Pequignet
Enowe Excellence · France
Pequignet is a French watch manufacture founded in 1973 by Emile Pequignet in Morteau, near the Swiss border. It is known for its in-house Calibre Royal and Calibre Initial movements.
| Founded | 1973 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Emile Pequignet |
| Headquarters | Morteau, France |
| Shareholder | Enowe Excellence (since 2021) |
| In-house movements | Calibre Royal (2011), Calibre Initial (2021) |
| Website | pequignet.com |
What is Pequignet?
Pequignet is one of the few French watch manufactures producing its own movements. It is based in Morteau, a watchmaking town in the Jura mountains close to the Swiss border, where a team of around 25 people works with suppliers located mostly within about 80 kilometres in France or Switzerland.
History
The company was founded in 1973 by Emile Pequignet. In 2011 it presented the Calibre Royal, its first in-house movement, a large, high-grade calibre featuring a big date, day, astronomical moon phase and power reserve indicator. In 2021 it introduced the smaller and thinner Calibre Initial, and in the same year joined Enowe Excellence, a structure founded by Hugues Souparis to promote French excellence.
Products and positioning
- Calibre Royal watches in automatic and manual-winding versions
- A Calibre Royal flying tourbillon unveiled in 2024
- Calibre Initial watches with hours, minutes, seconds and date
From 2025 the brand has pursued an upscale strategy with a full focus on in-house movements, presenting its new models at Watches and Wonders.
Why it matters
Pequignet is a reference point for the revival of French watchmaking, showing that manufacture-level movement production remains possible outside Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
Where are Pequignet watches made?
Pequignet watches are made in Morteau, France, close to the Swiss border.
Who founded Pequignet?
Pequignet was founded in 1973 by Emile Pequignet.