FAVRE-LEUBA GENÈVE "DIPLOMATIQUE" WATCH CA. 1970
490,00 €
Presentation of a rare Favre-Leuba, customized for the Saudi Arabian government.
Founded in 1737 in Le Locle, in the cradle of Swiss watchmaking, Favre-Leuba is one of the world's oldest watch brands still in business. Its history is intimately linked to that of innovation, exploration and precision watchmaking.
The company was founded by Abraham Favre, a passionate watchmaker who quickly passed on his expertise to his descendants. The Favre family soon joined forces with the Leuba family, another renowned watchmaking line. This alliance gave birth to the Favre-Leuba brand, which quickly became synonymous with reliability and innovation.
By the 19ᵉ century, Favre-Leuba had taken on an international dimension. The company established itself in India, Asia and the Middle East, markets in which it became a benchmark. It stands out for its ability to design watches that are adapted to local climatic conditions, robust and precise.
The 1950s to 1970s represent the brand's golden age. Favre-Leuba positioned itself as a pioneer of technical watchmaking:
In 1962, it launched the Bivouac, the world's first mechanical wristwatch equipped with an altimeter and barometer. It became an essential tool for mountaineers and adventurers. 1968 saw the launch of the Bathy 160, the first wristwatch to measure diving depths mechanically, down to 160 meters. These emblematic models demonstrate Favre-Leuba's commitment to useful innovation and robustness.
Unfortunately, like many Swiss brands, Favre-Leuba suffered from the quartz crisis in the 1970s-1980s. After a period of dormancy, the brand is relaunched in the XXIᵉ century with the ambition of reviving its pioneering heritage.
On the dial of the watch is an Arabic inscription which, combined with the crown symbol, certainly indicates that this watch was produced in an official setting, most likely for a special order from the Saudi government, or as a state or representative gift, intended for officers, dignitaries, diplomats or executives.
This type of watch was commonplace from the 1960s to the 1980s, with Swiss brands such as Favre-Leuba, Omega and Longines producing limited or customized editions for Gulf governments and royal institutions.
This is most likely an official or diplomatic model, produced on behalf of the Saudi Arabian government, making it a potentially rare piece.
Manufacturer: Favre-Leuba
Model: Diplomatique
Catalogue number: N/A
Year: Circa 1970
Materials: Steel
Dimensions: Width 30 mm Height 40 mm
Caliber: Automatic Calibre 1911, Favre-Leuba
Strap: Original leather strap 18 mm wide
Box/paper: Original box
