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Favre-Leuba - Conquering Frontiers
Favre-Leuba is a brand that prides itself on being the second oldest watch brand in the world. But that isn’t the only reason you should know about this brand. The story of this Swiss watchmaker is well-known throughout the horological industry. Favre-Leuba’s history can be traced back to the spring of 1737. However, it has been discovered that Abraham Favre actually began learning the intricacies of watchmaking in 1718, before setting up shop 19 years later. He was appointed ‘Maître horloger du Locle’ (master watchmaker of Le Locle) around 1749. With the foundation of the company laid, and with Abraham’s title as a master watchmaker, the company quickly became renowned throughout the watchmaking world. He ran the business right up until his death in 1790, after which his son, also named Abraham, took over.
The Indian Connection
Favre-Leuba has a deep Indian connection that pops up numerous times in the brand’s timeline. In 1865 and 1867, Fritz Favre travelled to India and launched the brand on the subcontinent. Now, this was an incredibly important moment in time as Favre-Leuba was the first Swiss watch brand to have ever entered the Indian subcontinent. This move was an astounding success and India became one of the most important markets for the brand. Around the same time, the brand’s headquarters moved from Le Locle to Geneva.
During World War II, the brand shut production and ownership changed hands several times. All this while, Favre-Leuba was able to count on a stable position in India thanks to their own office in Bombay. The brand soon underwent a proper revival during the 1950s and 1960s and won back its position and relevance in other watch markets—first Switzerland, then the rest of Europe, and later in America and Africa. The 60s, in particular, was one of the most important decades for the watch brand, as it produced close to 6,50,000 watches during that period.
The Resurrection
The reason why watches by Favre-Leuba were so popular during the 50s and 60s can be narrowed down to the brand’s slew of innovations at the time. In 1955, Favre-Leuba introduced the in-house calibre FL101, which was used in the Sea Chief, Sea King, and Sea Raider watch models. In 1960, the brand came out with the very first divers watch, Water Deep. By now, Favre-Leuba was gaining an audience for its exquisite tool watches. Then, in 1962, the brand launched the Bivouac, the world’s first mechanical wristwatch with aneroid barometer, for altimetry and air pressure measurement. This was followed by the Deep Blue dive watch, which was water-resistant to 200 meters, and the Bathy, which could indicate dive time, duration of dive and dive depth. This established Favre-Leuba as a company known worldwide for the creation of tool watches and catered to the adventurous bunch.
However, trouble was brewing right around the corner in the form of the quartz crisis and when it hit, Favre-Leuba suffered heavily. The brand fell by the wayside and ownership changed hands several times until it was purchased by the Tata Group. This is undoubtedly the most important Indian link for the brand as it marked its revival going into the 21st century.
The Present
With a long drawn tradition of combining watchmaking acumen with an innovative stance, Favre-Leuba watches is a brand with an intricate yet simple collection. In 2017, Favre-Leuba as a brand was taken out of its hiatus and brought back into the market with the same zest and enthusiasm. Keeping the design board of the brand as close as it can be with its predecessors, Favre-Leuba has a distinct taste when it comes to producing its timepieces.
The Raider and the Chief collections draw on its most successful design cues from the 1960s and 70s. Favre-Leuba then decided to put their best foot forward with one of their most iconic timepieces ever—a re-creation of the 1962 Bivouac. This new avatar of the Bivouac takes the concept of mechanical altimeter from the older model and is the only watch with the ability to measure altitude up to 9,000m mechanically. The goal was to create a watch equipped for even Mt. Everest, which stands at 8,848m.
Raider
In 2017, Favre-Leuba came up with the Raider Harpoon 42, a diving watch without any hours hand. A distinct flavour to the cores of diving watch enthusiasts. The original Harpoon being just too large for the wrists, Favre-Leuba adjusted the dial size just right this time.
Chief
It is said that the fewer the words, the better the impression. It sits right with the Favre-Leuba’s Chief collection. A collection speaking the language of Favre-Leuba with a touch of minimalism into it. This brings it under the radar of dress watches, a perfect amalgamation of suave outlines and clutterless design. Stepping aside from being an adventure-oriented timepiece, the Chief collection is one sophisticated piece of machinery.
Favre-Leuba is a brand with a deeply rich horological history—one that spans over 280 years—with countless twists, turns and surprises. The watchmaker has carved a special place in the hearts of outdoorsmen and continues to do so by following the ethos of bringing new technological advancements to watchmaking that Abraham Favre Jr created centuries ago.
Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)
What is special about Favre Leuba?
Favre Leuba is a brand that prides itself on being the second-oldest watch brand in the world. With a long-drawn tradition of combining watchmaking acumen with an innovative stance, Favre Leuba Watches is a brand with an intricate yet simple collection.
Which are the most popular Favre Leuba collections in India?
The most popular Favre Leuba collections in India are:
- Chief Date
- Chief Chronograph
- Raider Bathy 120 Memodepth
- Raider Bivouac 9000
- Raider Deep Blue
- Raider Harpoon
- Raider Sea Bird
- Raider Sea King
- Raider Sea Sky
- Sandow
Which are the most popular Favre Leuba watches for men in India?
The most popular Favre Leuba watches for men in India are:
- Chief Date
- Chief Chronograph
- Raider Bathy 120 Memodepth
- Raider Bivouac 9000
- Raider Deep Blue
- Raider Harpoon
- Raider Sea King
- Raider Sea Sky
- Sandow
Which are the most popular Favre Leuba watches for women in India?
The most popular Favre Leuba watches for women in India are:
Where can I get my Favre Leuba watch serviced?
One of the best luxury watch service centres in India is operated by Ethos Watches. Ethos Watch Care | Shop No 118-120, First Floor, Square One Mall, District Center Saket New Delhi - 110017 | Phone: +91 11 4142 1691, +91 93190 95793 | E-Mail: customercare@ethoswatches.com | URL: https://www.ethoswatches.com/repair-and-service/