History

In 1737, Abraham Favre started one of the earliest watch-making businesses in a small Swiss village called Le Locle in Neuchâtel. His son went a step further by going into partnership with the watch-dealer, Auguste Leuba in 1814 and hence derived the brand name of Favre Leuba. Since then the company is remained and managed in the hands of family for eight generations. Until 1969, the quartz revolution came along, bringing many changes for the watchmaking industry. Favre-Leuba, one of the largest companies of its time, passed through different hands such as Benedom SA and LVMH before finally regaining its independence in 2003.

The company

Under the leadership of Henry A. Favre during the yearsfollowing the Second World War, the company continued efforts to improve the technology of the watch movements, focusing on improving their properties at different temperature. This research indeed resulted in more accurate and reliable movements, most of which are still running well today – some 50 years later. The FL 251 movement designed in 1962 is a good example of these exceptional masterpieces : it is an extra-thin twin-barrel movement with a centre second hand and 50 hours of power reserve. It was a good 30 years ahead of its time.

1962 was also important to Favre-Leuba as the year when the “Bivouac” was launched, the first wristwatch with an altimeter / barometer function. It was a runaway success and became a must for the major expeditions of the time. Paul-Emile Victor used it in Antarctica, Vaucher and Bonatti for conquering the north face of the Grandes Jorasses in the Alps. Many others followed in their footsteps.

Bathy – 1966 depth gauge function

1964 saw the launch of one of the earliest diving timepieces, the “Deep Blue”, which was waterproof to 200m.In 1966 came the legendary “Bathy”, a unique mechanicalinstrument giving divers not only a precise indication of their time under water, but also a direct and accurate reading of their actual depth.

The Duomatic in 1968 followed by the Sea Raiderin 1970 introduced a true technological breakthrough : their first high-frequency movement of 36,000 alternances per hour giving the watch unparalleled accuracy.

Bivouac – 1962 altimeter / barometer function

The Mercury collection

Mercury, the name given to the new Favre-Leuba collection, is inspired by two unique events – the birth of the Favre Manufacture in Le Locle in 1737 and the eclipse of the planet Mercury by Venus in the same year. This event of rare celestial splendour was a fitting celebration for the launch of brand destined to prosper and flourish over more than 300 years.

Unique features :

Innovative Bidirectional Crown Locking System (B/CLS) developed by Favre-Leuba.

worldwide-exclusive “Embedded Running Indicator” (ERI)

Technical data FL 301 ChronographMOVEMENTContrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres (COSC)Caliber FL 301Selfwinding mechanical 297 individual componentsHeight : 6.90 mm / Diameter : 30.00 mm 28,800 alternances per hourMaximum power reserve : 44 hours55 jewels

FUNCTIONSHour & minute DateChronograph with 45 minutes counterEmbedded Running Indicator (ERI)

CASE59 individual components18K Rose Gold or 316L Steel Height : 13.85 mm / Diameter : 44.00 mm Cambered sapphire glass with multilayer anti-reflex coatingPatented Bidirectional / Crown Locking System ( B / CLS)Screwed in caseback and bezelWater resistance : 100 meters

STRAPSGenuine alligator Natural rubber

CL ASP18K Rose Gold or 316L Steel Exclusive folding system with twin safety locks

HANDSManufactured in 18K GoldChronograph second´s hand manufacured in PfinnodalSuperluminova C1

DIALDiameter : 35.20 mm 18K Gold applied IndexesSuperluminova C1 Multilayer constructionGalvanic surface treatmentGuilloché on Gold Collection

Technical data FL 303 Power ReserveMOVEMENTCaliber FL 303Selfwinding mechanical 136 individual componentsHeight : 5.20 mm / Diameter : 26.20 mm 28,800 alternances per hourMaximum power reserve : 44 hours22 jewels

FUNCTIONSHour & minuteDateDouble power reserve indication (Hand + Disc)

CASE42 individual components316L Steel Height : 11.35 mm / Diameter : 41.00 mm Cambered sapphire glass with multilayer anti-reflex coatingPatented Bidirectional / Crown Locking System (B / CLS)Screwed in caseback and bezelWater resistance : 100 meters

STRAPGenuine alligator

CL ASP316L Steel Exclusive folding system with twin safety locks

HANDSAll manufactured in 18K GoldSuperluminova C1

DIALDiameter : 32.50 mm 18K Gold applied IndexesSuperluminova C1 Multilayer constructionGalvanic surface treatment

Technical dataFL 302 Big DateMOVEMENTCaliber FL 302Selfwinding mechanical 175 individual componentsHeight : 5.20 mm / Diameter : 30.00 mm 28,800 alternances per hourMaximum power reserve : 44 hours26 jewels

FUNCTIONSHour, minute & small secondBig dateEmbedded Running Indicator (ERI)

CASE41 individual components18K Rose Gold or 316L Steel Height : 11.35 mm / Diameter : 41.00 mm Cambered sapphire glass with multilayer anti-reflex coatingPatented Bidirectional / Crown Locking System (B / CLS)Screwed in caseback and bezelWater resistance : 100 meters

STRAPGenuine alligator

CL ASP18K Rose Gold or 316L Steel Exclusive folding system with twin safety locks

HANDSAll manufactured in 18K GoldSuperluminova C1

DIALDiameter : 32.50 mm 18K Gold applied IndexesSuperluminova C1 Multilayer constructionGalvanic surface treatmentGuilloché on Gold Collection