Nappey

Nappey was a watch manufacturing company founded in 1946 and defunct in 1970, originally from Besançon, France. The company was a promotional sponsor of Tour de France between 1957 and 1960.[1]

Nappey
TypeLimited liability company
Founded1946: Foundation of the Nappey company
1959: Entry of the brand into the Heuroplan group, alongside Movado, Cyma Watches, Eska and Juvenia
FounderJules Nappey
Headquarters
Besancon
,
France
Key people
Jules Nappey
Products
A brand advertisement

The Nappey company went into judicial liquidation in 1970, before reappearing under the name “Société nouvelle des Montres Nappey”, which also failed to revive the brand.[2]

History

1946: Birth of the brand

The Nappey company was founded in Besançon[3] in 1946, when Jules Nappey manufactured his first timepieces.

Rise and marketing

In 1957, Nappey joined the Klaus and Gilac company to launch the comic book periodical "Jeannot", intended for use as an advertising medium. This comic book will be held by René Goscinny, creator of Asterix, Petit Nicolas and screenwriter of many Lucky Luke albums.[4]

Between 1957 and 1960, the brand Nappey sponsored the Tour de France and the radio program “Reine d'un jour!” hosted by Jean Nohain.[5]

Jumelles Times model with two time zone

In 1959, after the opening of the European common market, the Nappey company joined the Heuroplan group, bringing together the Swiss brands Movado, Eska, Cyma and Juvenile, which aimed to promote the watches of these five brands in the French market.[6] This association only lasted two years before dissolving.

Well-known models

At the 1960 Besançon Motor Show, the Nappey company created a sensation by launching one of the world's first dual time zone watches called “Jumelles Times”, bringing together two small quartz movements in a single case.[7]

References
  1. "Two Movements, One Case: Nappey Jumelles Times". Grail Watch. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  2. "Etablissement SOCIETE NOUVELLE DES MONTRES NAPPEY à VILLERS-LE-LAC (25130) sur SOCIETE.COM (63282078300033)". www.societe.com. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  3. "Episode 20 : La France, capitale d'horlogerie dans les années 50". France Bleu (in French). 2019-12-20. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  4. "Besançon. René Goscinny a dessiné à Besançon pour les montres Nappey". www.estrepublicain.fr (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  5. "Les montres Nappey et les Chaprais…. – Vivre aux chaprais" (in French). Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  6. "Heuroplan [Watch Wiki]". www.watch-wiki.net. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  7. "Two Movements, One Case: Nappey Jumelles Times". Grail Watch. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2021-09-15.

Bibliography

Natalie Petiteau, L'horlogerie des bourgeois conquérants: History of the bourgeois establishments of Damprichard, Doubs: 1780-1939, Belles Lettres, 1994, 160p. ISBN 978-2-251-60507-4

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