RALF TECH

In 1996, professional diver Frank Huyghe created the RALF TECH brand: diving suits, buoyancy compensators, regulators, masks, etc. In 2003, on the strength of his personal experience, he designed a watch that could withstand the enormous pressures of the ocean depths and beat the World Record of deep diving. This was the RALF TECH WR1.

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About

In 1996, professional diver Frank Huyghe created the RALF TECH brand: diving suits, buoyancy compensators, regulators, masks, etc. In 2003, on the strength of his personal experience, he designed a watch that could withstand the enormous pressures of the ocean depths and beat the World Record of deep diving. This was the RALF TECH WR1.

Since then, the brand has gained valuable expertise with water resistance, thanks to the feedback of professional divers, as well as the special forces operators who use these watches daily, on exercise or while completing military missions. Self-improvement and personal commitment have become guiding values for RALF TECH.

Friends of the brand include Paul Grisoni, a pioneering sports parachutist (1988) and multiple world formation skydiving champion; Nelson Panciatici, racing driver, European and world endurance champion with Alpine; Armel Le Cléac’h, multiple ocean racing world champion; and extreme explorer Rémi Camus.

This 100% independent family firm is entirely self-funded. All profits are reinvested to promote research and continue to create high-performing timepieces.

2005

The WR1, the first RALF TECH watch, beats the deep diving world record, with an immersion of 10 hours at 330 metres below sea level. Today, the RALF TECH WR1 remains the production watch that has reached the greatest depth on the wrist of a diver.

2008

Creation of a dedicated watchmaking unit.

2011

Delivery of the first WRX watches to Commando Hubert, a legendary unit of the French Special Forces.

2014

Launch of the WRV, the second RALF TECH model, also intended for combat divers, which is now used by the Swiss special forces.

2017

Launch of ACADEMIE, the brand’s most concensual collection to date.

Philosophy

RALF TECH is guided by the principles of knowing your environment, authenticity, shared experience and independence. The brand designs, develops, manufactures and distributes watches of character that are precise, reliable and robust, as well as being completely independent of any school of thought or existing narrative. RALF TECH deliberately steers clear of mass watch retail. RALF TECH watches can be found on the wrists of professionals in the field, special forces operators from 12 countries, extreme athletes and competitors who brave the elements with courage and authenticity.From its two workshops, one in Morteau in the French Jura and the other in Losone in the Ticino region of Switzerland, the brand places its experience at the service of both professionals (since 2005) and the general public (since 2010). RALF TECH has no use for slick salesmanship and marketing hype – in fact, it doesn’t even have a marketing department.Instead, it relies on just two elements: experience and effectiveness.

Collections

WRX

The WRX collection, with a diameter of 47.5 mm, is available with automatic, hybrid or electric movements (all Swiss). These are professional instruments that combine the best technical features with a timeless and powerful design. The WRX ignores the usual watchmaking customs and codes, imposing its own codes and vision of the action watch. The WRX is produced in small numbered series, making it both rugged and rare.

WRV

The WRV is more approachable than the WRX. It redefines the contours of the diving watch and affirms its personality through a pragmatic, idiosyncratic design. Clearly inspired by the 1970s, the WRV is both vintage (particularly in its “1977” livery) and up-to-date. The WRV comes equipped with either a Swiss made automatic movement, or a Swiss made electric movement, ensuring that it is both on time and ahead of its time.

WRB

The WRB, the latest addition to the family, is the most versatile of RALF TECH’s dive watches. It retains the WRV spirit, but in a more classic format. Its 39 mm case suits any wrist. The watch is driven by an automatic mechanical movement, and comes in satin-brushed or full black steel. It is assembled in France.

Académie

Because not everyone is a combat diver, the 41 mm Académie provides a more civilian gateway into the RALF TECH universe. It has a vintage spirit and a vintage appearance, combined with the water resistance of a true dive watch and a reliable and precise automatic movement. These features combine to create an extraordinary feat of alchemy. Also assembled in France.