At a glance
A 1901 Vallée de Joux start
Dubois Dépraz says Marcel Dépraz established his first Le Lieu workshop in January 1901, specializing in production and assembly of watchmaking mechanisms.
The company date does not date a movement or watch containing one of its components. 1
The Dubois connection arrived in 1937
The company says Reynold Dubois joined in 1937 and the collaboration led to calibre 48, a chronograph it says was produced in more than 3.5 million examples.
A calibre number or family reference needs exact movement evidence before attribution. 1
1969 is a stated modular-chronograph milestone
Dubois Dépraz says work by its technical department led in 1969 to the launch of the world's first automatic modular chronograph, produced for three major watch brands.
The company does not identify those brands on this page, so they should not be guessed. 1
Its role is supplier, not retail brand
The company says it designs, produces and assembles intricate mechanisms for its own use and makes developments available to client brands. It also produces components and custom developments for clients.
A Dubois Dépraz module is therefore not, by itself, a consumer-brand identification. 1
Current continuity is independent and client-focused
Dubois Dépraz describes itself as independent, fourth-generation and active in the Vallée de Joux and Arch. These are current company statements.
Current company structure does not establish the maker or service history of a historic watch. 2
Keep conclusions source-bounded
Official material supports the 1901 workshop, the 1937 calibre 48 account, the 1969 modular-chronograph milestone and Dubois Dépraz's supplier role. It does not authenticate or value an individual watch.
Match the exact module, base calibre, reference, period documentation and service evidence before attribution. 1
Key dates
Ownership and continuity
Dubois Dépraz's official history traces a 1901 mechanism workshop through calibre and modular-chronograph milestones to an independent current supplier role. 12
Identification and service
For an individual watch, record the complete reference, serial, dial, case, and movement markings and compare them with dated primary documentation.
A brand history cannot authenticate, appraise, or establish the provenance of a particular watch.
Evidence and limits
How the claims are supported
- source stated claim
Dubois Dépraz says Marcel Dépraz established his first Le Lieu watchmaking workshop in January 1901.
- source stated claim
Dubois Dépraz says the 1937 collaboration with Reynold Dubois led to calibre 48, with more than 3.5 million examples produced.
- source stated claim
Dubois Dépraz says its development work led to a 1969 automatic modular chronograph produced for three major watch brands.
- source stated claim
Dubois Dépraz says it designs, produces and assembles complications, components and customer-made developments for client brands.
- source stated claim
Dubois Dépraz says it is independent, fourth-generation and active in the Vallée de Joux and Arch.
Known limits
- This guide does not authenticate or value a watch.
- A supplier module does not by itself identify a retail brand, production period or official service history.
Direct sources
- About UsDubois Dépraz · official history · accessed September 12, 2026
Locator: Company history and client-brand role. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
- HomeDubois Dépraz · official company profile · accessed September 12, 2026
Locator: Current independent company positioning. First-party source; its statements remain attributed.
Corrections
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