avre Leuba has always held a special place in the hearts of Indian families, says Patrik Hoffmann, who is now leading the brand’s revival: “Even during the decades when the brand had ceased production – between 1985 and 2012 – our watches were still circulating in India. This proves the strength of its heritage and the respect it still inspires today.”

The shared history of Favre Leuba and India dates back to 1865, when Fritz Favre – representing the sixth generation of the family at the head of the company whose origins date back to 1737 – undertook a long business trip to the subcontinent. He presented the firm’s watches there, making Favre Leuba a pioneering Swiss watch brand in the Indian market.

Favre Leuba in the Indian edition of Europa Star in 1951.

©Archives Europa Star

This trip marked the beginning of an exceptional relationship between Favre Leuba and India, at a time when very few European companies ventured there. Favre Leuba watches were an instant hit: robust, precise and elegant, they appealed to the local elite as well as merchants and engineers working for the British administration.

In the late nineteenth century, the firm consolidated its presence by founding Favre Leuba & Co., Bombay, which became the hub of its Asian operations. From its offices in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras and Delhi, Favre Leuba imported and distributed not only its own timepieces, but also those of other Swiss companies it represented.

An ambassador for Swiss watchmaking in India

From the 1920s to the 1960s, Favre Leuba & Co. was considered one of the largest distributors of Swiss watches in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), appearing in store windows on the main shopping streets of Bombay and Calcutta. The company operated as an official agent, importer and exclusive retailer, offering comprehensive after-sales service, repair workshops and even technical training for Indian watchmakers. This infrastructure was rare at the time and enabled the brand to become the ambassador for Swiss watchmaking on the subcontinent, long before the arrival of the major modern watchmaking groups.

Patek Philippe and Favre-Leuba & Cie double-signature model. The latter firm was also a key distributor of Swiss watches in the Indian market.

The flagship Sea King, Sea Sky, Harpoon, Bivouac and Deep Blue models remain etched in the memory of Indian collectors. “Visitors often come to our events in India with their perfectly preserved father’s or grandfather’s watch. Some double-signature models have become real collector’s items,” says Patrik Hoffmann. Such enduring memories of the brand in India proved invaluable when Favre Leuba was revived in 2024.

The Ethos strike force

While at the helm of Ulysse Nardin in the 2000s, Patrik Hoffmann was already one of the few CEOs of a Swiss brand to invest seriously in India. “The country was still lacking retail infrastructure and professional training, as well as large modern malls like those beginning to appear in Dubai.” Since then, Favre Leuba has built a solid network in India with more than 50 points of sale, benefiting from the retail clout of Ethos, which has become a leader in the high-end watch retail sector and has invested in the brand. The Indian market is now moving towards the professionalisation of the watch retail business.

Patrik Hoffmann, CEO Favre Leuba

Thanks to this network, the brand is not only well-established in major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, it has also conquered tier two and three cities, where new customer bases are emerging. In Hoffmann’s words: “Being present early in these regions means anticipating tomorrow’s growth.”

Patrik Hoffmann is also looking beyond the traditional Indian market and wants to make Favre Leuba – which will be exhibiting at Watches and Wonders next year – a truly global brand. After consolidating its Indian base, it is now opening up to new markets: “We are already well represented in Japan and in several points of sale in Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, certain other European countries, as well as the United States and Mexico. We are also starting to ship our products to the Middle East, just in time for the coming season.”

Chief Skeleton

Chief Tourbillon

Chief Date Royal Purple

The brand sold 4,000 watches in its first year of relaunch, is targeting 8,000 units in its second year and 10,000 units in its third year. “We are well on track to achieve these figures,” comments Patrik Hoffmann.

The entrepreneur believes that India has the potential to become one of the top five markets for Swiss watch brands in the next decade. “Before, it was referred to as endlessly promising – now that promise is coming to life. Favre Leuba has the legitimacy, the history, the clientele and above all an over century-long authentic relationship with India.”

Sea Sky Green