EDITORIAL
Reparalux is a 5 generaions family business located in Besançon, the cradle of French watchmaking. With always the same passion, the litle hands of the company meiculously assemble and repair watches since 1956. It is thanks to its know-how and experise that the company is recognized by the most presigious watch brands of the famous Place Vendôme in Paris. The Francs-Comtois are atached to watchmaking professions and they are proud of this tradiion that deies ime.
In June 2016, the Humbert-Droz family, who owns Reparalux, decided to embark on a new unprecedented adventure: Producing watches in their own name. With their experience in the world of watchmaking, the Humbert-Droz brand of Reparalux is a true French success story. Their exclusive limited ediion watches are sold at a reasonable price for a quality that has made, done and will sill make the family's merit.
HUMBERT-DROZ : THE FAMILY ADVENTURE In 2016, the company Reparalux celebrates its 60th anniversary and dares to embark on a new adventure. They decided to create the HUMBERT-DROZ brand and to market their own watches. The family has values they share for ive generaions. They also have ambiion, so they will make limited ediion French watches, but at a reasonable price.
« We wanted a mid-range price for a watch that has performance comparable to high-end pieces »
Each generaion has paricipated in its own way to the success of the project. Jean, who began his career in 1936 at LIP, provides advices and cauionaries. Frédéric deals in paricular with the commercial management. Finally, Julien is responsible for the design and mechanical development of the HD1 model. The brand is registered and it is with pride and emoion that the Humbert-Droz family were able to put their name on the dial of their irst watch in June 2016. This piece was produced in a limited ediion of 200 numbered pieces. A small series, because the bisonine society did not want to compete with the big names for whom it works.
HUMBERT-DROZÂ : THE FAMILY ADVENTURE The price is surprising: 390 â‚Ź
A very reasonable price, because the brand wants to enter the mid-range market with, however, watches that are comparable to high-end. Finally, with this average price range, Humbert-Droz wants to touch people in love with automaic watches but cannot aford to have one. The family has conidence in the quality of the components that make up their watches and these are therefore guaranteed three years, parts and labor.
HUMBERT-DROZ : THE FAMILY ADVENTURE The family business can aford this since it works directly on all technical aspect and sells mainly through Internet. This irst watch also holds another surprise - It is enirely designed and assembled by hand in Besançon by the company which respects the great know-how of watchmakers. The components are all French with two excepions. The movement comes from Switzerland, but it is sill reworked and adjusted by the small hands of the workshop. The case, dial and hands come from Hong Kong because there are no more manufacturers in France. The company also works with local arisans like for the real leather straps that come from the Maroquinerie Rousseau based in Pelousey.
A Facebook page has been specially created for the irst model, the HD1. Without expensive adverising, the imepiece was a great success, and we can say that the word-of-mouth worked well. In the beginning, the clientele was local, but it diversiies aterwards. The adventure starts well and it's encouraging for the young brand. In just over three months, the 200 pieces of the HD1 have been inally sold out. The model will never be reissued, but we sill describe it to you... just for fun.
THE FIRST WATCHÂ : THE HD1 2016 First ediion of the Humbert-Droz watches, the HD1 watch with its imposing yet sophisicated case, is equipped with a crown guard and a screwed resin crown. This piece has been produced in three versions: Carbon, Blue and Black. The heart of the watch is the movement ETA 2824 - Known for its robustness and its incomparable quality. Launched in June 2016, the HD1 was the irst big success of the young French brand. Indeed, the 200 imepieces were sold in the space of 6 months.
Case : Polished and Sain Stainless Steel, Crown Guard. Diameter : 45 mm Thickness : 10 mm. Crown : In resin, screwed Glass : Mineral Movement : Swiss Automaic Movement – ETA 2824
HD1 Blue
Dial : HD1 Blue: Blue with luminous indexes HD1 Carbon: Carbon black imitaion with luminous indexes HD1 Black: Mat black with luminous indexes Hands : White with Luminova Strap : HD1 Blue: Real leather imitaion croco blue HD1 Carbon: Black Rubber HD1 Black: Real leather imitaion croco black
HD1 Carbon
Buckle : Sain Stainless Steel with Logo Caseback : Transparent with mineral glass and individual number Water resistance : 10 ATM Funcions : Hours, minutes, seconds and date. Seing thanks to the crown Warranty : 3 years, renewable 2 imes Serial Number: 1 to 200
HD1 Black
HUMBERT-DROZ - THE VARIOUS COLLECTIONS
“Day ater day, I'm commited to perpetuaing the family watchmaking tradiion. Our collecions invite you to share this extraordinary adventure.” HD1 2017 PVD Plain or Two-Tone (Red, Orange, Blue) HD2 HD2 Romains, HD2 Vinyle, HD2 Clous de Paris, HD2 Black HD3 HD3 Black, HD3 Steel, HD3 Blue HD4 HD4 Emerald, HD4 Wood, HD4 Steel, HD4 Black Onyx HD5 HD5 Black, HD5 Céleste, HD5 Pur Arabes, HD5 Pur Romains
Julien
THE 2017 HD1 REISSUE IN PVD Following the success of the irst model and the reissue requests of this one, the family released the HD1 2017 with a new PVD coaing declined in six versions. Deliveries started mid-April 2017, and it was another success for HumbertDroz. The HD1 2017 PVD is available in plain (all black) or two-tone (steel and black). It comes in three colors for the minutes scale: blue, orange and red.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS An imposing but sophisicated case and a price posiioned at 419 €, which remains quite afordable.
