Our history dates back to the mid-19th century. Founded in 1857 by François-Xavier Joubert in La Rasse, a small village nestled in the gorges of the Doubs near the Swiss border, our workshops quickly became a key site for watchmaking innovation in the region.
By the late 1800s, La Rasse was home to a growing community of skilled craftsmen, supported by nearby production hubs in Besançon and the Jura.
Chronofixe soon established itself as the only French watchmaking manufacture certified to produce altimeter chronographs, a technical edge that would later define its contribution to aviation.
Carrying a heritage of passion for excellence and quest for precision.
In the early 1950s, the French Ministry of Defense issued a call for a chronograph designed specifically for its Air Force. The requirements were strict:
flight-ready, highly legible, mechanically robust. Chronofixe responded with a model that would come to be known as the Type 20.
These watches were issued directly to Air Force pilots, becoming part of their official equipment and property of the French state.
By the end of the 1950s, civilian interest in functional chronographs grew. French watchmakers began producing similar models, without military markings,
for private pilots and collectors. Today, Chronofixe’s Type 20 remains a coveted reference among enthusiasts, embodying precision and tool-watch integrity.
At Chronofixe, we’ve spent more than 100 years building tools that endure, but it’s your trust that keeps this legacy alive and your passion that drives what we create next.
The Chronofixe Team