusivity and help Depancel focus on quality over quantity.

Jacques Bianchi Marseille

Jacques Bianchi Marseille was born out of a conviction that striking watch design, steeped in history and designed for practical use, could be revived without compromise. Each JBM watch is crafted just a stone’s throw from the Old Port of Marseille, a place where tradition and modernity meet. Every materials is carefully selected, every detail considered and designed to last and appeal to experienced watch heads and newcomers alike. Inspired by the Mediterranean Sea and the spirit of exploration, JBM invites wearers to experience the French ideal of a modern dive-focused watch.

March LA.B

March LA.B is a French watchmaker founded in 2009 out of the friendship and passion of its three founders. Purposefully established between partner cities Los Angeles, California (“LA.”) and Biarritz, France (“B”), the brand draws its inspiration from combining the timeless elegance and the idea of Californian cool. March LA.B’s refined and unique timepieces reinterpret the design codes of the 1970s with a contemporary and accessible approach. With a particular focus on the idea of doing ‘More with less’, March LA.B offers watches that make statements even as they are understated, watches that are designed with superlative quality standards and a deep attachment to French craftsmanship. The famous ‘green thread’ is the brand’s aesthetic signature, and it embodies this unique identity that is the spirit of March LA.B.

Maison Pequignet

Based in the French Jura region, Maison Pequignet is one of the last truly independent French watch manufacturers and stands out for its heritage and expertise. Pequignet has been designated as a “living heritage company” whose very existence for the last 5o+ years is a remarkable achievement. It is renowned for its in-house movements, one of the only calibers fully designed and manufactured in France. Since 1973, each Pequignet watch has been the result of meticulous craftsmanship, combining tradition and innovation to create pieces of remarkable quality and precision. The Manufacture embodies old school French elegance and fine watchmaking while remaining faithful to its regional roots. Wearing a Pequignet is a statement of commitment to technical expertise and French savoir-faire, a place where elegance and authenticity reign supreme.

Serica

Founded in 2019 by Jérôme Burgert and Gabriel Vachette, Serica has become a beloved brand among enthusiasts thanks to its unique mechanical watches that combine robustness and technical sophistication – all while carving out a truly distinctive and refined aesthetic. Serica’s ability to develop its own recognizable design language in a crowded space has helped to set it apart. And its focus on chronometric (COSC) precision, meaningful options for personalization, and waterproofness has made it an excellent choice for an everyday watch.

Yema

Yema is an independent French watchmaker based in Morteau in the heart of the Doubs region, the historic cradle of French watchmaking. Yema’s history stretches back decades and includes famous sports watches like the Superman (1963), Rallygraf (1966), and Yachtingraf (1966). For the past three years, Yema has been developing and producing their own Manufacture movements, whose components are machined directly in their workshops in Morteau. Through this tremendous undertaking, Yema’s ambition is to create a new range based on this consolidation of manufacturing and the integration of new in-house expertise in movement design, component machining, jewelling and assembly.

It would be an understatement to say that watchmaking in France is alive and well. For a country that has always been known for its elegance, class, and sophistication, it is no surprise that its watches embody the same ideals, even considering the remarkable diversity in design. The support of Francéclat, and perhaps even more importantly, the wider watch community, ensures that the French watchmaking tradition will remain a prosperous one for centuries to come.