User:L'Epee clock

L’Epée
L’Epée is a clock manufactory founded in 1839 in Sainte-Sazanne. Now, as a part of the Swiza Group, it produces high-end Swiss Made timepieces.

L’Epée history

 * 1839

Auguste l’Epée acquired the buildings of “La ferme du Prince” in Sainte-Suzanne, near Besançon / France and founded his own Clock and Music Box workshops on the 1st of August 1839. All parts were entirely hand made, which is why the firm became known in the region as the “Manufacture l’Epée”.

Auguste L’Epée launched in 1850 the production of the “platform escapements” that represented a major step in the development and the prestige of the company.
 * 1850



L’Epée provided its “platform escapement” to the high range of table clocks. This workshop expanded rapidly from 1855. The mechanical platform escapement replaced the pendulum escapement. This created the possibility of a travel clock that would still work during journeys.

The regulating organ of a mechanical movement consists of an escapement wheel and pallets. The development and production of that major part requires an expert workforce. The manufacturing shifted from craft to mechanised production. The first produced platform escapements on an industrial scale, were cylinder escapements. When pallets escapements were asked for by customers, l’Epée created the pallet escapement “de côté” for interchangeability reasons with the cylinder.

In 1889 L’epée won its first gold awards at the Paris international exhibition. L’Epée manufacture then received a couple of other prestigious gold awards at various international exhibitions: Vienna in 1892, Paris 1900, Hanoi in 1902 and also in the Americas and Great Britain.
 * 1889

In 1976, L’Epée was selected to equip the first supersonic fleet with the Concorde.
 * 1976

In 1994, L’Epée realized the project of the giant and unique clock. Its technical name is “Regulator with Compensated Pendulum”. It is 2.20 meters high and weighs 1.2 tons. Its mechanical movement alone weighs 120 kilos. This masterpiece required 2800 hours of work. The clock, a first of its kind, was honor by the guiness book as the biggest regulator clock ever built. The clock was unveiled at Le Louvre in Paris. The clock has later on toured Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
 * 1994

The prestigious Manufacture L’Epée was acquired late in 2008 by Swiza SA. The production has been resumed in Delémont in the Swiss Jura with complete respect for these legendary timepieces worthy of the Swiss-Made label.
 * 2008

The Group
L’Epée was acquired late in 2008 by Swiza SA. The production has been resumed in Delémont in the Swiss Jura.

In 2010, L’Epée becomes the only Clock Manufacture on the market with a 46-jewel 40-day movement, a Double Retrograde second dis¬play and an animated logo which is the new theme to be used as the brand signature.

Swiza SA Manufacture consists of an integrated manufacture putting together all crafts required to produce a quartz or mechanical clock for the brands Swiza, Matthew Norman or l’Epée. Founded in 1904, Swiza S.A. is the largest Swiss Manufacture for clocks and alarm clocks. It produces luxury Swiss Made timepieces under its own brands and for great watch companies.

The Group's own brands are complementary in terms of product lines:

L’EPEE: This prestigious brand on top of the pyramid, has been and continues to be at the forefront of technological developments for exceptional mechanical clocks.

MATTHEW NORMAN: This contemporary brand of mechanical clocks is divided into two categories: the skeletonized clocks that highlight the beauty of the movement and the contemporary clocks that emphasize the design and finishing of the cabinet.

SWIZA: The brand specializes in high-end quartz clocks with or without alarm. These clocks are dedicated to men and women who love style and design.