ust before summer, we were lucky enough to tour La Joux-Perret’s manufacturing plant in La Chaux-de-Fonds. As reported here exactly two years ago, the movement-maker has undergone a “vigorous turnaround” since the appointment of Jean-Claude Eggen as CEO in 2020.

At the height of Covid, the new chief executive drew up a battle plan for La Joux-Perret that reaped rewards, with production volumes increasing on the back of the rapid uptick in demand.

Eggen built on the company’s strengths. Its base movements offer an enviable price/quality ratio, starting with the G100 three-hand/date automatic and followed by the G200 (+/- 3 seconds/day); it supplies customers across the industry, from major brands to innovative SMEs, and its long power reserves have had others seeking to up their game. We caught up with Jean-Claude Eggen to talk about latest developments.

Europa Star: Where are you focusing right now?

Jean-Claude Eggen: We’re concentrating on three areas: power reserve, precision and paramagnetism. In practical terms, this means movements with longer running times, precision that exceeds current standards and greater resistance to magnetic fields. We also plan to introduce an extended warranty in stages.

Calibre La Joux-Perret G200

You’ve not only made power reserve one of your main selling points, you’ve moved the needle…

Absolutely. When we started work on extended power reserves, we were pretty much alone. Now everyone’s looking to provide longer running times. We launched the trend and are still optimising. Remember, though, in terms of utility, anything beyond 80 hours is debatable. A 60-65 weekend is still a good thing to aim for.

Calibre La Joux-Perret L200

You mentioned precision and paramagnetism as your other priorities. What can you tell us about those?

We’re launching new three-hand movements whose precision exceeds COSC requirements. We’re actually pushing the COSC to set tougher standards, which are vital if customers are to perceive the added value of our innovations. At the same time, we’re incorporating paramagnetic balance springs, escape wheels and levers at reasonable price points, which will generate some real competition. So far, only a few high-end movement-makers have offered this technology, at higher price points.

What about quartz? You certainly took everyone by surprise a couple of years ago, when you entered this arena!

We only do solar-powered quartz. We’re already on our fifth movement and demand is strong. Quartz makes up almost 20% of our sales. It’s a product that’s ripe for reinvention. Fundamentally, quartz movements haven’t changed since the 1970s and 80s, when they were based on architectures that were already used for mechanical calibres. If you were to ask an engineer now to build a quartz movement, they’d go about it in a completely different way!

It’s a strategic segment. Manufacturers competing in quartz have cut back the number of SKUs while increasing their prices. We offer a unique product which it’s true is more expensive than a classic quartz calibre, but delivers real added value. Solar brings in new customers without cannibalising our mechanical movements.

You put a lot of emphasis on industrialisation. Why is that?

You can always finish a limited-series tourbillon by hand but producing substantial volumes, to the same standardised quality, requires proper industrial infrastructure. We’ve invested significantly in fitting, pre-assembly and manufacturing wheels and bridges, and this has enhanced quality across the board, for both our mechanical and quartz movements.

Looking ahead, what can we expect from La Joux-Perret?

Next year we’ll be launching a new mechanical movement with an extended power reserve, better-than-COSC precision and a higher level of magnetic protection. It’s complex but it’s the only way to stay ahead of the curve.

You seem confident, despite the macro-economic climate.

We’re cautious but, yes, confident. Certain markets or segments are facing difficulties but we’ve diversified our customer base. Our aim isn’t to grow out of all proportion but to deliver the most efficient technology, without arrogance and without compromising on quality.