We are still far from July 14, but, for French watchmaking, the national holiday is already here. And his day of glory arrived a little early. For a few months (and even a few years), the tricolor brands have been quivering like a volcano dormant for too long. And the eruption has indeed begun. BRM, Lip, Ralf Tech, Trilobe, March LA.B, Apose, Herbelin, MAT Watches, Hegid, Awake, FOB, Baltic, Beaubleu, Briston, Serica, Grandval, BND, Buci, etc., ask for the program! Houses that are already solidly established or more recently created chain novelty after novelty, and while some continue to equip their timepieces with Swiss or Japanese movements, others materialize the ambition to hoist the colors blue, white, red, by assuming the extra cost. Among these defenders of the flag, Pequignet fights on the front line.
Pequignet Attitude Steel watch. Polished 316L steel case. Diameter 39mm. Height 9.05mm. Automatic movement, Initial manufacture caliber. Power reserve 65 hours. Stop second device. Sunburst anthracite gray dial. Date. Domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Transparent background. Water resistant to 50 meters. Black leather strap with folding clasp. €2,500.
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Founded in 1973, in Morteau, the house gave birth in 2011 to a high-level French manufacture movement: the very elitist Caliber Royal reserved for prestige models. In order to democratize its know-how and afford a lasting industrial future, Pequignet Horlogerie decided, around four years ago, to design a second, more accessible 3-hand caliber. This one was born in 2021 and received the name of Initial, as if to symbolize the beginnings of a new great adventure. The ambition of this automatic movement was both to equip the brand’s models, but also to be offered outside. The first French “rolling” piece was the Pequignet Attitude unveiled a year ago in a luxurious gold version produced in a limited series of 100 pieces. A launch in the form of a bang intended to mark the spirits (note, in passing, that Pequignet benefits from the Living Heritage Company label).
Pequignet Attitude Steel watch. Polished 316L steel case. Diameter 39mm. Height 9.05mm. Automatic movement, Initial manufacture caliber. Power reserve 65 hours. Stop second device. Silver sunray dial with Roman numerals and blued hands. Date. Domed anti-reflective sapphire crystal. Transparent background. Water resistant to 50 meters. Dark gold alligator strap with folding clasp. €2,700.
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Today, the time has come for the Attitude watch to become more democratic, in accordance with the roadmap planned by the company’s managers. This new step is materialized by the release of a steel version. “Available with a choice of silver, gray or white sunburst dial, its contained 39mm diameter gives it an elegant and distinguished appearance”, explain its designers, who underline the particular attention paid to proportions and quality of execution. Beyond the style and aesthetics of the case and dial, the Caliber Initial, endowed with a comfortable 65-hour power reserve, is of course highlighted through a transparent back. This allows you to observe its details (it has a patented instantaneous date jump and winding system) and its oscillating weight openworked in relief. As for the price, Pequignet, who has chosen to define himself by the formula “French fine watchmaking”, has set it between 2,500 and 2,700 euros according to the bracelet.
