After almost 30 years of absence, FE, which is now owned by the Festina Group, is producing two exclusive “Made in France” self-winding movements, bringing back the prestigious past of this iconic brand. And the revival of Manufacture France Ebauches (FE), the famous watch movement maker from Franche-Comté, is a cause for celebration for the French watchmaking industry.
The move is not just significant for the Festina Group but also for Franche-Comté, the cradle of French watchmaking, as it strengthens national sovereignty in terms of industrial production. The relaunch of the production of French movements by the France Ebauches factory is a positive step towards re-industrialization, relocation, and the development of quality French mechanical movements. The Festina group aims to respond to the demands of brands, consumers, and politicians, who are calling for the development of French movements.
Festina, Pierre Lannier, Apose, Akrone, Carzo & Lieutier, and other French brands are thrilled to be once again sourcing mechanical movements from France Ebauches. The two movements have been inspired by vintage France Ebauches 4600-5600 calibres, optimized to deliver precision, reliability, and durability. The movements beat at a frequency of 4 Hz (28,800 vibrations per hour) and are equipped with best-on-market Incabloc® double-cone shock absorbers to ensure incomparable robustness for the regulating mechanism. The finishes are just as exclusive, with the original rhodium-plated honeycomb motif symbolizing France replacing the traditional Swiss “Côtes de Genève” pattern.
The Festina Group is demonstrating its commitment to French industrial production, the preservation of local employment, and the promotion of ancestral expertise. The iconic Manufacture’s return to the forefront of the French watchmaking scene serves to strengthen territorial independence in the production of mechanical movements, a crucial issue amid an uncertain geopolitical context. With the production of these two “Made in France” mechanical movements, the Manufacture France Ebauches is thus contributing to the development of the French watch industry and its long-term survival.
Bascially, the relaunch of Manufacture France Ebauches and the production of two exclusive “Made in France” self-winding movements is a positive development for the French watchmaking industry. And it will be exciting to see what else it leads to!
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