France has always been the country that symbolizes glamour, chic and luxury. It is in Paris that the biggest luxury brands have settled. The Avenue des Champs-Elysées and the heart of Paris brings together thousands of luxury brands recognized around the world. It is also in France that most trends are born. Watchmaking is no exception to the rule. Here is a list of the most beautiful French watch brands.
Dodan
In 2013, the brand was relaunched thanks to the personal commitment of Cédric and Laurent Dodane, descendants of the fifth generation of this great family of watchmakers. To relaunch the brand, they drew inspiration from the traditional know-how of their ancestors. At the heart of today’s collection are the two type 21 and type 23 pilot chronographs. These are two improved versions of the legendary Type XX (Type 20). The onboard chronographs also remain in the brand’s catalog. Inside these watches are ETA-based movements with chronograph modules from Dubois Dépraz. In addition to the production of robust and easily readable watches in the service of aeronautics, chronometers have always been an important part of the brand image.
cartier
Since its founding in 1847, Cartier has always been one of the most important French watch manufacturers and it has played an important role in the development of the wristwatch and its rise to dominance in the world market. The Cartier Santos is the first pilot watch and perhaps even the first wristwatch marketed in the world. With this watch, the brand popularized the wristwatch from the beginning of the 20th century. Highly appreciated by women for its practicality, Cartier now offers a men’s model.
Bell & Ross
Its watches resemble aeronautical instrument dials and that’s exactly what a pilot’s watch should look like. The hallmark of these watches are the four oversized Arabic numerals that rest on the dial like points of orientation and resemble the compass on board a military aircraft. Simple colors and shapes highlight a remarkable design choice that reinvents itself with each model. Persistence defines the strength of this French watch. It has successfully entered the luxury watch market.
Leroy
The positioning of this French watch brand is based on its corporate heritage. The models have always been carefully worked to position themselves in the top-of-the-range category. The focus is on the manufacture of Tourbillon watches, one of the brand’s best-sellers. The style of the watches is also built on the history of the brand. Indeed, the designs are inspired by the nautical universe and include a traditional dominant note that recalls the language of the Baroque style. There are both guilloche dials and blue hands, Breguet numerals and elaborate cut-out dials.
Breguet
Breguet is a Swiss watch brand. The head office is also located at the Abbey in Switzerland and whose founder and namesake was a Swiss citizen. However, for years, Abraham Louis Breguet occupied a workshop in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. This was the most important period for this manufacturer of unique watches in the entire history of mechanical time measurement. He worked in this workshop for several decades, and produced a variety of revolutionary inventions and style elements that had a profound influence in the world of luxury watches. Terms such as Spirale Breguet, Breguet hands and Breguet numerals are standard nomenclature for French watches today.
Alain Silberstein
These watches were created by Alain Silberstein, a highly skilled interior designer. His passion for watches led him to found a brand of luxury watches in his name in 1990. The particularity of these watches is that they are composed of an atypical mixture of shapes, patterns and colors. . The extravagance of the style of the architect’s watches is not unanimous. It is, however, a reference in the field of luxury watchmaking, because it has succeeded in breaking codes and conventions. Alain Silberstein discontinued production of this French watch in 2012 but this brand is remembered as a pioneer in watchmaking innovation.
Michel Herbelin
From the beginning, the guideline was to produce high quality watches at an attractive price in line with their vision: a touch of luxury at an affordable price. The watches are usually equipped with quartz movements from the manufacturer Ronda or with mechanical calibers from ETA. These watches are often studded with diamonds, which is quite unusual in this price range, which drops below 1,000 euros.
