AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA

What AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA does

AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA is a family-owned Swiss watchmaking company headquartered in Les Bioux, in the Vallée de Joux, founded in 1941 by Alfred Rochat. The company designs, manufactures and sells mechanical watch movements and finished watches, with operations carried out by approximately 5 employees. Its customer base spans two channels: B2B movement supply to watch brands (including Private Label and White Label arrangements) and D2C sales of finished watches to collectors, with some direct factory purchases at its Les Bioux location.

The firm's technology base is built on standard Swiss calibers (Unitas 6497/6565, Valjoux 7750, ETA 2892-A2, Marvin 700) which are modified, skeletonized and enhanced in-house, alongside two proprietary calibers (AR 165 and AR 140) for which AROLA produces the entire cage. Technical differentiators include a proprietary 3/4 bridge design, eight+ decorative skeleton patterns (Sun, Star, Spider, Wheel, Blade, Sand, Classic, Flower/Edelweiss), a modular complication system (moon phase, rattrapante, dual time, date pointer) that drops into base movements without modification, custom rotor cutting services, and galvanic color treatments in blue, NAC, rhodium, rose gold and black ruthenium.

Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales of finished watches (priced 1,070 to 15,178 Sfr), separate movement sales, Private Label finished-watch supply to brand-holding companies, and aftermarket parts for vintage calibers. Distribution is entirely direct, with no intermediaries, retail partners or third-party distributors. The firm has a documented exclusive customization partnership with Chronoswiss and is led by Technical Manager Marc-Aurèle Rochat and Head of Marketing, Commercial and Human Resources Sandra Pilet Rochat.

Name

AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA

Legal name

Alfred Rochat & Fils SA

Website

https://arola-alfred-rochat.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA is a family-owned Swiss watchmaking firm in the Vallée de Joux, founded 1941, that modifies and skeletonizes mechanical movements (Unitas, Valjoux, ETA, plus proprietary AR 165/AR 140) for B2B watch brands and sells Private Label and finished watches to collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mechanical Watch Manufacturing

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Complications & Haute Horlogerie (CRAKADAG), Luxury Mechanical Watches (CRAKADAA), Watch Parts & Components (Straps/Bracelets, Crystals, Hands, Buckles) (CRAKADAK)

Keywords

• Mechanical watch movements
• Swiss watchmaking
• Skeleton watches
• Chronograph movements
• Complication modules

Headquarters

HQ city

Les Bioux

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Finished Watch Sales: Sale of completed watches to end consumers through direct channels, including chronographs and skeleton watches with various complications.
2. Movement Sales: Sale of movements separately to brand-holding companies, allowing them to produce their own watch models. Movements sold with or without complications.
3. Private Label / White Label: Sale of finished watch models to trademark-holding companies with their own brand and logo printed on dials.
4. Parts and Modules: Sale of spare parts, complications modules, and customization options including swan neck regulators, 3/4 bridges, and rotor cutting services.
5. Complication Modules: Sale of pre-mounted complication modules (moon phase, date pointers, rattrapante, dual time) that replace standard date modules on existing movements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AROLA is a Swiss watch manufacturer founded in 1941 in the Vallée de Joux, producing mechanical watch movements (ébauches) and finished timepieces. The company manufactures movements based on Unitas 6497, ETA 2892, Valjoux 7750, and Marvin 700 calibers, develops proprietary in-house calibers (AR 165, AR 140), and offers Private Label and custom finishing services (skeletonization, galvanic treatments, rotor cutting) for watch brands.

