The Pequignet Royale Paris 39.5mm, a New Era for the French Manufacture

From our recent look into Pequignet, we learned the brand’s new vision. Now, the first timepiece offering a glimpse into the future of the company has arrived. It’s named the Royale Paris 39.5mm, it retains the impressive in-house movement of the brand, but it’s been tastefully redesigned with cleaner aesthetics. Soon to be unveiled at the upcoming Watches and Wonders fair next month, here are our first impressions.

Since its introduction in 2011, the Pequignet Royale Paris series has long been powered by the in-house Calibre Royal, designed and assembled in the brand’s Morteau workshops. In the current collection, there are several Royale Paris references in a range of case materials and dial designs… But in all fairness, these start to feel a bit outdated. However, this latest iteration marks a significant step forward, offering a refined, streamlined and more elegant aesthetic that brings a fresh and contemporary look.

The latest Royale Paris is housed in a 39.5mm stainless steel case with polished and satin finishes. Its more sculpted profile, recessed flanks, and slim bezel refine the silhouette, enhancing its overall aesthetic appeal. The slightly domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating further enhances its updated look. Retained are the distinctive attached lugs; they now feature a brushed top surface with polished sides, showcasing improved finishing on the softened inward angles. The exhibition caseback, secured with six screws, provides a generous view of the movement, while the crown is embossed with Pequignet’s fleur-de-lis logo.

The silver-toned, grain-textured dial is defined by a gouge circling the outer edge, intersected at the lower right by two overlapping subdials: a running seconds counter at 4 o’clock and a double moon phase display at 6 o’clock, catering to both hemispheres. The bevelled, stick-shaped indices, finished in polished and satin surfaces, are like bridges connecting the central dial to the outer minute track. Above the centre, a double-framed day and large date (on two discs) aperture ensures optimal readability, while a power reserve indicator with a subtle sector scale sits at 8 o’clock. The polished steel hands, coated with Super-LumiNova, complete this refined look.

Continuing the tradition of housing Pequignet’s in-house Calibre Royal, this new generation of Pequignet Royale Paris brings in an upgraded power reserve – now 96 hours, up from the previous 88 hours, still achieved from a single barrel. The movement enables the instantaneous jump of the day and date discs, is adjusted for chronometric precision, and boasts elegant finishing, including stripes and perlage. The bi-directional winding rotor, brushed and rhodium-plated, is adorned with the fleur-de-lis emblem.

The new Pequignet Royale Paris 39.5mm is presented on a light brown alligator leather strap, closed with a steel folding clasp. It is priced starting from EUR 8,000. For more details, please visit pequignet.com.