Concepto Watch Factory

What Concepto Watch Factory does

Concepto Watch Factory SA is a privately held, independent Swiss watch manufacture founded in 2006 by Valérien Jaquet and headquartered at Rue du Collège 85 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchâtel. The company designs, develops, and produces complete mechanical watch movements for external watchmaking brands, operating as a B2B contract manufacturer rather than a consumer-facing watchmaker. Its product scope spans industrial calibres, additional modules, and grande complications such as tourbillons, ultra-thin movements, and mechatronic clusters, with notable co-developed pieces including the BVLGARI Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC (1.70mm case, 1.50mm movement) and the Bugatti Tourbillon mechatronic instrument cluster.

The manufacture is characterized by full vertical integration across R&D, prototyping, machining, decoration, and assembly, underpinned by approximately 150 units of specialized machinery (5-axis simultaneous CNC centers with robotic loading, EDM, ML-5 laser cutting) and in-house production of complete escapement assortments using proprietary alloys. The 180-strong workforce practices all crafts of traditional Swiss watchmaking under one roof, spanning a 500m²+ watchmaking workshop and dedicated departments for swage-making, finishing (chamfering, black polishing, Côtes de Genève, circular graining, femto-laser engraving), and métiers d'art. ISO 9001:2015 certification was achieved in June 2025.

Revenue is generated through custom quotation contracts with luxury watch brands for bespoke movement development and production, ranging from prototype runs to limited-series industrial calibres. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. Customer relationships span flagship partnerships with BVLGARI, Bugatti, Bell & Ross, Corum, Ressence, Jacob&Co, and Louis Moinet, alongside smaller independent houses. Distribution is exclusively direct B2B; there is no retail or consumer channel. The firm has invested CHF 18 million in four facility extensions between 2019 and 2024 and is founder-controlled with no parent company or disclosed external investment.

Name

Concepto Watch Factory

Legal name

Concepto Watch Factory SA

Website

https://conceptowatch.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Concepto Watch Factory SA is a private, independent Swiss watch manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds that designs and produces complete mechanical movements, escapement assortments, and high-end complications for external luxury watch brands such as BVLGARI, Bugatti, and Bell & Ross.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Watch Movement Manufacturing

NAICS

Machinery Manufacturing (333)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Watch Manufacturing (Movements, Cases, Dials, Assembly) (CRAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Watch Parts & Components (Straps/Bracelets, Crystals, Hands, Buckles) (CRAKADAK), Luxury Mechanical Watches (CRAKADAA), Watch Repair & Movement Service (CRAKALAE)

Keywords

• Mechanical watch movements
• Watch movement manufacture
• Grand complication calibers
• Escapement components
• Haute horlogerie services

Headquarters

HQ city

La Chaux-de-fonds

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Custom Movement Manufacturing: B2B manufacturing services designing and producing mechanical watch movements for client brands. Services range from concept and prototype development to full-scale industrial production of calibers, modules, and grand complications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Concepto Watch Factory is an independent Swiss Manufacture that designs, develops, and produces complete mechanical watch movements — including industrial calibers, additional modules, and grand complications — on a B2B basis for watchmaking brands. It operates with near-100% vertical integration, from R&D and prototyping through machining, in-house escapement assortment production, decoration, and final assembly, supported by approximately 150 units of specialized machinery.

Product overview

Concepto Watch Factory SA is an independent, vertically integrated Swiss watch movement manufacturer based in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The company operates as a 'Manufacture' producing complete mechanical movements ranging from industrial calibres to grand complications (tourbillons, minute repeaters, grande sonneries). Their core offerings include self-manufactured escapement assortments (the regulating organ comprising balance, balance-spring, pallets, and escape wheel), which distinguish them as a true Manufacture. The company offers complementary services including precision machining (CNC 5-axis, EDM, laser), artisanal decoration (chamfering, Côtes de Genève, black polishing, laser), and full assembly/casing operations. Concepto's notable collaborations include BVLGARI's Octo Finissimo ultra-thin collection (including world-record 1.70mm Ultra COSC), the Bugatti Tourbillon mechatronic dashboard cluster, Bell & Ross BR-X3 movements, Corum Admiral, Ressence's first in-house Werk RW-01 movement, and Louis Moinet bespoke pieces. The company employs 180 people across its facilities and achieved ISO 9001:2015 certification in June 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Arts & Design Manufacture SA: Artistic crafts division highlighted in the company's workshops, mentioned in collaboration with Concepto for artistic crafts services.

