A new era of watchmakingThe new TUDOR Watch Manufacture
Every TUDOR watch is assembled and fully tested to TUDOR’s superior standards and at the brand’s new watch Manufacture located in Le Locle, Switzerland. This new state-of-the-art facility, bringing together the know-how of watchmakers with the best in production management and automated testing systems, was completed in 2021 after three years of construction.
All decked out in TUDOR red, the Manufacture spans over four levels totaling 5,500 square meters and is physically and visually connected to the neighbouring Kenissi Manufacture, the TUDOR movement production facility founded in 2016. With Kenissi and a network of TUDOR-owned affiliates, the brand has been able to integrate the development and production of high-performance mechanical calibers. Consequently, TUDOR now fully masters the manufacturing of strategic components and can guarantee their quality. All of the brand’s watches are manufactured in Switzerland under its control to ensure the exceptional quality of its timepieces.
A landmark facility
Because of their proven reliability and affordability, throughout their history, TUDOR watches have been chosen by the boldest adventurers on land, underwater, and on ice. Today, the TUDOR collection includes emblematic models such as Pelagos, Black Bay, 1926, and Royal. Since 2015, TUDOR has also offered mechanical Manufacture Calibres with superior performance, such as the TUDOR Manufacture Calibre MT5612, which powers the Pelagos.
The TUDOR Manufacture is the first industrial facility fully dedicated to the TUDOR watchmaking company in its 100-year history. The landmark facility is located in Le Locle, Neuchâtel Canton, Switzerland, close to the Swiss-French border.
Le Locle
Le Locle is a Swiss town situated in the Jura Mountains. With a population of 10,000 inhabitants, it’s known for its watchmaking-typical town planning and together with the neighbouring town of La Chaux-de-Fonds has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2009. Watchmaking arrived as early as the 17th century in the region where the most prevalent economic activity was agriculture prior to the rise of watchmaking.
Today, the face of Le Locle is the result of the transition from artisanal production by a cottage industry to the more concentrated factory production of the late 19th and 20th centuries. It represents a remarkable living example of a mono-industrial manufacturing town dedicated to watch manufacturers, with well-preserved, and in some cases, historical factories that are still fully operational today. The new TUDOR Manufacture is starting a new chapter in the region’s legacy in watchmaking, perpetuating the town’s industrial tradition and connection to Swiss watch brands.
A signature look
The construction of the TUDOR Manufacture started in 2018, with the objective of moving the assembly operations of Montres TUDOR S.A. from Geneva closer to its affiliates and suppliers in the Jura mountains. A location next to a Rolex facility, inaugurated in 1970, was the obvious choice to build TUDOR’s cutting-edge Manufacture on. The signature TUDOR red building was fully completed in 2021 and officially inaugurated in March of 2023 during the main show for luxury Swiss watch brands, Watches and Wonders.
The façade and windows give the building its signature look. The execution is bright red on the TUDOR Manufacture side and silvery grey on the Kenissi Manufacture side to ensure visual continuity. Also, another less-obvious element of the building is the Sage Glass-equipped bay windows, which automatically regulate the amount of light transmission depending on the level of natural light. The system is energy efficient, using light transmission to help regulate energy consumption. In fact, a large part of the power used by and in the building is generated by solar panels on the roof, the remainder comes from the Swiss power grid, and per TUDOR’s choice is generated by renewable energy sources.
Biodiversity and visual harmony
The least disturbance to the outdoor environment around the TUDOR Manufacturer was a guiding principle during development. Careful attention was paid as to not upset the flow of the Bied river, and additionally, all patches of grass are only cut once a year around the area. All plants that have been planted on the property are endemic to the Jura region so as to not upset the careful balance of the biodiversity in the area.
The final touch to tie the whole Manufacture together was the choice of furniture used. The interior design follows the same TUDOR red and black and grey colour theme as the outside of the building. The idea was simple: create visual harmony throughout the space by matching the minimalist aesthetics of the building. Coherence is key here, and it’s only matched by the emphasis on the ergonomics of watchmakers’ benches touchpoints. The furniture chosen encourages the comfort and safety for all in the workplace.
The dawn of a new era
The TUDOR Shield is the most important symbol of the brand. In October of 2021, the signs were finally installed, signalling the completion of the Manufacture. The symbol was introduced in 1969 with the intention of projecting robustness. Today, the symbol still stands for robustness, and now engineering and manufacturing prowess as well.
The Manufacture represents the dawning of a new era for TUDOR. The vision to create a Manufacture that puts humans at the center of the watchmaking process while harnessing the power of technology has finally been realized in the form of TUDOR Manufacture Le Locle. Careful consideration has been given to every single aspect; from the benches the watchmakers work at all the way to the plants that grow in the open spaces around the Manufacture. TUDOR is committed to making the best possible luxury watch at the best possible price, and the development of this Manufacture is part of that mission, serving TUDOR for years to come.
