Dating Michel Herbelin watches based on the launch date of the models
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Here is a rough timeline for the Michel Herbelin brand and some well-known model lines. The years indicate the start of the brand or the introduction of a line – not the exact production year of every individual watch.
| Year / Period |
Event
|
|---|---|
| 1947 | Michel Herbelin founds the watch brand in Charquemont, France. |
| 1980s | The brand expands its range and gains international recognition. |
| 1988 | Introduction of the Newport collection. |
| 1990s | Newport becomes one of the brand's most famous lines; other classic and sporty models are added. |
| 2000s | Expansion of the product range, including quartz and automatic models. |
| 2010s | Re-releases and further developments of older lines; stronger international presence. |
| 2020s | Continuation of the Newport and other collections with modern variants. |
For many older Michel Herbelin models, exact introduction years are not reliably documented; the information below therefore represents approximate periods and does not automatically date an individual watch.
| Year / Period |
Model or Event
|
|---|---|
| 1947 | Founding of the Michel Herbelin brand in Charquemont, France |
| 1988 | Introduction of the Newport collection |
| 1990s | Expansion of the Newport line; later including variants such as Newport Chronograph and Newport Yacht Club |
| 2000s | Antares becomes an important collection; known for interchangeable straps |
| 2000s–2010s | Odyssée and Epsilon appear in the range of classic and elegant watches |
| 2010s | City and Cap Camarat supplement the range with urban and sporty designs respectively |
| 2010s–2020s | Further development of the Newport collection, including Newport Slim, Newport Chronograph, and Newport Héritage |
| 2020s | Newer or further developed lines such as Cap Camarat Square and Newport Héritage |
Model names and collections were sometimes produced for many years and were revised multiple times. For a specific watch, the reference number, dial, and case back are therefore more helpful than the model name alone.
History of the Michel Herbelin brand:
Michel Herbelin
French watch brand
The headquarters of the company, founded in 1947 by and named after Michel Herbelin, is located on the French side of the Jura arc, in the town of Charquemont. Michel Herbelin is an independent manufacturer.
Michel Léon Ulysse Herbelin was born on December 6, 1921, in Charquemont, the son of René Constant Marius Herbelin (1896- ? ) and Rose Marie Louise Fleur (1898- ? ). His grandfather, Joseph Ulysse Herbelin (1866-1920), was a watchmaker and married Marie Zénobie Esther Simon, a daughter of the watchmaker Jean Baptiste Emile Simon (1849-1903), on November 17, 1895, in Charquemont. René Constant Marius Herbelin was likely also a watchmaker.
Initially, Michel worked for two years at the watch manufacturer Charles Brulard at 26 Grande Rue. During the Second World War, Michel joined the Resistance and married Jeanne Christine Tissot from Valentigney. He became a business partner of Leon Chatelain in 1947 at 1 Rue de la Gare in the firm Chatelain-Herbelin. The watch brand "Impec" was registered. The building was originally a café and was owned by his mother, Rose. The partnership ended in 1950, and Herbelin moved to 6 Rue des Lilas.
Five or six years later, he moved his studio into the house he built at 13 Rue des Villas in 1956-1957. He became a member of the "Société chronométrique de France." On September 19, 1969, Michel Herbelin SA (with a capital of 100,000 F) was founded. His son, Jean-Claude Herbelin, joined the company in 1972. Pierre-Michel Herbelin also joined the company in the 1980s, and the models of the Newport series were developed. In 1976, a new factory was built at 9 Rue de la 1ère Armée in Charquemont, which was expanded in 1990.
From 2011, the Newport Yacht Club series went on sale. This was followed by new model series such as the Antarès, Cap Camarat, Epsilon, Classique, Inspiration, Octogone, Equinoxe, Scandinave, Trophy, Ve Avenue, Art Déco, and Perles. Today, Pierre-Michel Herbelin is CEO, Maxime Herbelin is Marketing Manager, and Mathieu Herbelin is Design Manager.
Michel Herbelin passed away on December 20, 2012.
