Press Release : When France reconquers time

France is ramping up its watchmaking industry. Driven by all sector stakeholders, including businesses and institutions, the French watchmaking industry is organising and modernising its operations. Nearly 90 brands ranging from young start-ups to longstanding icons are moving forward together, propelled by a single passion: watchmaking à la française. Most importantly, new projects are permanently establishing their production base in France.

From Paris to Besançon, right up to the border regions of the Swiss Jura, France has shaped the modern art of measuring time thanks to its master watchmakers, pioneering institutions and precision industry.

Inscribed in 2020 on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, craftsmanship of mechanical watchmaking and art mechanics, as jointly recognised by France and Switzerland, continues to thrive and expand.

Today, the world of French watchmaking is pursuing common goals aimed at giving France a prominent place in the measurement of time: consolidating know-how, boosting national production and structuring a competitive ecosystem.

Francéclat, the professional committee for the economic development of the French watchmaking, jewellery and tableware industries, supports the strategy of reindustrialising French watchmaking alongside France Horlogerie, the trade association that launched the strategy. Both institutions rally together all industry players, including watch manufacturers, producers of components such as bracelets and crowns, assembly workshops and companies specialising in instruments for industrial use.

Francéclat translates its strategic vision into concrete actions designed to support the development of skills and production capacity in France:

Mapping the French watchmaking industry: This tool connects watch brands with industrial partners such as component manufacturers and assemblers, and its publication online supports the creation of watchmaking projects in France.

Feasibility study for the production of watch cases: This analysis conducted alongside France Horlogerie and a technical centre, aims to prepare the structuring of a strategic activity in France based on the principles of relocation, sustainability and competitiveness. The study identifies the requirements, innovations and potential of case production with a view to encouraging entrepreneurs to set up a complete value chain, and other feasibility studies have been launched to build a key resource base to support the development of case manufacturing within the country.

Besançon Chronometric Certification: Developed by the Besançon Observatory inaugurated in 1884, Viper Certification will offer brands a recognised, accessible and competitive precision testing service rivalling that of the COSC (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute) and the Glashütte Observatory in Germany. The initiative is the brainchild of a working group made up of watchmaking companies, the Fédération de l’Horlogerie trade association, France Horlogerie and Francéclat. Relying on automated testing technologies, Viper Certification harnesses the premium chronometric expertise relaunched in 2008 through the Viper Head hallmark. These French precision tests reinforce the historical roots of French watchmaking, enhancing the rigour and reliability of its production.

Through these concrete actions, the industry supports brands that choose to design and manufacture in France. Among them, discover six brands that are making a difference by actively participating in this movement, showcasing French watchmaking that is innovative, collaborative, and firmly focused on the future : 1977, Beaubleu, B.R.M Chronographes, Hegid, Pequignet and Yema.