The Pequignet Royal Paris Chrono – the Brand’s First Chronograph

Founded in 1973 in Morteau, French brand Pequignet’s watchmaking history takes an interesting turn in the 2000s with the creation of an integrated manufacture and the release of the Calibre Royal, the brand’s first in-house movement, in 2011. Following a period of fluctuating fortunes, Pequignet was acquired by Enowe in 2021 and hasn’t looked back since. Claiming to be “one of the only French manufactures of haute horlogerie”, Pequignet’s Royale Paris collection welcomes the brand’s first chronograph.

Although the Royale Paris Chrono is not powered by the Calibre Royal, it belongs to the Royale Paris collection and retains its signature lugs, which are individually produced and then attached to the case. Crafted in 316L stainless steel, the case has a 39.5mm diameter and a 12.7mm thickness. Adding a touch of sportiness, the case flanks are recessed, and the chronograph pushers are classic piston-style. Alternating satin-brushed surfaces with crisply delineated, polished bevels highlight the case’s architecture, finishes that continue onto the smooth, flowing interchangeable steel bracelet, with its wide brushed central links and two smaller polished connector links in the centre.

The opaline matte off-white dial is refreshingly contemporary and plays with different textures and heights. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of the dial is the smooth circular trench placed between the peripheral and recessed tachymetre scale and the central area of the area. Straddling the trench, the sharply faceted hour markers connect the two grained areas of the dial. The bold grained finish in the centre contrasts well with the two large, horizontally aligned sub-dials. Available in blue or red, the snailed decoration of the recessed sub-dials plays with the light, while their white markings echo the dial tone. The only touch of luminescence is found on the sharp hour and minute hands. The dial is protected by a domed, glass-box-style sapphire crystal.

Pequignet’s Calibre Initial, a thinner (4.2mm), more compact, and more versatile everyday automatic movement positioned below the Calibre Royal, provides the base for the new chronograph movement. Developed with a prestigious Swiss manufacture, the Calibre Initial Chronograph is Pequignet’s fifth movement and is a relatively slim, cam-actuated chronograph that is, as the brand explains, more resistant to shocks than a column-wheel setup. Unfortunately, the brand has not provided details on the frequency or its power reserve.

The Royale Paris Chrono will be available from 15 May 2026 and retails for EUR 6,450 (incl. tax). More information at pequignet.com.