Different but probably one of my most interesting watch related trips until now

Oct 28, 2021,09:30 AM
 

Having visited all the big ones, manufactures like Patek, Lange, IWC, Zenith, Minerva, JLC, Panerai, ... Now I did something different. All those visits were always organized by my dealers. Lucky they always pick me smile

Anyway, this time it was different. As you might now I love Florent Lecomte his watches, own the series I and waiting to get the series II.
I knew Lecomte from the start and we always had a great contact. Since he lives in Morteau, France and I'm from Belgium, meeting in person couldn't be that difficult. It's 700 km and after all Morteaux seems to be a nice village to visit. It's small but it is VERY important for the watch industry.
Morteay has a famous school where they teach horlogerie. And since Morteau is about 15 km from the Swiss boarder you can bet a lot of guys and girls start this traineeship  to get a job as a watchmaker several years later in Switzerland.

So meeting Florent Lecomte and travel in that region just had to happen. Next is a bit of the things we did the last days.

First he asked me if I was interested to see the school inside and how things work and are organized. What do you think, would I be interested ? smile After all this is where it ALL begins. Without the necessary education and dedication there simply wouldn't be any watches.
The entrance looked pretty small at first sight but I was amazed once getting in. There were so many buildings all connected and it was MUCH bigger than I thought when seeing the entrance









Not only watchmakers were formed here, they offer a wide section of different courses but I was only interested in the watchmakers

Just few shots of some classrooms, tools and machines 





Ofcourse this looks a bit like inside a manufacture most of us visited already in the past. 
The tools they use and need in a manufacture are those that they learn how to use here.
So CNC, polishing tools, pressure testing, 





















Next Thierry Ducret joined us, also a teacher
Just like Floren Lecomte  Mr Ducret made his own watch but as far as I know it's only 1 watch while Florent choose to become an independent and creating more pieces now and in the future.
Mr Ducret might make more but as I said I believe today he has only this very special watch and until today it's the only one existing
It took him 2 years to make it








We had a nice chat about the school , and I saw some realizations what students made in the past.
It takes 7 years to get the graduation and knowing some names of the people that were formed by Mr Ducret or Mr Lecomte all I can say it ... This has to be a VERY important school.







This year watchmakers in their last year, so the 7th had to make a tourbillon with automatic movement to finish their course.
Next are a few examples.
Sorry for the bad pictures but I had no professional equipment and just used my iPhone
So believe me, watches were great and sorry for the not so great pictures smile































Ofcourse a lot of time goes into development so before such a watch is made, everything has to be worked out on paper so each piece also has a book/folder with a lot of documentation.
Making a watch is one thing but you also have to make a design and calculate 'how it will work'

Browsing some of these papers was really nice to see








And I bet you all know this one smile
It was nice to see the origins of his work ...







Besides Remy Cools also Theo Auffret came from this school
And many, MANY others !!!!!!

Later I saw how to make 1 hand, from design, to create, polish and give it the typical blue color by heating it under a flame at more or less 300 degrees




















Later that evening I was invited to Florent Lecompte his house and we had a great diner.

I looked at some of his work at home. Well nothing new for me cause I've been following hime since quite some time.
Owning his series 1 and waiting for Series 2 I also saw some ideas he had for a Series 3. But that will take time since The series 2 isn't finished yet.
Also saw some special unique pieces he made but I can't tell more about these

But I can share the watch he made for himself and wears on daily basis
You might definitely recognize Breguet, that is because he is a HUGE fan of Breguet and has a lot of respect for all the things Breguet made and invented about 250 years ago









The next days we visited some companies and other watchmakers who live in and near Morteau.


First Philippe Narbel.
 I can tell you he is working on his own watch which will be officially launched within a few days or weeks. If you want to find out more do follow him on instagram
He did however show me some parts he finished for brand XXX ( think very high end ) when some clients form brans XXX received special requests from specific clients.



