Revival of a watch movement: French automatic watches

The French automatic watch market has been experiencing a renaissance. A new wave of timepiece brands are making their mark, blending mechanical mastery with distinctive style. Through their craftsmanship, innovation, and bold designs, these brands are capturing the attention of enthusiasts and collectors alike. Welcome to a new era of French automatic watches.

The rise of French calibres: a current trend

Driven by manufacturers that reaffirm their expertise and independence, French watch brands are doing more than reviving signature models: they’re pushing boundaries.

Take Yema, a name synonymous with heritage and innovation. Still in the hands of its founding family after three generations, it designs, prototypes, and assembles its timepieces with unwavering respect for watchmaking traditions.

As the brand is independent, it can develop exclusive calibres, ensuring a level of precision and reliability that meets international standards. A case in point: the Wristmaster Slim CMM.20.

Its striking dial with irregular striations is inspired by nature: ocean waves and desert ripples sculpted by the elements.

At Watches & Wonders 2024, Pequignet revealed its first flying tourbillon: the Royale Tourbillon.

A feat in fine watchmaking, this ultra-limited edition of just 24 pieces is a showcase of Pequiget’s technical prowess.

Powered by the brand’s fourth in-house movement, the Royale Tourbillon builds on the prestigious Calibre Royal®. With no upper bridge, its tourbillon appears to hover, offering the wearer a mesmerising, weightless spectacle. Truly hypnotic.

French automatic movements: the future in motion

Writing the future of watchmaking together, the French watchmaking industry and its brands are working to craft ever more daring pieces that redefine excellence.

Akrone’s C-02 Heritage-Decompression collection is a prime example. This diving watch features a key element in the French resurgence: the France Ébauches movement.

Both elegant and highly technical, the piece is a major milestone in French watchmaking.

The first Akrone watch with a calibre designed, machined and assembled in France is produced in a limited edition and available with a solid or open caseback. A collector’s dream.

Meanwhile, BRM uses its own – or Swiss-made – movements. The brand stands out for its commitment to bespoke watch designs. Each skeleton movement is designed and skeletonised by hand, to continually explore new ideas. 

The V6-44-SA-N model is particularly striking, with its “Shock Absorbers” system developed by BRM Chronographe. The system protects the suspended skeleton movement, even in the most demanding environments. Inspired by the world of motor racing, this timepiece is engineered for those who appreciate high-performance mechanics in all their glory.

Contemporary and avant-garde, French automatic timepieces wonderfully illustrate how the watchmakers of France are innovating while preserving their precious heritage. Their intricate movements are as engaging as the story they tell. These pieces are more than objects, they are silent witnesses to the changing tides of fashion and technology, a testament to the enduring artistry of French watchmaking.