 Swiss Made
Roberge Watches
Roberge watches uphold the distinguished tradition of Swiss watchmaking. In fact,
instead of the usual "Swiss Made" mark that appears on most watches, Roberge
watches are marked with "Manufacture en Suisse" the brand's seal of quality
insuring that the timepieces crafted in its Le Brassus, Switzerland, factory are 100
percent Swiss even down to the smallest components. All movements and external components
are made entirely in Switzerland in cooperation with top-flight suppliers. While known for
its savoir faire in design and craftsmanship, Roberge established its reputation not in
the past, but on knowledge and mastery of watchmaking. The Roberge workshop, a model of
precision, is under the supervision of Jean-Daniel Dubois. The 17 Roberge master craftsmen
make only 4,000 watches a year.
History of Roberge Watches
Although the Roberge brand was launched in 1972, the story behind the brand's creation
dates back to the mid-19th century: for more than 110 years, four generations of the
Mouawad family have worked in the fine jewelry and watchmaking trade. Robert Mouawad and
his three sons continue this family tradition, adorning watches with precious stones to
create one-of-a-kind jewelry watches.
When they established the Mouawad Group in Geneva, Switzerland, the heart of the Swiss
watchmaking industry, their business evolved from making jewelry watches to full-fledged
watchmakers. Their new brand name, Roberge, was a combination of Robert Mouawad's first
name and the first syllable of Geneva. By 1995, the brand had grown enough to built an new
factory in the Vallee de Joux, the cradle of the Swiss high watch tradition.
Roberge is renowned for its originality in design and the quality of its watchmaking
skill, whether of automatic chronographs, grand complications, stainless steel styles, or
haute joaillerie. The attention to detail and design can be seen in the Andromede
chronograph: the dial follows the cambered oval shape of the case and even the hands are
rounded. While the first Roberge collections consisted mostly of men's automatic and
hand-wound mechanicals, the latest collections include women's styles in rose, yellow, and
white gold as well as steel. In addition the same high quality automatic mechanical
movements are available in women's watches as well: unusual, since the intricate mechanism
is difficult to execute in a smaller size.
Characteristics of Roberge Watches
Adherence to traditional know-how in such specialized crafts as engraving, gem-setting,
and case-making has made Roberge watches sought after by connoisseurs and collectors. In
addition to offering many of its styles in white, pink or yellow 18k gold as well as
stainless steel, Roberge also has devised innovative gem-setting techniques for watches,
including diamonds in steel and even pastel hues of sapphires. In addition to offering
hand-crafted metal bracelets in steel and precious metals, the brand's straps can be found
in exotic leather, such as lizard or crocodile, and in satin versions for women.
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