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Simon Brette

Crafting timepieces where tradition meets innovation.

Founded
2023
By
Simon Brette
Location
Switzerland
Website
https://simonbrette.com/en/
Simon Brette is an independent Swiss watchmaker whose debut timepiece, the Chronomètre Artisans, has garnered significant acclaim for its exceptional craftsmanship and innovative design. Raised in the Auvergne region of France, Simon was influenced by his father’s carpentry, instilling in him a deep appreciation for artisanal work. After completing his engineering studies in 2011, he joined Jean-François Mojon’s Chronode, contributing to movements for brands like IWC and HYT. He later held pivotal roles at MCT and MB&F, where he was instrumental in developing notable pieces such as the HM10 Bulldog and LMX.
In 2021, inspired by the birth of his daughter and a desire to honor traditional craftsmanship, Simon established his own brand. His inaugural creation, the Chronomètre Artisans, is a 39mm hand-wound chronometer featuring a unique “dragon scale” dial pattern, reminiscent of his father’s woodworking techniques. The watch houses the in-house SBCA calibre, boasting twin barrels for a three-day power reserve and utilizing materials like Phynox and Grade-5 titanium for enhanced performance.
What sets Simon Brette apart is his commitment to collaborative craftsmanship. Each Chronomètre Artisans comes with a “passport” crediting every artisan involved in its creation, emphasizing transparency and recognition. The watch’s exceptional quality and design earned it the Horological Revelation Prize at the 2023 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.
With a limited production of 12 pieces per year, the Chronomètre Artisans has quickly become a coveted item among collectors, with orders reportedly filled through 2028. Simon Brette’s dedication to blending traditional techniques with modern innovation positions his brand as a rising star in the world of independent watchmaking.

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Questions answered.

What is Simon Brette and what is the brand known for?

Simon Brette is a French independent watchmaker producing a tiny number of highly refined mechanical timepieces each year. Brette is known for an exceptionally high standard of hand-finishing — including anglage, perlage, and bevelling applied to entirely in-house movements — and for a restrained, classical aesthetic that prioritises horological substance over visual drama. The brand is regarded in collector circles as one of the finest emerging independents in contemporary watchmaking.

What is the Simon Brette Unis and what makes it significant?

The Unis is Simon Brette's primary reference — a time-only dress watch with an in-house manually wound movement finished to a standard that rivals established names at significantly higher price points. The dial design is deliberately understated, allowing the movement architecture visible through the caseback to speak for itself. The Unis represents Brette's philosophy that a great watch needs no complications beyond excellent execution of the fundamentals.

How does Simon Brette fit into the independent watchmaking landscape?

Simon Brette occupies the same rarefied tier as makers like Romain Gauthier and Laurent Ferrier — independents producing fewer than 50 pieces per year, entirely in-house, to a finishing standard that is genuinely comparable to the very best Swiss manufactures. Brette is frequently cited by serious collectors and press as one of the most important watchmakers of his generation, and waiting lists for his pieces reflect demand that significantly exceeds supply.

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