Lebeau-Courally puts its best foot forward

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Video. Masterpieces created by Mastercrafts - Lebeau-Courally
Lebeau-Courally comes to Baselworld all guns blazing; it is proudly proclaiming its Belgian identity, the heritage of the historic city of Liège that goes back to 1865, mastery of manufacture movements and artistic craft savoir-faire. To sample this refreshing cocktail, a visit to the Palace is highly recommended.

Lebeau-Courally has put the past behind it and is forging ahead with a new sense of purpose. This most Belgian of Swiss Made brands appears serene and confident in its temporary headquarters in Baselworld’s Palace. Since Belgian investors opted to take over Julien Coudray 1518, Lebeau-Courally and their associated manufacture (IMH) in Le Locle, this 100% family-run and independent firm can now look forward to growing at its own pace in the knowledge that its foundations are secure.

Belgo-Swiss to the tip of its hands
Lebeau-Courally has a spring in its step. After making some adjustments, the company now has two complementary and permanent collections. The first is made up of Lebeau-Courally’s five historic collections (Dauphin, Archiduc, Baron, Comte and Marquis) equipped with third-party movements, confirming its Belgian heritage and connection with the hunting fraternity.

The other collection features the iconic Moon Phase, and relies on a 100% manufacture movement made in Le Locle. Lebeau-Courally presented a prototype in 2015, which has since been refined and optimised. “We worked on the power reserve, which has been extended to a minimum of 72 hours with perfect isochrony,” explains Commercial Director André Meier. “We also revised the dials. They are now in a deeper blue, which sets off the guilloché on the dial much better. And finally, our moon is now worked in grand feu enamel. We have the métiers d’art capability in-house, and Lebeau-Courally is now making the most of this resource.” The company is keen to point out that its grand feu enamel moon is a world first.

Lebeau-Courally puts its best foot forward

Another first is the clé de fusil or locking lever on the left of the case, which has become a signature of the brand. In the five historic collections it conceals the watch’s serial number. In the manufacture collection it is functional: press down to adjust the date; pull forward to change the moon phase.

The manufacture models go from CHF 12,500 in steel to CHF 35,000 in white gold with grand feu enamel, with a red gold model positioned at CHF 29,000. All three will be available from April 2016, after Baselworld.

What about tomorrow?
On the basis of these solid fundamentals Lebeau-Courally is intending to expand its points of sale. Its retail outlets are currently concentrated in Europe (Belgium, its home market, but also France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Austria). However, the company is now targeting the UK, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Japan, Russia, the United States and some Gulf states. A total of 24 new points of sale are expected to come online in the short term.

They will all offer both of Lebeau-Courally’s collections, although the company has dropped hints that further developments are in the pipeline. “All in good time,” cautions André Meier. “However, we do have a few things on our agenda, including a proprietary base movement with a number of associated complications.”

Lebeau-Courally puts its best foot forward

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