Case: Stainless Steel with PVD treatment on bezel, crown guard. Diameter: 45 mm Thickness: 10 mm Crown: Resin, screwed Glass: Mineral Movement: Decorated Swiss automaic movement ETA 2824 TOP Grade Dial: Carbon imitaion with imer available in red, blue or orange. Hands: Black with Luminova Bracelet: Black Silicone Bracelet buckle: Stainless Steel with logo Caseback: Transparent with mineral glass and individual numbering Water resistance: 10 ATM Funcions: Hours, minutes, seconds and date, Seing thanks to the crown Warranty: 3 years Serial number: 1 to 200
HD2Â : A WATCH WITH QUARTZ MOVEMENT The second model of the Humbert-Droz collecion is a Quartz watch. This one is marketed since October 2016 at the reasonable price of â‚Ź 199. The HD2 is available in four versions. The irst three models have three variaions of dials. Of the 300 watches produced, around 210 are sill available.
- HD2 Romains: simplicity, sobriety and elegance.
- HD2 Vinyle: inspired by vintage and more speciically vinyl records with its spiral efect dial and chrome indexes.
- HD2 Clous de Paris: nostalgic lash back with a guilloche dial "Clous de Paris" and blued hands.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Case: Polished Stainless Steel. Diameter: 43 mm Thickness: 10.5 mm Crown : Stainless Steel Glass: Mineral Movement: Swiss Quartz 955.112 Dial: HD2 Vinyle: Black HD2 Clous de Paris: Clous de Paris HD2 Romains: Black, Mat, Roman and Arab numerals Hands: HD2 Vinyle and Romains: Nickeled HD2 Clous de Paris: Blued Bracelet: HD2 Vinyle: Real leather imitaion black croco HD2 Clous de Paris and HD2 Romans: Real leather imitaion croco gray anthracite Bracelet buckle: Steel with logo Caseback: Stainless Steel with individual numbering Water resistance: 10 ATM Funcions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds and Date Warranty: 3 years Serial number: 101 to 400
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS : HD2 BLACK 36 watches are sill available Case: Black PVD Steel Diameter: 43 mm Thickness: 10.5 mm Crown: Black PVD Steel Glass: Mineral Movement: Swiss Quartz 955.112 Dial: Black glossy, rose gold plated index Hands: Rose Gold Plated Bracelet: Genuine leather imitaion shiny black Bracelet buckle: Stainless Steel with logo Caseback: Stainless Steel with individual numbering Water resistance: 10 ATM Funcions: Hours, Minutes, Seconds and Date Warranty: 3 years Serial number: 1 to 100
HD3 : YOU SAID FRENCH ? The third imepiece created by the young brand is a great success thanks to its excepional French movement from the brand France Ebauche. These rare and famous FE 5611 movements are no longer manufactured, so the company took the challenge to take original parts available in their workshops and assemble them for the HD3. When the family announced the news on their Facebook page, the reacions were very fast. Some people, enthusiasts of automaic watches, immediately ordered the model even before having seen the inal design. It must also be said that the price is sill very reasonable, as you can get the HD3 for 349€. In less than three weeks, 100 out of 200 pieces were sold. Today, the HD3 Steel, Black and Blue are sold out.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Case : Stainless Steel Diameter: 43 mm Thickness: 10.5 mm Crown : Stainless Steel Mineral Glass Movement : France Ebauche 5611 Dial: brilliant blue, white or black Hands : Nickel plated
Bracelet: HD3 Steel: Genuine leather imitaion croco gray HD3 Black: Genuine leather imitaion croco black HD3 Blue: Real leather imitaion croco blue Bracelet buckle : Stainless Steel with logo
Caseback : Stainless Steel with individual numbering Water Resistance : 10 ATM Funcions : Hours, minutes, seconds and date Warranty : 3 years Serial number : 1 to 200
THE ASTONISHING HD4 FÖRSTER In 2017, the bisonine brand launched a watch straight out of the past. This vintage-look watch is equipped with a movement from the German brand Bernard Förster. The later has the disincion of being digital and automaic with display of the hours, minutes, date and day, by discs. Jean Humbert-Droz had kept these movements like a treasure and is happy today to see them so well used.
