Favre Leuba — The Second Oldest Watchmaker
Dressed in the robe of heritage, Favre Leuba has stood over the sands of time with precision and innovation. Carrying the legacy of the second oldest watchmaker in the world, Favre Leuba traces its roots back to 1737. Favre Leuba was founded by Abraham Favre, the “master watchmaker” of LeLocle, Switzerland and is amongst the first Swiss watchmakers in the world. It wasn’t until 1792 that Abraham decided to start a watch company with his two sons and grappled with the hook of technical advancements in watchmaking. In a bid to garner the attention of watch enthusiasts around the world, Henry-August Favre, the great-grandson of Abraham Favre, travelled and established a worldwide presence.
The Indian Chapter
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 significant moment, as Favre Leuba was the first Swiss watch brand to have entered the Indian mainland. 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 subsequently, the ownership changed hands several times. All this while, Favre Leuba could count on a stable position in India thanks to their own office in Bombay. During the 1950s and 1960s, the brand soon underwent a proper revival and regained its stance and relevance in the international watch markets—first in 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 this period.
The Innovators
When the watchmaking world was going through a paradigm shift, Favre Leuba decided to ride on it. The 1920s was an era where the world was switching from pocket watches to wristwatches, and during this time Favre Leuba launched the world’s first monopusher chronographs. But, it was only the beginning of a long list of “firsts” achieved by the Maison. In 1955, the brand launched its first in-house movement, the FL101 and in 1960, the brand launched its first diving watch, the Water Deep. Further, Favre Leuba developed the iconic Bivouac in 1962, the world’s first mechanical wristwatch with an aneroid barometer. In 1968, the brand introduced the world’s first mechanical wristwatch that displayed the concurrent diving depth and the dive time.
Favre Leuba Watches
Favre Leuba remained dormant for many years since the quartz crisis and was revived in 2017. Today, Favre Leuba carries its motto of developing technically advanced timepieces with the same zest and zeal.
Known for being at the vanguard of technical proficiency, Favre Leuba created some truly memorable timepieces in their long lifespan. The Raider Bathy 120 MemoDepth is one such example. It’s a timepiece that features a mechanical depth gauge, a rarity in the world of mechanical watches and measures and records depth to 120 m.
Another timepiece that deserves special mention is the Raider Bivouac 9000. This timepiece is celebrated as the first altimeter wristwatch to precisely convey altitude readings even at the top of Mount Everest. But topping the list is the workhorse of the brand. Called the Raider Harpoon, this timepiece flaunts a unique measurement of time on its dial. Apart from these iconic timepieces, the brand is also considerate towards the simplistic nature of timekeeping such as the Chief Date and Chief Chronograph. Amidst a long line of timepieces, Favre Leuba recently re-introduced a historic timepiece, the Sandow.
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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:
Which are the most popular Favre Leuba watches for men in India?
The most popular Favre Leuba watches for men in India are:
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/
