With 25 years of experience, watchmaker Simon Lefrançois is self-employed

The world of independent watchmaking has always been a place of passion, inspiration and excitement for us. It has been at the heart of MONOCHROME from the beginning, and today we continue to enjoy discovering new and fascinating horological adventures from all corners of the world. This time we stop in Morbihan, France to discover the work of Simon Lefrançois. Under the name Montre Lefrançois, Simon can look back on more than 25 years of experience in the Swiss watch industry. With the presentation of his Automatique No. 01 on Instagram, the first watch series is now being created. Let’s find out more!

Robin, MONOCHROME Watches – Simon, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Simon Lefrançois, I was born in Calvados, France and grew up in a very creative family. My father was, among other things, a traditional carpenter and my mother was a traditional calligrapher. I have lived in Lot and Aveyron and now live in Morbihan with my wife and 5 year old son. I have been a professional watchmaker for 25 years and in addition to my passion for my craft, I also have a great passion for nature and sports.

Not a typical workshop.

Where does your passion for watches come from?

At the age of 15, my path crossed with that of watchmaking in an old watchmaker’s workshop. Since then, I have developed an obsession with finding watches, learning more about them and how they work, and discovering the rich heritage of this ancient know-how. At a meeting at a flea market I found the first watchmaker’s bench, which I set up in my room, as well as my first tools.

You told me that you enrolled in watchmaking school when you were 18. What motivated you to pursue this career path?

That was actually a logical continuation for me. I had found a passion that I wanted to turn into a business, a career. At the time, I wasn’t happy with school and didn’t find a rewarding bubble there. So I decided to enroll in a watchmaking school, the closest one would be in Bordeaux. I spoke to several teachers who trusted me and allowed me to fill out an application and I was accepted. I am still very grateful for the opportunity as I felt very comfortable at school and realized my dream very quickly.

How did you gain experience as a watchmaker after your training?

After I graduated, I made the decision to start my professional life, even though I could have continued my watchmaking studies. I packed my bags with the thought that if the work ultimately leads me to accomplish what I needed, it is learning. So when I was just 19 years old, I traveled to Switzerland and ended up in Sainte-Croix, where I worked for Vianney Halter. For me it was a very open and inspiring environment.

I also held various positions in several factories in Switzerland and was able to stay there and gradually got into watch restoration for manufacturers like Vacheron Constantin. After twenty years of working for other watchmakers, I felt ready to work for myself. The year 2017 was a real turning point for me when I met my partner during a bike ride in Brittany, France. I decided to move from Switzerland to Morbihan to join her as I felt like I needed a change and more creativity in my life.

What motivated you to make your own watches, under your own name?

When I arrived in Brittany I initially opened a vintage watch restoration workshop and spent my time collecting and restoring old tools and machinery. I wanted to enjoy the greatest possible independence in producing components in a traditional way and eventually came up with the idea of ​​producing watches under my own name. Little by little the idea grew and, in addition to my work as a watch restorer, I also began to develop prototypes.

I tested a lot of ideas, made a lot of drawings and finally found a design that I really liked. By comparing my sketches with the capabilities of my workshop, I arrived at several prototypes, which I further developed to arrive at a final prototype called Automatique No.01. This model allowed me to take the plunge and I stopped buying and restoring timepieces to devote all my time to this creative project.

You showed your first series watch on Instagram. How did you come up with the design for it?

I spent a lot of time sketching and designing the watch and making prototypes on my machines. I couldn’t wait to share my work and I’m much more of a traditional craftsman than a seller. I take the time I need to get to something I feel happy about, and it took me quite a while. I needed to test the temperature of the audience at a particular point in time and used Instagram like a barometer to gauge the level of interest my watch series could receive. The result was pretty conclusive, which motivated me to continue my adventure into independence. This was all very educational for me and it’s just the beginning of the adventure!

As far as I can tell, a lot of the work is done by you. Can you walk us through what it took to make it happen?

This watch is actually more technical to produce. It includes around 50 components for the case and dials alone, which I make myself in my workshop. The case is quite complex, with recesses for the lugs that cut into the case and case back, and a bevel to accommodate the ends of the strap. Each component requires several phases of work, from manufacturing to testing and adjustment to final machining. Each piece is made and finished individually by hand, which requires a lot of work and time. Each watch represents a large part of my personal investment. Only the laser engraving of the signature on the dial and the case back is outsourced to a third party.

What type of movement is used and have you changed anything?

The caliber I use is an ETA 2892 that has not undergone any major modifications. For this first project, I focused on the architecture of the entire watch to find harmony between the technical limitations. I wanted a movement that was relatively thin, self-winding, easy to use and reliable. The watch has a thickness of just 7.4mm and a diameter of 38mm, so a really nice and compact size.

What are your plans for this model and what will happen when it is finished and sold?

For this example I limited myself to 20 pieces, all made to order. I offer some customization options at the level of the steel bolts and rondels on the dial, which can be finished in a different color by heating over a flame. This allows me to get some pretty nice combinations. Currently half of the series is fully booked, which I’m really happy about! At the moment I am in the phase of manufacturing these watches in order to deliver them to the customer as quickly as possible. At the moment I don’t know exactly what will be done first, but I’m working hard on it.

However, I am already thinking about developing a hand-winding mechanism for my next watch and am working on some ideas in my workshop. Since I am the only one who designs and makes my watches, I intend to only make small series of watches to keep the creative energy going without tiring myself with too many repetitions. This way I can stay sharp and focused and hopefully develop future series of watches.

How can people get in touch with you to find out more about you or your watches, or perhaps even order one?

At the moment you can mainly reach me via Instagram. I can be reached there, but also by email or phone if people prefer. Upon request, I can send technical data sheets of the watch to help people better understand what is included in the watch. A website is being planned, but I don’t know exactly when it will go online. But the door to my workshop in Morbihan is always open and people are welcome to contact me for a meeting!

For more information, follow @Montre_Lefrancois on Instagram.