A century and a half of tradition watchmaking in the service of the Navy.
Watchmaker for the French Navy, de l’Observatoire du bureau des longitudes, service géographique de l’Armée et du Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers. Since its origins in 1854, Auricoste has been closely linked to French naval aviation. Its history gives it a special status in the world of watchmaking, where beauty and rigor of mechanism are the watchwords.
Its chronographs are considered to be the measuring instruments of choice by specialists and enthusiasts of watchmaking mechanisms throughout the world.
Its performance enables it to equip naval, air and land armies in France and abroad. Our measurement tools and models are designed for robustness and perfect legibility to withstand the most extreme situations.
Chronology
1854
Creation of the house by Emile Thomas
1900
Gold medal at the Paris Universal
1905
World Fair of Liege
1910
World Exhibition of Brussels
1925
Commissioning of the heavy cruiser Tourville equipped by Auricoste
1926
Exhibition at the Decorative Arts
1935
Commissioning of the battleship Richelieu equipped by Auricoste
1946
Commissioning of the Auricoste equipped aircraft carrier Arromanches
Equipment of the aircraft carrier La Fayette
1951
1954
Creation and development of the Type 20 model, whose flyback function became a standard imposed by the French Ministry of War. More than 2000 chronographs are delivered to the different French forces
1961
Equipment of the aircraft carrier Foch
1963
Commissioning of the aircraft carrier Clemenceau equipped by Auricoste
1964
Equipment of the helicopter carrier Jeanne d’Arc
1966
Collaboration with Patek Phillippe for the creation of electromechanical marine clocks and chronometers
1975
Equipment of the anti-submarine frigate marine Tourville
Equipment of numerous avisos and SNA submarines (such as the Rubis, the Perle…)
1980 – 2000
Auricoste equips Argentinian pilots with the Type 20 model during the Falklands War.
1982
1982
Auricoste equips combat swimmers and mine clearance divers of the French Navy with the Spirotechnique model.
2001
Commissioning of the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle with its Auricoste flight deck clock
2010
Auricoste revisits the type 20 and creates the type 52
2012
The Spirotechnique renews its confidence in the Auricoste company for the edition of its new diving watch Auricoste Spirotechnique
2019
Auricoste creates the type 26 inspired by its aviation counters
2020
Auricoste revisits the type 20 Flymaster model
2021
Development of a watch for the French demining service and creation of the ScubaMaster 300, worthy heir to the spirotechnique
Auricoste is a company that has never ceased to put its watchmaking expertise at the service of the French naval aviation industry. Our expertise will be recognized worldwide by obtaining the gold medal at the Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1900.
Recognized for its reliability and expertise around the world, Auricoste received orders for over 30,000 chronographs during the Great War. In 1954, the French War Ministry ordered over 2000 Type 20 flyback models. In the 80s, Auricoste also equipped the French Navy’s combat swimmers and mine-clearing divers.
At the dawn of the 21st century, the aircraft carrier Charles-de-Gaulle is adorned by the Maison Auricoste with the large clock on its flight deck. For 150 years now, the French Armed Forces have continued to place their trust in Auricoste and know that they can count on the reliability of the company, which has become a legend.
The Foch and Clemenceau aircraft carriers, avisos, 2000 frigates and SNA nuclear submarines are among the illustrious list of vessels equipped with Auricoste time networks, criss-crossing the world at the heart of the French Navy.