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Michel Herbelin 1921-2012

Michel Herbelin Men's Watch Chrono "Cap Camarat", Model 37645-B42

Michel Herbelin

French watch brand

The company, founded in 1947 by Michel Herbelin and named after him, is headquartered in Charquemont, on the French side of the Jura Mountains. 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, daughter of the watchmaker Jean Baptiste Emile Simon (1849-1903) , on November 17 , 1895 in Charquemont. René Constant Marius Herbelin was also possibly a watchmaker. Initially, Michel worked for two years for the watchmaker Charles Brulard at 26 Grande Rue. During the Second World War, Michel joined the Resistance and married Jeanne Christine Tissot from Valentigney.

In 1947, he became a business partner of Leon Chatelain in the Chatelain-Herbelin company at 1 Rue de la Gare. The watch brand he registered was "Impec." The building was originally a café and was owned by his mother, Rose. In 1950, the collaboration ended, and Herbelin moved to 6 Rue des Lilas. Five or six years later, he moved his studio to the house he built in 1956-1957 at 13 Rue des Villas. He became a member of the "Société chronométrique de France."

On September 19 , 1969, Michel Herbelin SA was founded (with capital of 100,000 francs). His son , Jean-Claude Herbelin, joined the company in 1972. Pierre-Michel Herbelin also joined the company in the 1980s, and the Newport series models were developed. In 1976, a new factory was built at 9 Rue de la 1ère Armée in Charquemont, which was expanded in 1990.

The Newport Yacht Club series went on sale in 2011. New model series followed, including 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 died on 20 December 2012