Lavoie, a French manufacturer of military aviation watches founded in 1857 and descended from Dodane, has made a comeback after a 40-year hiatus. The 39mm Heritage Chronograph, inspired by aviation chronographs from the 1940s, captivates watch enthusiasts with its salmon dial and reliable mechanical chronograph performance.
[Article published on January 2, 2024]
Edited by Takashi Tsuchida
A noble lineage born from the prestigious French military watch maker Dodane
French watch manufacturer Lavoie relaunched in 2014, marking the first time in 10 years since going into hibernation. The company's catalog includes a 39mm steel chronograph with a salmon dial, a contemporary reinterpretation of a vintage design. Water-resistant to 50m, it features a Lajoux-Perret manual-winding movement and boasts a power reserve of approximately 60 hours.
Inheriting the design of Lavoie's aviation chronograph from the 1940s. The salmon dial is eye-catching. Manual winding (Lajoux-Perret Cal. LC-450). Power reserve of approximately 60 hours. Stainless steel case (diameter 39mm, thickness 10.5mm). Water resistant to 50 meters. 627,000 yen (tax included)
The history of Lavoie can be traced back to Dodane, which was founded in 1857. Dodane was founded by Alphonse Dodane and his father-in-law, François-Xavier Joubert. The two established a watchmaking workshop in La Rasse, France, on the Swiss border, utilizing the water power of the Douze Valley. Raymond Dodane, the third generation head of the family, later moved the factory to Besançon in 1929 and founded Lavoie as a new brand in 1934.
Like many historic brands, Lavoie disappeared from the market at one point, but then a fateful encounter occurred in early 2014 when the current owner, Tom Van Withelyck, and his wife, Evelyn, discovered Lavoie at an auction at Christie's.
A heritage model created in collaboration with enthusiasts
Wijlich, a watch enthusiast, launched a revival plan through the American crowdfunding site Kickstarter. He acquired the rights to the brand from the Dodane family and, incorporating the opinions of watch enthusiasts, considered the design down to the smallest details, such as the hands and case back. As a result, in 2022 he finally completed a prototype based on an aviation chronograph manufactured in the 1940s.
The bicompax dial features slender indexes and a pulsometer. The horizontal layout of the 30-minute counter at 3 o'clock and the small second at 9 o'clock gives it the elegance of a vintage chronograph.
This Heritage Chronograph features a pulse scale, perfectly embodying the company's identity from the 1940s. The "GRADUE POUR 30 PULSATIONS" markings on the outer edge of the dial indicate that it is equipped with a scale for counting 30 pulses.
The bi-compax dial is beautifully finished and features a clean, non-date dial, particularly in this salmon color. The dial is protected by a domed, anti-reflective sapphire crystal. The design retains the distinctive layout of Lavoie's two-dial chronographs from the 1940s, featuring slender Roman numerals, a 30-minute counter (at 3 o'clock), and a small seconds counter (at 9 o'clock).
The sapphire crystal case back reveals the Lajoux-Perret manual-winding movement, Cal. LC-450. It features traditional Swiss finishing touches such as a blue column wheel and Côtes de Genève decoration.
A supreme chronograph that combines tradition and innovation
The watch is powered by the Lajoux-Perret hand-wound Cal. LC-450. The chronograph mechanism, including the column wheel, can be seen through the sapphire crystal case back. The 24-jewel hand-wound movement boasts a generous power reserve of approximately 60 hours. The watch is lavishly finished down to the smallest detail, including the blued column wheel, meticulously polished screws, and Côtes de Genève decoration. It's also worth noting that the movement is adjusted in five positions to achieve even greater precision.
This vintage-inspired chronograph, which is fitted with a blue suede leather strap with a pin buckle, completes the overall look. Combining the proud lineage of the French military aviation watch manufacturer with modern technology and aesthetics, this timepiece is already attracting attention from watch enthusiasts.