Product overview

AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA is a Swiss watch manufacturer located in the Watch Valley (Vallée de Joux), Switzerland, founded in 1941. The company operates a dual business model: (1) They manufacture and sell finished movements based on industry-standard calibers (Unitas 6497/6498, Valjoux 7750, ETA 2892-A2, Unitas 6565) as well as proprietary in-house calibers (AR 165 and AR 140), and (2) They produce finished watches sold at retail under their own brand. Their movement portfolio includes skeleton movements in various decorative designs (Sun, Flower/Edelweiss, Star, Wheel, Blade, Spider, Classic, Sand), standard movements with complications (chronograph, rattrapante, moon phase, dual time zone, flyback, regulator), and vintage-based movements (Marvin 700, old calibres). Finished watches include chronographs, rattrapante models, and regulator watches in various case materials. The company also offers B2B services including Private Label production for brand-holding companies, custom galvanic color treatments, rotor skeletonization, and pre-mounted complication modules. Some skeleton movements (Spider, Star, Flower) and certain models are reserved exclusively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AR 165 In-house Caliber Proprietary in-house mechanical movement caliber developed by AROLA, used as the basis for finished watches and offered to other watch brands.
• AR 140 In-house Caliber Proprietary in-house mechanical movement caliber developed by AROLA for use in finished watches and as a movement offering for watch brands.
• Unitas 6497-based Movements AROLA-modified mechanical ébauches based on the Unitas 6497 caliber, supplied to watch brands for integration into finished timepieces.
• ETA 2892-based Movements Mechanical ébauches derived from the ETA 2892 caliber, customized and supplied by AROLA to watch brands and integrated into finished watches.
• Valjoux 7750-based Movements Automatic chronograph ébauches based on the Valjoux 7750 caliber, manufactured and modified by AROLA for chronograph watches.
• Marvin 700-based Movements Mechanical ébauches built on the Marvin 700 base caliber, produced by AROLA for watch brands and finished watch assembly.
• Private Label Watches Complete watch manufacturing program for partner brands under their own label, with AROLA producing movements, modules and finished timepieces tailored to brand specifications.
• AROLA Finished Watches Finished mechanical timepieces assembled and decorated by AROLA, incorporating in-house and modified calibers, with custom skeletonization and finishing options.
• Custom Skeletonization & Finishing Services Bespoke watchmaking services including skeletonization, galvanic treatments, and custom rotor cutting performed by AROLA for individual clients and watch brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 years of continuous operation in Swiss watchmaking since 1941

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

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

One partnership is on record.

• ChronoswisscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive customization partnership for Chronoswiss Régulateur à Tourbillon Squelette. Marc-Aurèle Rochat performs hand-engraving of bridges and plates using traditional floral techniques. The Chronoswiss website documents this collaboration, noting the handgraviert (hand-engraved) floral technique by Marc-Aurèle Rochat exclusively for Chronoswiss.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Habring² (Habring & Söhne): Small Austrian independent watchmaker producing in-house calibers with complications such as rattrapante and deadbeat seconds. Comparable as a sub-scale, family-run manufacture specializing in complications, though watch-making rather than movement-supply oriented.
• Arnold & Son: Independent Swiss watchmaker specializing in skeleton and high-complication pieces, part of the larger movement-supply ecosystem. Comparable in product aesthetic (skeleton movements) and complications focus.

Broad incumbents

• Chronoswiss: German-based independent watchmaker known for skeleton, regulator, and tourbillon pieces, and an existing AROLA customer. Comparable as a higher-end specialty watchmaker with overlapping complications expertise, but operates as a finished watch brand rather than a supplier.

Direct peers

• Concepto Watch Manufactures: Swiss movement manufacturer producing ébauches and complications for independent brands. Closely comparable business model to AROLA's movement manufacturing and customization services for third-party watch brands.
• La Joux-Perret: Vallée de Joux-based movement manufacturer producing ébauches and proprietary calibers. Highly comparable as a Swiss complications and movement supplier serving independent watch brands with customization.
• Manufacture Horlogère Vallée de Joux (MHVJ): Vallée de Joux-based movement and watch manufacturer producing ébauches and complicated movements for brands. Directly comparable as a Swiss movement supplier based in the same watchmaking valley as AROLA.
• Dubois et Fils SA: Swiss movement manufacturer and watch assembler serving private label and independent brand customers. Directly comparable dual B2B movement/B2C watch model similar to AROLA.
• Sellita Watch Co SA: Swiss ébauche and movement manufacturer widely used as an alternative to ETA by independent brands. Directly comparable to AROLA as a movement supplier to watch brands, operating in a similar Swiss mid-tier manufacturing space.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/share
• Facebookfacebook.com/Alfred-Rochat-Fils-SA-AROLA-1419225161672577
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arola---alfred-rochat-&-fils-sa
• Instagraminstagram.com/sandra_pilet

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 AROLA - Alfred Rochat & Fils SA