Products and services

• Grand Complication Movements High-complexity mechanical watch movements including tourbillons, minute repeaters, and grande sonneries, designed and produced for watchmaking brands seeking haute horlogerie expertise.
• Industrial Calibres Standard and semi-industrial mechanical watch movements produced at larger scale for watchmaking brands needing reliable, exclusive, and customizable base calibers.
• Complete Escapement Assortments (Assortiments) Self-produced regulating organ sets consisting of balance, balance-spring, mounted pallets, and escape wheel; the core component ensuring chronometric precision, manufactured with proprietary alloys developed in-house.
• Machining Services Comprehensive machining services including 5-axis CNC milling, wire cutting EDM, ML-5 laser cutting, steel stamping, profile turning, tribofinishing, and thickness setting, delivered through approximately 150 units of specialized machinery.
• Decoration and Finishing Services Artisanal decoration services including chamfering, black polishing, Côtes de Genève, circular graining/perlage, and femto laser decoration that transform machined components into finished artisanal pieces.
• Precision Engineering and Tooling Manufacturing of precision tools, settings, and complete swages (étampes) required for movement components, decoration, mounting, assembly, and testing — a rare technical expertise in the industry.
• Watchmaking Workshop Services Movement mounting, assembly, and casing services — including grand flux (high-volume) production and grande complication assembly — in a workshop spanning over 500m2 housing all horological crafts.
• Prototype and R&D Services Design, conceptualization, and prototyping services using 3D tools, collaborating with in-house laboratory watchmakers for prototyping and reliability testing of new movement concepts.

Quantifiable outcome

• World record: Bvlgari Octo Finissimo Ultra COSC - thinnest mechanical watch at 1.70mm with 1.50mm movement height
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• RessencecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 May 2026Development of Ressence's first proprietary movement, the Werk RW-01, for Type 11 watch unveiled at W&W 2026. Marks the Belgian brand's entry into in-house movement production.
• Bell & RosscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 May 2026Development of BR-X3 Tourbillon Micro-Rotor and BR-X3 Micro-Rotor movements for the Parisian brand's iconic square case collection, featuring automatic movement with micro-rotor integration.
• CorumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026Partnership to equip new models in the Admiral collection with automatic movements, supporting Corum's strategic repositioning toward high-end market under new leadership.
• Louis MoinetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 September 2024Multi-year collaboration producing bespoke watch models featuring exotic materials and innovative technology in exclusive limited editions or one-off pieces. Partnership has evolved into friendship between CEO Valérien Jaquet and brand owner Jean-Marie Schaller.
• BugattiflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 June 2024Exclusive partnership for development and production of mechatronic instrument cluster for Bugatti Tourbillon hypercar. The 600-piece mechanical ensemble featuring titanium and precious stones is integrated into the steering wheel, representing unprecedented automotive-horological fusion. Produced in limited edition of 250 units. This collaboration pushes boundaries between automobiles and luxury watchmaking.
• BvlgariflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2024Longstanding collaboration on Octo Finissimo collection achieving multiple world records for ultra-thin watches. Developed the world's thinnest COSC-certified mechanical watch (1.70mm) and subsequent Ultra Tourbillon. 3 years of R&D resulted in movements no more than 1.50mm in height, demonstrating extreme engineering challenges overcome.
• Jacob&CocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2023Collaboration producing movements for Epic X collection and Astronomia watches. Factory visits by founder Jacob Arabov and Producer Michael showcase the manufacturing partnership.
• Art & Design Manufacture SAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for artistic crafts featuring rare know-how including marquetry, featured in newly expanded workshops as part of building extension.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sellita Watch Manufacturing: Independent Swiss movement manufacturer producing mechanical calibers and complete movements for third-party watch brands. Closest direct competitor to Concepto in the contract movement space, with broader industrial-scale production.
• Vaucher Manufacture: Swiss movement manufacturer (Sandoz family foundation-owned) producing high-end mechanical movements for brands like Parmigiani Fleurier. Comparable vertically integrated Manufacture serving bespoke brand needs.
• La Joux-Perret: Swiss movement manufacturer owned by Festina Group, producing calibers and modules for third parties including Tudor-era supply. Direct competitor offering industrial and bespoke movement manufacturing.
• Chronode: Swiss movement design and manufacturing firm founded by Jean-François Mojon, creating bespoke calibers for independent brands. Comparable in targeting independent and high-end brands with custom movement development.
• Schwarz Etienne: Independent Swiss Manufacture producing in-house movements and supplying other brands. Comparable model combining own-brand production with contract manufacturing for third parties.
• Dubois et Fils: Historic Swiss movement manufacturer that resurfaced as a Manufacture producing proprietary calibers. Comparable in serving the independent and microbrand segment with bespoke mechanical movements.

Broad incumbents

• Manufacture Horlogère ValFleurier: Captive movement manufacturer owned by Richemont, supplying A. Lange & Söhne, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and others. Comparable technical capability but operates as a captive rather than open contract manufacturer.
• Kenissi (Rolex): In-house movement manufacturer for Rolex and Tudor. Comparable technical depth and capacity but operates as a captive for the Rolex group, not serving external brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuSHajxuStyGiSLywUIdGSg
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/concepto-watch-factory
• Instagraminstagram.com/concepto_watch_factory

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Concepto Watch Factory