The bride should be introduced at the next edition of the BaselWorld show in the spring… or rather the groom, since this is a masculine watch, made exclusively for a man’s wrist. It bears a prestigious name, which time and misfortune had relegated to the side of the road: Japy. There can be no question, however, of its rightful place in the history of timekeeping. The brand, created in 1771, is synonymous with great industrial advancement. Its founder was Frédéric Japy, a protestant, born in Beaucourt, France, in 1749. The son of a blacksmith, the young man learned the craft of timekeeping in Le Locle, a locality that had not yet become part of Switzerland, but still belonged to the King of Prussia. Returning home, Japy created his own enterprise. It would grow dramatically during the next century, with the development of other activities, such as locksmithing and producing typewriters.
In Beaucourt, in the Territory of Belfort, not far from Delle, a border village in the Swiss Jura region, a museum retraces the glory of the grand Japy. Not less than thirteen factories carried the Japy name during its heyday. None exist today. Only the patrimony is left, but an enormous patrimony it is. All is still in storage, so to speak, but it still breathes life. The DNA of Japy has not disappeared. The industrialists of today understand quite well the cloning that has taken place.
The operation is recent. Four months ago, the IJD company, based in Paris, but whose manufacturing activities are located in the Franche-Comté region, purchased Japy… and for not much, it seems. The brand had been placed under the jurisdiction of the court after years of aimless wandering. “We were among four potential takers in this affair,” explains Alain Chaumet, the President of IJD. “There was the Japy family, a manufacturer from Besançon, one of Japy’s Swiss case suppliers, and us. The tribunal made its decision based on the criteria of fabrication and distribution.”
The DNA of Japy lies in its patents, which are ‘numerous’ according to Chaumet. Among them are the ‘inverted pushbuttons’ located on the left of the dial for divers, which can be activated with a gloved thumb, and the ‘crown with double screws’ for heightened water resistance and increased protection. The models obtained by IJD during the transfer have a macho sporty attraction. “They appeal to professionals and to those who appreciate technical and authentic products,” says Alain Chaumet. They resemble the watches of TAG Heuer or Panerai.
IJD, which manufactures watches under licensing agreements (Louis Féraud, Sonia Rykiel), is now concentrating its efforts on a brand “with a true history,” emphasizes Chaumet, “one that has involved technical developments.” The existing Japy models will be reworked before the Basel fair. “We are going to modify the aesthetics, the design,” adds the President of IJD. “We are going to make larger openings and devote particular attention to the bezels and bracelets. Our goal is also to create models that are not specifically technical.” The collections – two are already in the pipeline – remain exclusively ‘men’s’ timepieces.
The fabrication and assembly of the new Japy pieces take place in Besançon. The movements are based on ETA calibres transformed by Soprod, thus permitting the appellation ‘Swiss Made’. The price range is expected to be between 1,000 and 3,000 euros. The re-launch of the brand will take place in France, of course, as well as in Italy, Holland, the Middle East, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, and the United States. In 2007, the firm indicates that it will manufacture 1,000 watches, with production later reaching its cruising altitude of 5,000 to 6,000 pieces per year.
For the time being, fans of Japy looking for ‘collectors’ pieces can obtain the brand’s watches from “four or five Parisian retailers,” explains Alain Chaumet. The renaissance of an illustrious name is on the right track. But Beaucourt and its region will never rekindle the exact industrial spark of yesteryear. After all, cloning does have its limits.


Source: December - January 2006 Issue

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