Louis Erard has always prided itself on creating honest, authentic wristwatches that are geared towards the tastes and needs of the everyday woman and man. The company started out in 1931 and began developing watches for specific wearers from the very beginning, believing that each timepiece should be aimed at a specific individual to ensure all the necessary functions are carefully built into its design. Louis Erard was a determined individual who soon entered a partnership with a gentleman names Andre Perret, creating a company called Louis Erard & André Perret. The independent business was located in La Chaux de Fonds for two years before Erard moved on to form his very own debut watch collection of just 5 independently designed wristwatches.
Louis Erard began establishing a name for himself, growing and nurturing his reputation until 1937, where he became known internationally, growing the brand successfully overseas. As the company expanded, Erard took on over 60 employees. Each watchmaker shared Louis Erard’s vision. The manufacturer began supplying timepieces to the military during the Second World War, collaborating with other watchmakers where it produced and supplied watch cases for other watchmakers. This set-up continued into the 1980s.
Le Noirmont in the Swiss Jura mountains became Louis Erard’s home from 1992 onwards. The company beat the odds and survived the devastating effects of the quartz crisis, as well as the increase of the value of the Swiss Franc. Private investors luckily purchased Louis Erard saving it from complete collapse. Here it underwent a new vision, making its luxury wristwatches more accessible to collectors with a range of affordably priced designs. Despite a more appealing price tag, Louis Erard watches remained synonymous with quality materials and superior manufacture. The brand created its first in-house movement in 2009 in collaboration with a specialist in movement manufacture, Soprod.
In 2011 Louis Erard celebrated its 80th anniversary with the Excellence watch collection. Despite a unique style, the timepieces from the line carried several traditional techniques and signature finishes from the company’s heritage through to the new line. In 2016 Louis Erard revisited a cornerstone in its history with the Heritage watch collection, breathing new life into the popular line with instruments that retained a sense of original charm but with new and improved movements for enhanced accuracy and reliability
Today Louis Erard watches remain stylish, comfortable and reliable, as well as easy to wear for all occasions. Its catalogue spans from the Sportive watch collection to the alluring Romance watch collections. Despite this diverse range, each timepiece remains true to the brand’s motto, to continue innovating luxury watches that are both honest and purpose built for their intended wearer.
