Favre Leuba is one of the oldest Swiss watch brands still in existence, its story beginning in Le Locle in 1718 when Abraham Favre began his watchmaking apprenticeship. On March 13, 1737, he was officially designated as an independent watchmaker in Le Locle — the date the brand marks as its founding. Over nearly three centuries, Favre Leuba built a legacy defined by exploration and pioneering spirit: in 1865 it became the first Swiss watch brand to enter India, in 1962 it introduced the Bivouac — the world's first mechanical wristwatch with an aneroid barometer for altimetry — and in 1968 it launched the Bathy, the world's first mechanical wristwatch to display current diving depth. After changing hands multiple times in the wake of the quartz crisis, the brand relaunched at Geneva Watch Days 2024 with three cornerstone collections — Chief, Deep Raider Revival, and Sea Sky — and in 2025 introduced both its first-ever tourbillon and first-ever skeletonised timepiece, marking an ambitious new chapter in its 289-year legacy.
Favre Leuba
1737
Abraham Favre is officially designated as an independent watchmaker in Le Locle, Switzerland — the founding moment of the Favre Leuba Maison.
1865
Favre Leuba becomes the first Swiss watch brand to enter India, when Fritz Favre travels to the country and launches the brand's timepieces — establishing a presence that endures to this day.
1955
Favre Leuba introduces the manufacture caliber FL101 — its first fully in-house movement — powering the Sea Chief, Sea King, and Sea Raider.
1962
Launch of the legendary Bivouac: the world's first mechanical wristwatch with an aneroid barometer for altimetry and air pressure measurement. It was worn by mountaineer Walter Bonatti on the north face of the Matterhorn.
1968
Launch of the Bathy — the world's first mechanical wristwatch to display not only dive time, but current diving depth in real time.
1969
Favre Leuba and Jaeger-LeCoultre become sister companies when Georges Favre purchases the SAPIC Group, leading to jointly developed models including Reverso and Memovox with Favre Leuba branding.
2024
Favre Leuba relaunches at Geneva Watch Days 2024 with the Chief, Deep Raider Revival, and Sea Sky collections — marking a new chapter after decades of dormancy.
2025
Favre Leuba introduces the Chief Tourbillon (its first-ever tourbillon, developed with Jean-François Mojon) and the Chief Skeleton — the brand's first-ever skeletonised timepiece in 289 years.