This movement is no longer manufactured, so the brand decided to create a limited ediion of 400 pieces only. They also keep in their stock 25 movements that will be dedicated to ater sales service. Moreover, Humbert-Droz also owns spare parts to provide service for several years. The 400 watches are available in 4 versions (emerald, wood, steel, black onyx) An astonishing watch with a more than reasonable price: 649€.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Case: Polished an Sain Stainless Steel with rectangular shape Diameter: 40mm / 35mm Thickness : 15mm Movement : Automaic and from the German brand Bernard Förster Glass : Mineral with 3 magniiers Dial : Mate black or silver or imitaion wood or dark green. Caseback : Exhibiion caseback with mineral glass Funcions : hours, minutes, date and day Display : digital Bracelet : Genuine leather color black, tan brown, grey Bracelet buckle : Stainless Steel folding clasp with logo Water Resistance : 10 ATM Warranty : 2 years Serial number : 1 to 400
THE HD5 – THE MIXTE MODEL Concerned about its customers, in 2017 the young brand unveils the HD5. This watch with a diameter of 39mm can be suitable for both a woman and a man. This new collecion is available in two versions - with Arabic numerals on one hand and Roman numerals on the other. There is also a diference on the bezel that is polished or sain. The variaions are also made at the level of the dial which is Blue, White or Black. This watch, enirely designed and assembled in Besançon, is equipped with a Swiss ETA 2892-2 Top Grade movement.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS Case: Polished or sandblasted Stainless Steel Diameter : 39 mm, Thickness: 9.90 mm, Lug to lug: 22 mm Crown: Notched Stainless Steel with logo Glass: Sapphire crystal with ani-relecive treatment Movement: Swiss Automaic ETA 2892-A2 Top Grade movement Dial: Blue night or white with Clous de Paris inishing and Roman numerals ; Or Black or White with Clous de Paris inishing and Arabic numerals Hands: Leaves shape blued, black or steel Bracelet: Milanese steel, Nato blue and Nato black Bracelet buckle: Stainless Steel Caseback: Sapphire crystal with ani-relecive treatment Water Resistance: 50 meters Funcions: Hours, minutes, seconds, date Warranty: 2 years Serial number: 1 to 150
REPARALUX: a company serving the biggest names of the Place Vendôme in Paris All watches are assembled and repaired by Reparalux. A brief step back to introduce you to the parent company. The story of Reparalux began more than 60 years ago, in 1956. The company was created in Besançon, the "capital" of watchmaking, by Marcel Humbert-Droz, a naive of Switzerland. This is the beginning of a great adventure - The one of a watchmaking company that has been handed down from father to son for ive generaions.
Usually we only talk about four generaions, but Frédéric Humbert-Droz tells us that Marcel Humbert-Droz's father, René, was already a watchmaker and had a workshop in Switzerland at La Chaud-de-Fonds.
In 1968, Jean Humbert-Droz the son of the founder, just graduate from the watchmaking school of Besançon, succeeded him and took over the company. Jean represents the third generaion of the family to work in watchmaking. In the 70s, before the arrival of quartz watches, the company was running at full capacity and had up to 80 watchmakers! In 1995, Jean Humbert-Droz passes the baton to his son, Frédéric, so it is the turn of the fourth generaion to run the company. Frédéric HumbertDroz takes up the torch with the same passion as his predecessors. Even if Jean no longer runs the business, he would not leave the workshop for anything in the world. Despite his eighty years, he sill has a very keen eye and coninues to repair and assemble the watches with all the rigor required by this profession. The company moved to new premises in 2004 - at Parc Alpia in Besançon.
The family epic coninues and the founder's great-grandson, Julien, decides to follow the watchmaking training at the Edgar Faur High School of Morteau. In 2008, he graduated from a Watchmaking CAP and a MĂŠiers d'Art Ceriicate.
Since 2013 Julien, who represents the ith generaion, is the head of Reparalux's workshop. He currently manages eight highly talented and competent watchmakers.
The diferent business areas of the company: - Assembly of new products - Jewelery assembly - Ater-Sales service of major brands (intervenion on any caliber) which represents 80% of Reparalux's acivity - Logisics (inventory management, packaging, deliveries ...)
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As said above, the family business is sill located in Besançon, the cradle of French watchmaking. Their secure premises are equipped with equipment at the cuing edge of technology. They assemble new products for the biggest brands of the Place Vendôme in Paris and provide ater sales service. Coming from all over the world, they repair meiculously recent watches but also some treasures that are over 40 years old. To carry out all these tasks, Reparalux has iteen employees and is home to three generaions under its roof, as well as eight watchmakers, two polishers and two secretaries.
The Humbert-Droz brand of Reparalux does not intend to stop there. Their watches are a success that respects tradiional watchmaking. The family wants to show their know-how around the world and is currently developing the brand abroad, and especially in the UK and USA. Finally, you have to stay tuned. The family is going to surprise you with yet another astonishing watch that will delight watch enthusiasts around the world.
CONTACT
Société Reparalux Marque Humbert-Droz 8, rue Joseph Jacquard Parc Alpia B.P 1453 25007 Besançon Cedex Phone : Oice : 03 81 50 23 87 Fax : 03 81 50 07 65 E-Mail : j.humbert-droz@reparalux.com
humbert.droz.watches www.humbert-droz.fr @MontresHumbertDroz