Pequignet
Morteau, France · Est. 1973
Founded by Emile Pequignet
Pequignet is France's sole Haute Horlogerie manufacture, founded in 1973 in Morteau in the heart of the Jura watchmaking region, designing and producing its own movements entirely in-house. For over 50 years the brand has embodied a bold French vision of exceptional horology with calibres including the celebrated Calibre Royal and an in-house tourbillon.
- Founded
- 1973
- Headquarters
- Morteau, France
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Luxury
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- Moorea — Signature collection inspired by French Polynesia, available in sport and dressy variations with both quartz and manufacture movements.
- Rue Royale — Haute horlogerie line housing the in-house Calibre Royal, named after the prestigious Parisian address.
Timeline
- 1973 — Emile Pequignet, a horse breeder and designer, founds his watchmaking company in Morteau, France.
- 1980 — Launches the Equitation line featuring horse-head engravings, reflecting the founder's equestrian passion.
- 2004 — Didier Leibundgut (former Zenith marketing director) acquires the brand and pivots it toward fine watchmaking.
- 2010 — Opens its own manufacture and debuts the Calibre Royal — an in-house French mechanical movement, a rarity in watchmaking.
- 2020 — Philippe Spruch and Laurent Katz acquire the brand, continuing its independent French manufacture identity.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pequignet
- Is Pequignet really French-made?
- Yes. Pequignet is one of the very few brands with a genuine French manufacture, producing its own Calibre Royal movement in Morteau, near the Swiss border.
- Who owns Pequignet today?
- Since 2020, Pequignet is owned by entrepreneurs Philippe Spruch and Laurent Katz, who have maintained its identity as an independent French watchmaker.