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As a country, France is well known for its art, architecture, fashion, food, and just about everything else in the space of fine arts. The country has a long and reputable history of producing top-quality consumer goods, and its watchers are no different.
French watchmaking has never quite reached the heights of Switzerland but has remained steady since the inception of the industry. Overall, France has never been #1, although it has contributed a lot to the world of watches. Even today, it still has some of the most well-known and luxurious brands such as Cartier and Breguet.
It was in fact Breguet who can be credited with inventing both the tourbillon and minute repeater. Both of these mechanical breakthroughs still feature in high-end watches today and add tremendous value to the brands which are able to produce them.
It’s only fair then that we look at some of the best French watch brands. Overall, French watches are quite expensive as they don’t mass produce quartz fashion watches like Japan and China. Instead, the French have quite a distinguished taste and put out classical and high society watches. Some of these brands you will certainly be familiar with, whereas others, it may be your first time hearing of them.
Table of Contents
Best French Watch Brands
Cartier
Cartier is one of the most instantly recognizable watch and jewelry brands in the world. Surprisingly enough, when you think of luxury watchmakers, Cartier does not instantly spring to mind. This is likely because the brand produces both jewelry and watches, rather than just being a singular brand such as Rolex or Patek Philippe.
However, Cartier is certainly not a brand you can ignore, neither does it play second fiddle to any other watchmaker. There is a long and extensive list of classic watch designs such as the Santos, Tank, Roadster, and Ballon Bleu. Considering that some of these designs were created in the early 1900s. It is quite incredible and a real testament to the design aesthetic that they are still around today.
Despite being such a high-end brand, Cartier watches are actually a lot more affordable than other luxury brands. Granted, there are some models which will set you back in the mid 5 figures, although used Cartier watches can be picked up in the region of $5000-6000.
Bell & Ross
Bell & Ross are the official sponsors of the Renault Formula 1 team. The company is best known for having a standard circular dial with a square case, making the watch look neither circular nor square, but something in between. B & R are an entry-level luxury watch and typically cost around $5000, although can be picked up cheaper if bought preowned. The company does not make its own movements and instead relies on various Swiss manufacturers to buy and adjust movements from.
Overall, the brand’s reputation is largely mixed by people who either love or hate their unusual design. Either way, the brand has gone from strength to strength considering it was only created as a university project in 1992.
Michel Herbelin
Michel Herbelin is a true independent watchmaker, as well as a family business. The founder – Michel Herbelin decided that other company’s standards were not good enough, so he founded his own. He later passed this business onto his sons, and now in present-day, 3 out of his 4 grandchildren all actively work within the brand.
The company does not make its own movements and typically uses Swiss-based ETA designs. As Michel Herblin is not particularly a luxury watch brand, many of the designs are quartz and can be picked up for well under $1000. That is not to say all of the watches are as cheap as this, as some higher-end designs can cost in the region of $4000. Altogether, Michel Herbelin would best be described as a high-end fashion watchmaker.
Chaumet
Chaumet is a criminally underrated French watch brand. Their watches are really second to none in terms of finishing and can be compared with anyone outside of the holy trinity. So with that being said, it really is quite a travesty if you have not heard of this brand. With that being said, you will not find the name Chaumet all over a Formula 1 track or a tennis event, so this company clearly does not waste money on expensive advertisements.
Perhaps the one area where the brand is let down, is that they do not make in-house movements. Typically Chaumet watches all use modified ETA movements, although this will vary from model to model. If you ever get the chance to pick up a used Chaumet at a discount price, it will certainly be worth the money.
Boucheron
Boucheron does not make a lot of watches as they are mostly a company that produces fine jewelry. The brand also does not make watches for men and has a very feminine style about it. If you do not like the pictured watch then you are out of luck as this brand stubbornly only really has one style. Its watches are typically priced in the $3000-4000 region if you’re looking to buy brand new but can be picked up for around half price on the pre-owned market.
Korloff
Korloff are a brand which are only really known by true watch enthusiasts. The company is an independent jeweler, as well as a watchmaker. Whilst the brand does not release as many models as other watch brands, it makes up for this with its originality. Take the image above for example. This is actually the same watch but is reversible, how many watches with 2 dials and 2 crowns have you seen? Not to mention looks excellent.
On the whole, Korloff watches can cost anywhere from the mid 4 figures to the low 5 figures depending on which kind of materials the case was made from. Typically Korloff will use automatic ETA movements for all of its watches, although will use higher-end specifications when the watch is particularly expensive.
Rochas
Even the most hardened watch fanatic will likely not know the Rochas brand. This is because Rochas is mostly a French fashion brand that makes fragrances and clothes, as well as watches. Secondly, the brand is not really known outside of Europe or the Middle East, so if you are an American. Chances are, you haven’t heard this name before.
Overall, the watches are well-finished fashion pieces. They are nothing special in terms of horology, but in fairness, they are not claiming anything otherwise. The brand only produces watches for women and are generally very feminine designs.
Breguet
Saving the best until last. Breguet is arguably the watch brand with the most innovative and richest history outside of the Swiss holy trinity. As mentioned, it was Breguet who invented both the tourbillon and the minute repeater, both of which are still used today by the brand. With that being said, Breguet has not stopped dead in its tracks and continues to push the boundaries of luxury watchmaking. These days its pieces can cost anywhere from the mid 5 figures upwards as the company uses the finest movements and materials.
The brand is so iconic that the hands used by Breguet are now simply referred to as “Breguet hands” rather than any other name. In terms of horology and design, the brand is really second to none and cannot be beaten. As a company, Breguet has been making watches since 1775 at the high-quality standard until the present day. Their watches are both expensive and luxurious and continue to be popular amongst everyone who can afford them.
