Yesterday

1901
In January 1901, in Le Lieu, Switzerland, Marcel Dépraz sets up his first watchmaking workshop on the first floor of what is now the Grand Rue 12 building Specialised in the production and assembly of all types of watchmaking mechanisms, he wins a gold medal several months later at the Exposition Cantonale Vaudoise. In 1911, he and his brother-in-law opened a second company called “Dépraz et Guignard”.
1901
1937
Later joined by Gabrielle and Roger, his two children, Marcel Dépraz then hires his son-in-law, Reynold Dubois, in 1937. This collaboration brings about the creation of the calibre 48, a chronograph of which more than 3.5 million examples have been produced. Both of Marcel Dépraz’s companies merge under the corporate name “Dépraz & Cie”.
1937
1956
In 1956, Gérald Dubois, a young engineer watchmaker and son of Gabrielle and Reynold, sets up a technical department within the company. In 1969, the work carried out by this development team would lead to the launch of the world’s first automatic modular chronograph, produced for three major watch brands.
1956
1969
With its modular design, the calibre 11 would later evolve to become the calibre 12, then 15, and would be awarded a silver-gilt medal at the Inventors’ Exhibition in Brussels in 1969. This major event would allow the company to win an enormous amount of credibility and boost its reputation significantly.
1969
1987
The fourth generation slowly joins the business: Jean-Philippe Dubois in 1987, Pascal Dubois in 1992 and Pierre Dubois, a lot later, in 2017. Their cousins, Stéphane and Claude-Alain Berthoud, also join the company in the ’90s. While Reynold Dubois’ five grandchildren were all involved in the company for several years, today, three of them hold management positions and a fourth is Chairman of the Board of Directors.
1987
2005
Since 2005, the company has developed exponentially; it acquired DPRM SA, a company active in the field of bar turning and, in the same year, built the Combe industrial site. In 2017, Dubois Dépraz purchases the Valtronic buildings in Les Charbonnières and slowly sets up operations there. Step by step, the operations start to refocus on watchmaking.
2005

Today

Manufacturer of Complications

The company designs, produces and assembles intricate mechanisms for its own use. It owns its developments and makes them available to client brands.

Manufacturer of Components

The company produces and pre-assembles, if required, different parts for its client brands. Dubois Dépraz sometimes works in collaboration with its clients to co-develop and design certain parts or particularly complex production processes.

Customer-Made Developments

Dubois Dépraz carries out specific developments on behalf of client brands. This includes the design of new complications based on existing complications as well as the adaptation of complications so that they function in a manufacture movement.

Tomorrow

A solid and well-structured company, a leader in the field of modular design, Dubois & Dépraz SA remains very attached to its independence. Aiming to preserve it and continue its mission to serve brands, as it has been doing since 1901.

Dubois Dépraz strives for continuous improvement, harnessing emerging technologies, all the while maintaining its distinctive expertise and authenticity.

COMPLICATIONS

PICTOS-composants

Components

PICTOS-developpement-sur-mesure

CUSTOM-MADE

Dubois Dépraz, an independent company founded in 1901 in the Vallée de Joux, is now in the hands of the fourth generation. With 420 employees, the company is active in both the Vallée de Joux (VD) and Arch (BE), in Switzerland.

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