 
Left Philippe Narbel, right Florent Lecomte

Philippe used to work also for Manufacture SA ( or maybe still works a bit for them, not sure about that )

So we went to Manufactor SA. This company is crazy good when it comes to super high end finishing 
The Company is managed by Patrice, who happens to know Philippe Dufour very well and he also worked 2 years together with Dufour
Manufactor SA works under subcontract for some of the most famous high end big brands and independents

I saw pieces made for the most well known big manufactures as well as well known independents.
So no, it's NOT all in-house even if they say so
But unfortunately I had to promise to keep this info cause they are not allowed to share that info to the public... so don't ask me which brands


Inside Manufactor SA, some pics but no close ups of certain pieces and you understand why












Believe me, the level of finishing is PERFECT.
They don't work exclusively for some well known brands, you can contact them and ask them to work on a watch you own.
I was told they just received a Panerai but the client wanted to have a Panerai with a unique finishing.

I can show you this IWC movement which is also for a specific client. As you can see the finishing is just crazy
If you understand sharp inward angles .... You must love this







They're also fantastic at Hand engraving, just an example






( sorry for the very terrible iPhone picture, but believe me, even under a loupe is was perfection)


We also visited Julien Tixier
Maybe you didn't hear about him yet but believe me .... You should
I spoke him in the past but we did not meet yet. But since Florent knew him, visiting him too was fixed

Again I had to promise not to share too much information because these guys work on 'secret projects'
Julien is a genius who does EVERYTHING by himself. Think he works non stop.
Now he is working with another famous name from the industry on a very special watch. But I can't say more
Bet we will see it in the presses within a few months or maybe next year.

Mr Tixier is also working on his own watch which will be sublime, we spoke about it and saw some things about it ... but as you can imagine it's also still a secret
All I can say is ... follow him on IG and when he decides to tell more and publish things you will see amazing things


Mr Julien Tixier



Inside his workshop








Thats about it.

It was amazing, saw so much, learned even more and most of all enjoyed it a lot.
A big thank you to all the persons I met behind the scenes and especially a huge thanks you to Florent Lecomte for the great trip during these days




More posts: DufourTAG Heuer Connected

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Different but probably one of my most interesting watch related trips until now

 
 By: Bruno.M1 : October 28th, 2021-09:30
Having visited all the big ones, manufactures like Patek, Lange, IWC, Zenith, Minerva, JLC, Panerai, ... Now I did something different. All those visits were always organized by my dealers. Lucky they always pick me Anyway, this time it was different. As ...

Superb report Bruno …

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : October 28th, 2021-10:40
I enjoyed reading your post and the photos were great. Many thanks for sharing your trip with us.

Epic Bruno. Thanks for sharing the journey (if not the secrets) with us.

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : October 28th, 2021-12:54
The idea of sending a watch to Manufactor SA for some upgrade in finish is intriguing to me. It is not something that ever crossed my mind before. Love seeing the school watches, I particularly like one the last ones with the creamish dial, thick 3 piece ...

There's a watchmaker in NY who has offered this same idea.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : October 28th, 2021-12:55

Really? Has he/she done this? Have you seen the end result?

 
 By: Jay (Eire) : October 28th, 2021-19:09
It’s an interesting idea, not one I’ve thought of.

I haven't seen his finishing, but he's done good work.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : October 29th, 2021-01:17
I think highly enough of him that I'd like to see his finishing sometime.

Hey Jay, agree with your first thought.......

 
 By: DouglasM : October 28th, 2021-17:29
I've long looked at certain movements with really attractive movement architecture, but the finishing was just so-so; nice, but not terrific. I've wondered who is out there that would take a watch and get it looking top notch as far as finishing is concer...

Thank you, Bruno. You've shared an awesome trip with us.

 
 By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : October 28th, 2021-12:55

So COOL! I would much rather visit a small independent manufacturer than a big one

 
 By: MichaelC : October 28th, 2021-13:33
I love seeing the organized chaos of the work stations.

✅✅

 
 By: Mikesr  : October 28th, 2021-13:56
I agree with Michael C .

Great report Bruno!

 
 By: Mario : October 28th, 2021-14:49
With the smaller independent watchmakers it also has a satisfying feel, because you get to know them a little bit.

Thanks WSA

 
 By: P@trick@Belgium : October 28th, 2021-17:20
I'll hear the details next sunday i'm sure !

Most be so cool to visit an artisan like that! Wow

 
 By: Chronometer (aka yacomino) : October 28th, 2021-23:05