Welcome to
A true story...
from the 18th century on...
Michel Fréret-Roy is a passionate man... First, at the beginning of his carreer, passionate about public works projects all aver the world. After having travelled around the globe as executive of French engineering and major construction groups and director of foreing subsidiaries for these groups, he decided to move to the watchmaking business, his passion for watches being the strongest and horology being truly in his blood!
Thus, from beginning of the 18th century, Michel mother's family, the Roy family, has been active in the watchmaking industry in Switzerland, in Couvet also called le Val de Travers, in the Canton of Neuchâtel .
In 1802, a member of this family named Abraham-Henri, left his native Switzerland and settled as a watchmaker in Rouen, Normandy, France. A few years later, in 1818, he founded his own watch factory in the village of Saint Austreberthe, 15 miles away from Rouen. His young manufacture will reach its apogee with his son Henri-Julien Roy, known as Henri Roy, born in 1827, the great-great-grandfather of Michel Fréret-Roy, who will revolutionize bell-tower clock manufacturing and develop a number of inventions and patents in the second half of the 19th century. For a more complete history, please refer to the
"History & Museum"
page.
In 1997, Michel Fréret-Roy revived the family tradition and set up his watch distribution company with his wife Sophie, a partner in the venture, and with the participation of his parents, his father Jean Fréret, head of a public works company, and his mother Christiane Fréret, née Roy, and the family watchmaking story was reborn...
Then in June 2005, Sophie and Michel Fréret-Roy decided to open their first boutique with the name "Fréret-Roy", on the corner of Rue de la Paix and the world-famous Place Vendôme in Paris. Rather than simply advertise "Horlogerie-Joaillerie" in english "Watches & Jewelry", they choose the taglines "Montres et Merveilles" and "Watches & Wonders" (long before a Geneva show of the same name was created) to symbolize their independence of spirit and difference. They offer only independent watch brands that are both luxurious and atypical.
In 2006, shortly after the opening of their shop, Michel Fréret-Roy – still with the support of his wife – decided to launch his own exclusive line of jewelry, mainly rings and pendants, which gave birth to the brand's "Merveilles", a subtle blend of brilliance and emotion embodied in jewelry. All these creations, conceived and designed by Michel Fréret-Roy and approved by Sophie (for the feminine spirit), are handcrafted in Paris, in keeping with the tradition of French jewelry. Most models are one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted and registered.
At the end of 2011, Michel Fréret-Roy and Sophie, presented their first collection of watches signed "Fréret-Roy 1818", which marks a return to the noblest family tradition: watchmaking since 1818. The watches are made in Switzerland, and their authentic character is embodied in the "Collection A.O.C" label.
One of the brand's specialties, mechanical watches with entirely cut-out skeleton calibers are a major part of the brand's collections.
The Cœur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V1 model, produced in a limited edition of 99 pieces, was a great success, helping to launch the brand and guide its strategic choices. All the models in this first collection, which you can find in the "History & Museum" section, are sold out.
The success of this first collection, and in particular of this first Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague model, enabled us to present our V2 series at the end of 2015, which inaugurated our new redesigned case, which guided the development of new, exclusive models.
A highly personal and original collection that you can discover on the following pages.
Michel Fréret-Roy
Our specialty:
"Skeleton" watches !
Above, the "Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon", a grand complication emblematic of the Fréret Roy 1818 collection, celebrates the brand's tenth anniversary. This 100% Swiss-caliber watch features its tourbillon under an arch-shaped bridge, centered at 6 o'clock, and is entirely skeletonized and transparent. It is the first tourbillon on the market to be offered by an independent French brand. It is the natural choice to crown our collection.
Discover our brand below and on the following pages, or by clicking on the corresponding button...
Nowadays, Fréret-Roy 1818 watches are no longer manufactured in the historic Roy factory in Sainte Austreberthe, dedicated to monumental clocks and owned by our cousins the Biards, but are manufactured in Switzerland, by independent workshops in the Swiss Jura, in Le Locle, La Chauds de Fonds...
The mention of the year 1818 is a reminder that my ancestors have been making timepieces under our name since 1818, for over two hundred years. No marketing concept, just a reminder of true legitimacy. Nothing invented, authenticity is my rule. With the Biard-Roy factory no longer producing anything but large-volume clocks, I decided to revive the production of "small-volume" watches by combining my two patronymic names, Fréret (my father) and Roy (my mother).
The Collection has been named "A.O.C." for "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée".
Skeleton watches are at the heart of the
Fréret-Roy 1818 collections!
Families of exclusive watches, all produced
in limited series.
Skeletonized watches with cut-out calibers have been the success of our brand since its launch in 2011. They're our signature. Presented at the end of 2015, our new collection inaugurated our exclusive and timeless Fréret Roy 1818 case. Our Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague models have evolved over time, and are now in their third generation with the V2.3 version in steel or black steel. Our other models, Coeur Ouvert® 120H, Grand Coeur Ouvert® Fantôme and Coeur Ouvert® Chronographe, have completed the collection and give pride of place to "skeleton" watches. Last but not least, our Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon, whose design is registered with INPI, was the first tourbillon offered by an independent French brand !
Skeleton watches, but not only!
For those of you who prefer to look at a dial rather than the mechanics of their watch movement, we also offer our "120H Retrograde" model with a classic dial in different colors, as well as a chronograph with Power Reserve display, offered with a "Racing Red" dial in a very limited edition, and a new diving chronograph, the "Fréret Roy 1818 Sub Ocean Jumbo Chrono". And of course...
Our other exclusive line "Petite Minute®" A world Premiere !
Name and models are registered!
On the page "Press Area"
you will find at the top of the page high definition photos of our latest novelties.
New layout for the Fréret-Roy 1818 watches page
In order to avoid unrolling our entire collection on one long page, we have modified our presentation and created a page for each model family, as already exists for the "Petite Minute®" models. From the new Fréret-Roy 1818 page, simply click on the model name or on the dedicated button to go directly to the relevant page, with the description and price of the watches.
Designer of unique, handmade ethical Jewelry
All our jewelry models are unique pieces , custom-made or made-to-order. The pieces are handmade, handcrafted in Paris.
High-quality precious stones: diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds,
or fine stones like red and pink spinels, tanzanites, tourmalines, aquamarines, etc ...
The paving diamonds are of superior quality TW-VS orVVS at least only.
The names are trademarked and the designs of the flagship models are registered.
Our philosphy is to design jewelry
"Around a Stone" , that is to say first we select only the highest-quality stones and then design the rest of the piece around it. The choice of an exceptional stone, determines its setting and not the reverse.
Most are unique pieces, just find the one that is made for you, and only you. Go to the jewelry page by clicking on the button below...
is the ambassador in Paris
of independent and exclusive watch brands
In addition to its own brand Fréret Roy 1818, the Fréret-Roy boutique also presents an original selection of independent and atypical watch brands, mostly Swiss but not only, since we also offer Italian, Russian and of course French brands.
You will rarely find these brands in other Parisian or even European boutiques.
The store's partner brands each have their own page on our site, you just have to click on the button corresponding to each brand presented below to discover the said brand and its collections. In the same spirit, if you find any watch model on the internet site of any of the brands we work with, we would be pleased to order it for you.
The models in stock at the Fréret-Roy boutique are generally noted as "available".
Do not hesitate to contact us for any watch that would be available on order.
Our watch brands:
Go directly to the brands'pages by clicking on the button below:
And by clicking on the buttons below,
go directly to the other pages: