H I S T O R Y
Timeless Legacy Through a Seamless Blend of Craftsmanship and Innovation
Early 2014, Lebois & Co owner Tom van Wijlick and his wife Eveline came across a captivating image of an exquisite vintage Swiss Made chronograph watch, auctioned by Christie’s. Intrigued by its beauty, they printed the picture and stuck it to their fridge. What followed was a deep-dive into the obscure brand and its heritage.
Established in 1934 by Raymond Dodane of the renowned Dodane watchmaking family, the brand fell dormant after the Quartz Crisis of the 1970s.
With the endorsement of the Dodane family, Lebois & Co experienced a renaissance, precisely eight decades after its inception. Now under new ownership, the brand is strategically positioned to perpetuate its legacy of crafting aesthetically pleasing and affordable luxury Swiss timepieces.
Grateful for the support of over 75 investors, Lebois & Co has successfully reclaimed its position on the wrists of watch enthusiasts around the world, methodically expanding its collection with innovative models.
1934
In the Beginning
It’s eleven days to Christmas, 1934, and third-generation watch manufacturer Raymond Dodane expands the family business with a new brand: Lebois & Co. Its mission is clear and simple:
Create aesthetically pleasing, luxury Swiss timepieces at an affordable price.
1940
Lebois & Co watches as a gift for pilots in WWII
It’s 1940, and the world is in the throes of the Second World War. To expand their fleet, the Swedish Air Force have ordered italian-made Caproni 313 reconnaissance bomber aircraft. They send a squadron of pilots to Italy to fly them back home. Always keen on aesthetics, the Italians have selected Lebois & Co chronographs as a gift for the pilots.
That’s how Lebois & Co recently resurfaced at an auction in Stockholm, Sweden.
1947
Lebois & Co gets Italian
Lebois & Co is given to the brand’s Italian importer who helped Dodane during WWII.
1972
End of an Era
Forty years after its establishment, the original Lebois & Co’s production grinds to a halt, and the brand ceases all operations.
But it only fuels the brand’s image as a hidden and unique collectors’ item. Its models become highly coveted by watch fans all over the world. This beautiful 1945 Lebois & Co Chronograph sells for over $ 6,000 at Christie’s Important Watches auction in 2012.
2014
Rediscovering a Legacy
Early 2014, avid watch fans Tom & Eveline van Wijlick browse Christie’s auction catalog. One watch in particular jumps out at them: a beautiful vintage model from an obscure brand they’ve never heard of before. It’s a Lebois & Co Chronograph. Struck by its beauty, they print out the picture, and stick it to their fridge.
Being struck by the beauty of this timepiece they start their research of this unfamiliar brand and its former owners.
2014
Lebois & Co is reborn
Tom contacts the Dodane family in France. Recognising a genuine love for vintage watches, they approve his plans to resurrect Lebois & Co. Exactly eighty years after its inception, Lebois & Co resumes its original mission: to create aesthetic, luxury Swiss timepieces at an affordable price.
Following modern trends, the new Lebois & Co logo is crowdsourced, and the first new model, the Avantgarde Date, comes together through a crowdfunding scheme.
2015
Successful Kickstarter funding
Lebois & Co launches its crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter to part-fund the first Re-launch Edition of the Avantgarde Date watch.
The campaign is funded at 126% of its goal, making it the first luxury Swiss Made mechanical watch successfully funded on Kickstarter! The first watch is sold in over 20 countries around the world. To find out more about our Kickstarter campaign, visit the Kickstarter project page.
2018
Lebois & Co launches ‘Become a shareholder’ campaign
A defining moment in the modern revival of Lebois & Co was the launch of the “Become a Shareholder” campaign. This initiative opened the door for watch enthusiasts to invest in the brand, becoming co-owners of its storied legacy.
By embracing community funding, Lebois & Co strengthened its commitment to independence, collaboration, and timeless design.
2018
Lebois & Co introduces… the Venturist
In a bold move to push horological boundaries, Lebois & Co presented the Venturist as the very first watch to receive Timelab’s Observatoire Chronometrique+ (OC+) certification. Balancing Lebois & Co’s timeless design with rigorous performance standards, the Venturist marks a new pinnacle of precision and reliability.
Its debut underscores the brand’s ongoing commitment to blending rich heritage with cutting-edge innovation—offering watch enthusiasts a truly groundbreaking timepiece.
2021
Lebois & Co’s first CoLAB project goes live
Lebois & Co launched its first CoLAB project to bring watch enthusiasts directly into the creative process. Inspired by the brand’s vintage chronographs from the 1930s and 1940s, this collaborative effort resulted in the Heritage Chronograph—a modern reimagining of Lebois & Co’s storied past.
By inviting collectors to help shape everything from the dial design to technical features, Lebois & Co not only celebrates its history but also looks ahead, empowering a new generation of watch lovers to share in its legacy.
2022
Lebois & Co reveals its Heritage Chronograph prototypes
Lebois & Co proudly presents the prototypes of its Heritage Chronograph. Drawing inspiration from the brand’s storied 1930s and ’40s designs, these pre-production models combine vintage aesthetics with modern engineering. Each piece reflects Lebois & Co’s dedication to co-creation and meticulous craftsmanship, ensuring that feedback from watch enthusiasts will shape the final production models.
This collaborative spirit continues to define Lebois & Co’s commitment to honoring its past while looking ahead to the future.
