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29Anniversaries

Though Louis Moinet officially celebrates ten years of existence in 2014, it does seem like this boutique brand has been around quite a bit longer. Perhaps this is because founder Jean-Marie Schaller was already making individual pieces under the Louis Moinet name before it officially reached brand status. Just in time for Louis Moinet’s tenth anniversary, it received a Merit for Development award from the International Institute for Promotion and Prestige (IIPP) in cooperation with UNESCO. The prestigious prize is awarded to companies for extraordinary achievements; according to Louis Moinet this is the first Merit for Development of Watchmaking Arts and Technologies.

Naturally, one of the biggest events to happen during this decade was the unexpected find of the world’s very first chronograph, which was made by none other than Monsieur Louis Moinet. Though the modern brand has not yet brought out a commemorative chronograph, surely this cannot be too far off … perhaps in time for the brand’s bicentennial anniversary of said invention in 2016?

On the affordable sideFrédérique Constant launched its first Heart Beat Manufacture caliber in 2004, and every year since has introduced a new version to its Heart Beat Manufacture range. Despite design and technology updates, features like the signature cutaway in the dial at 6 o’clock have remained constant.

For the 2014 anniversary of this milestone, Frédérique Constant introduces the new FC-945 Silicium Heart Beat Calibre, which the manufacturer asserts is improved in terms of reliability, durability and “pure technical excellence”. This coincides with record sales results recorded in the first half of 2014: as compared to the same period in 2013, the brand announced 26% growth.

“This clearly proves that our product proposition – ‘accessible luxury’ – continues to have great potential,” says founder and CEO of Frédérique Constant Peter Stas. “The initial concept behind the brand was to create ‘Swiss Made’, high quality and innovative watches at sensible prices to allow more people enjoy luxury.”

Oris is known for competitively offering its clients mechanical watches for real-life wear at comparatively affordable prices. It is a brand widely acknowledged for developing useful timepieces with practical functions.

For its 110th anniversary in 2014, Oris introduced a new timepiece powered by an in-house movement that was in development for close to a decade. This interesting, manual-wind caliber boasts ten full days of power before it needs to be wound again. The power reserve indication on the dial even lets the wearer know when it’s time to add more energy by winding again.

Admittedly, the 5,500 Swiss franc range in which it finds itself is a hotly contested segment of the watch market. However, there are very few manufacturers who offer this type of pricing in combination with a “self-created” movement. Part of the secret is, of course, the way that the movement is actually manufactured. Oris generally utilizes ultra-reliable ETA movements made by the Swatch Group with an industrial finish, meaning they are decorated very little to make them more attractive, but rather more or less left to their utilitarian attractiveness in order to keep costs down. New Calibre 110 also follows this industrial philosophy, though its components’ edges are indeed hand-beveled and hand-polished to ensure fluid mechanical processes and to please the eye perhaps just a tick more when viewing the movement through the mineral crystal case back.

Housed in a contemporary 43 mm case limited to 110 pieces in stainless steel (CHF 5,500) and 110 pieces in 18-karat red gold (CHF 14,800) topped off by a sapphire crystal and secured by a Louisiana crocodile skin strap, it is bound to remain a solid classic with interesting mechanics at an affordable price.

Swiss boutique brand Pierre de Roche also celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2014 with a grand complication timepiece exuding a decided historical note. CEO Pierre Dubois’ grandfather, Reynold Dubois, was a leading figure at Jaeger-LeCoultre under Jacques-David LeCoultre himself. Pierre came across the LeCoultre grand complication movement from 1920 used in the unique timepiece while browsing an antique dealer’s offerings, and has turned it into the enameled tribute to Reynold. A true grand complication, this unique piece comprises a minute repeater, a chronograph, and a perpetual calendar.

DELUXE Swiss Made magazine

Frédérique Constant FC-945 Silicium Heart Beat Calibre

Jean-Marie Schaller with his IIPP award;

top left: Louis Moinet and his 1816 chronograph

Pierre de Roche Reynold

Oris Calibre 110