THE RENEWAL OF FRANCE EBAUCHES: TWO MECHANICAL MOVEMENTS “MADE IN FRANCE”
After a three-decade absence, France Ebauches , one of Europe's leading manufacturers of mechanical movements, is making a comeback in the watchmaking world. Since its acquisition by the Festina Group in 2017, the company has reconnected with its prestigious past by producing two exclusive " Made in France " automatic movements. This return is a source of pride for Franche-Comté, the cradle of French watchmaking, and reinforces national sovereignty in terms of industrial production.
FRENCH WATCHMAKING EXPERTISE IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Located in Doubs, Franche-Comté, the France Ebauches manufacture currently produces watch components for the brands of the Festina Group, of which it has been a part since 2017. Thanks to the recent restart of the production of French movements, France Ebauches is working to relocate, reindustrialize and develop the production of quality French mechanical movements. The Festina Group thus intends to meet the expectations of brands, consumers and politicians wishing to develop movements incorporating French values. Akrone , as well as other national brands, are delighted to restock their mechanical movements signed France Ebauches. The objective is to achieve a French value of 70%, with major components such as plates, bridges and masses produced at the Maîche site. The remaining 30%, mainly balance springs, levers and escape wheels, are produced in the Swiss Jura by the group's sister companies.
MODERNIZATION AND TYPICALLY FRENCH FINISHING OF THE CALIBERS
These movements, inspired by the vintage France Ebauches 4600-5600 calibers, have been optimized to offer precision and reliability. They beat at a frequency of 4Hz (28,800 alt./hour), an ideal compromise between speed, accuracy, durability and torque. In addition, they are equipped with the best shock absorbers on the market, the double-cone Incabloc®, guaranteeing incomparable robustness to the regulating mechanism. The engineers worked on the solidity and resistance of the movement by designing a traversing balance bridge, a signature found among major watchmaking brands. Aesthetically, the bridge has been hollowed out to offer a perfect view of the regulating organ. The finishes are also exclusive: the original rhodium-plated "honeycomb" pattern, symbolizing France, replaces the traditional Swiss "Côtes de Genève". The design has been studied to expose the caliber on both sides, with the balance wheel visible on the dial side and the sunburst rotor in blued steel, as well as the plate decorated with the “honeycomb” pattern, visible through a transparent caseback.
SUPPORT FOR FRENCH NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION
The Festina Group, Akrone , and other national brands demonstrate their commitment to French industrial production, the preservation of local employment, and the promotion of ancestral know-how. The return of this iconic manufacturer to the forefront of the French watchmaking scene strengthens territorial independence in the production of mechanical movements, a crucial issue in an uncertain geopolitical context. With the production of these two " Made in France " mechanical movements, the France Ebauches manufacturer is thus contributing to the growth of the French watchmaking industry and its long-term sustainability.
