The Monochromatic Looks of the Pequignet Concorde 36mm Titanium

With an integrated manufacture in Morteau, a French town close to the Swiss border, Pequignet is proud to proclaim its status as “one of the only French manufactures of Haute Horlogerie” and can back up the statement with its four in-house calibres. One of the newest collections, the sporty cushion-shaped Concorde, was released just two years ago. Recently revisited in a 36mm titanium case with a matching titanium bracelet and a titanium-coloured dial and movement, this monochromatic lightweight model caught our eye. Thanks to its subtle 1970s vibe and compact dimensions, the Concorde is what is known in the business as an “urban” watch, a model with an understated yet contemporary character that works well in almost any situation.

Pequignet’s changing fortunes since it was founded by Emile Pequignet in 1973 are documented in Xavier’s in-depth coverage of the brand’s revival. The key fact to take away from its history is its current focus on in-house calibres. With a team of 25 people, its manufacture in Morteau has developed, designed, and produced four calibres, permitting a variety of complications: the automatic Calibre Royal, the manual-winding Calibre Royal, the automatic Calibre Initial with semi-instant jumping date, and the Calibre Royal Tourbillon.

To celebrate the brand’s 50^th anniversary in 2023, Pequignet released the Concorde, a sporty-chic, slightly 1970s cushion-shaped watch with a stylish bracelet. First released in steel in 36 and 40mm case sizes, the latest Concorde dons a darker, matte titanium case. Weighing just 84 grams, including the bracelet, the watch has a compact diameter of 36mm, a lean profile of 9.25mm and is water-resistant to 100 metres.

Lightweight, hypoallergenic, and corrosion-resistant, titanium watches epitomise comfort and resilience. The smooth, rounded forms of the Grade 5 titanium case is decorated with a contemporary shotblasted finish. The tactile matte finish of the case and bracelet is further protected with a coating to avoid fingerprints. The large crown is embossed with the brand’s fleur-de-lys logo. The Grade 5 titanium bracelet is also shotblasted and features interesting “obelisk-shaped” articulated links, a hallmark feature of the Concorde. It all makes sense when you discover that the allusion to “obelisks” is not accidental but connected to the name of the watch that pays homage to the Parisian Place de la Concorde with its famous 23-metre high Egyptian obelisk. With a lug width of 20mm, the matte titanium bracelet is attached to the wrist with a titanium and stainless steel folding clasp.

The low-key, monochromatic titanium hue continues on the dial, with its dark grey background and pronounced vertical brush that resembles decking. The elongated black baton markers and the printed minutes track are indicated by black, openworked hour and minute hands with a touch of grey Super-LumiNova (green emission) at their tips, and a slim black central seconds hand. With no date window and no superfluous inscriptions – save for the brand name at noon and Manufacture Française at the bottom – the dial combines straightforward time indications with stylish minimalism.

Visible through the sapphire crystal on the screwed caseback, the Calibre Initial is also treated with ruthenium to match the titanium case. Although it isn’t featured on this Concorde, Pequignet’s calibre has a patented instant date jump system. Measuring 28.2mm across and with a thickness of 4.2mm, the tooth-shaped winding gear enhances efficiency and reduces wear on the components. Most of the components (72%) are made in France, while the remainder are sourced in Switzerland. The movement operates at a frequency of 28,800vph and delivers a 65-hour power reserve.

The Pequignet Concorde Titanium 36mm is part of the permanent collection and retails for EUR 4,800.

For more information, please visit Pequignet.com.