CDMLEC

What CDMLEC does

CDMLEC is a privately held Netherlands-domiciled company that curates and operates a portfolio of historically significant watch brands. The company's portfolio includes Airain, a heritage watch brand originally conceived by the Dodane family in 1934 that supplied Type 20 timepieces to the French Army in the 1950s and 1960s; Lebois & Co, a contemporary luxury watch brand with roots in 1934 positioned as a personal, heritage-based timepiece line; and Fixoflex, a watchband brand featuring proprietary interlocking metal link bracelet technology with over 100 million bracelets sold historically, which CDMLEC re-introduced in 2021.

The company generates revenue through direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels, operating dedicated storefronts for Airain and Lebois & Co alongside the main CDMLEC platform. Its underlying technology asset is the Fixoflex interlocking metal link bracelet design, which provides comfort and adjustability differentiated from rigid mid-20th century watchbands. The company also publishes the Horological Herald, a downloadable PDF publication covering horological heritage, as a content marketing channel.

CDMLEC's go-to-market model is direct-to-consumer focused on watch collectors and enthusiasts who value horological heritage and storytelling beyond mere timekeeping. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and operates on a quote-based or request-based basis. The company does not appear to have raised external funding, and the parent entity CDMLEC's own founding date is not disclosed in available sources, though its underlying brands trace to 1934.

Name

CDMLEC

Website

https://cdmlec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CDMLEC is a Netherlands-based private company that curates and operates a portfolio of heritage watch brands—Airain, Lebois & Co, and Fixoflex—selling directly to watch collectors and enthusiasts through brand-specific e-commerce storefronts with a heritage-storytelling value proposition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Watches

NAICS

Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers (459)

SIC

Watches, Clocks, Clockwork Operated Devices/Parts (3873)

akta.pro primary industry

Watch & Timepiece Retail (CRAKAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Independent/Microbrand Watches (CRAKADAH), Watch Parts & Components (Straps/Bracelets, Crystals, Hands, Buckles) (CRAKADAK)

Keywords

• Heritage watch brands
• Luxury timepieces
• Mechanical watches
• Watch accessories
• Reissue dive watches

Headquarters

HQ city

Reuver

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Watch Brand Sales: CDMLEC generates revenue by curating and reintroducing historically significant watch brands including Airain, Lebois & Co, and Fixoflex. Revenue comes from direct sales of timepieces and accessories through their e-commerce platforms.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

CDMLEC curates and manages a portfolio of historically significant watch brands, including Airain (heritage mechanical timepieces dating to 1934, former supplier of Type 20 models for the French Army), Lebois & Co (contemporary heritage-based luxury watches since 1934), and Fixoflex (iconic watchband brand with over 100 million bracelets sold historically, re-introduced by CDMLEC in 2021). The company reintroduces classic watch models and accessories to new generations through direct-to-consumer e-commerce channels.

Product overview

CDMLEC is a watch brand curator that manages a family of historically significant watch brands. The portfolio includes three distinct sub-brands: Airain (a heritage watch brand founded in 1934, known for supplying the French Army with Type 20 timepieces), Lebois & Co (a contemporary luxury watch brand emphasizing personal, heritage-based timepieces), and Fixoflex (a watchband accessory brand famous for its interlocking metal link bracelets). The company re-introduced the Fixoflex brand in 2021 and produces reissued classic watch models like the Sous-Marine dive watch. CDMLEC also publishes the Horological Herald, a horological publication celebrating watchmaking heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Airain: Watch brand originally conceived by the Dodane family in 1934, rose to fame for trustworthy high-quality timepieces. One of suppliers of Type 20 model for French Army in 1950s-1960s.
• Lebois & Co
• Fixoflex

Products and services

• Airain Heritage watch brand originally conceived by the Dodane family in 1934, famous for trustworthy high-quality timepieces. Supplied the Type 20 model for the French Army throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Targets watch enthusiasts seeking historically significant timepieces with military heritage.
• Lebois & Co Contemporary watch brand with a remarkable history built since 1934, aiming to become the world's most personal luxury watch brand offering heritage-based and characterful watches. Targets discerning individuals seeking personal luxury timepieces.
• Fixoflex Watchband brand featuring interlocking metal links, renowned for comfort, durability, and flexibility. The brand originated in Europe in the mid-20th century as a revolutionary alternative to rigid watchbands, with over 100 million bracelets sold throughout its history.
• Sous-Marine Current-day reissue of Airain's 1960s dive watch featuring a period-correct Fixoflex bracelet, reintroduced as part of the revived watch collection for collectors and enthusiasts of vintage-style dive watches.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FixoflexcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2021In 2021, CDMLEC acquired the opportunity to re-introduce the Fixoflex brand, a historic watch bracelet manufacturer with over 100 million bracelets sold. CDMLEC now owns and operates the Fixoflex brand, producing reissues of classic watch bracelets including the revived Sous-Marine dive watch bracelet originally designed by Airain in the 1960s.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Ressence: Belgian independent watchmaker with novel mechanical timepieces sold through selective DTC and boutique channels. Comparable to CDMLEC as a small, design-forward European independent watch company with limited geographic footprint.
• Bravur Watches: Swedish independent microbrand producing heritage-styled mechanical watches sold online. Comparable to CDMLEC as a small independent watchmaker in the heritage/microbrand segment targeting enthusiast collectors.
• Bamford Watch Department: British watchmaker that customizes and reinterprets heritage sports watches and produces its own line. Comparable to CDMLEC's heritage-focused, design-driven approach and direct online sales to enthusiast buyers.

Broad incumbents

• H. Moser & Cie. Independent Swiss haute horlogerie manufacturer with a revival narrative built on a historic name. Comparable to CDMLEC's strategy of reviving historically significant watch brands like Airain and Lebois & Co.
• NOMOS Glashütte: Independent German watchmaker with deep heritage producing mechanical watches sold through authorized dealers and own boutiques. Comparable to CDMLEC as an independent heritage watch brand, though at larger scale and broader distribution.
• Bell & Ross: Established luxury watchmaker built around military and aviation heritage (instrument-panel inspired designs). Comparable to CDMLEC's Airain French Army Type 20 heritage story and the broader military-vintage-watch niche.
• Timex Group (Vincent Bérard, Salvatore Ferragamo Watches, etc.): Large multi-brand watch portfolio company managing several heritage and licensed watch brands under one corporate umbrella. Comparable to CDMLEC's portfolio-of-heritage-brands curation model, though at vastly greater scale.

Direct peers

• Farer: British independent watch brand offering heritage-styled mechanical watches sold direct-to-consumer. Comparable to CDMLEC's Lebois & Co sub-brand in its DTC model, mid-luxury pricing, and design-led heritage positioning.
• Brew Watch Co. Independent microbrand watch company focused on retro-styled, narrative-driven timepieces sold DTC. Comparable to CDMLEC in its microbrand positioning, online-first distribution, and storytelling-led marketing approach.
• Vortic Watch Co. American heritage watch company that restores and reissues vintage American pocket watches and movements into wristwatches. Directly comparable to CDMLEC's revival of Airain and Lebois & Co heritage timepieces via direct-to-consumer e-commerce.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compagnie-des-montres-lebois-cie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CDMLEC