L'HORLOGER DE LA CROIX ROUSSE

Over the generations, the Croix-Rousse Watchmaker has specialized in the creation and restoration of antique clocks. The rarity and excellence of its know-how have earned it the Entreprise du patrimoine vivant label.

History. It was in Sauges (Haute-Loire) in 1906 that Joseph Simon, the great-grandfather, created the very first workshop which repaired clocks at the time, but also sewing machines... and bicycles. He then moved to Saint-Chamond in the Loire.

At his death his widow continued the activity. As she did not want to depend on her local colleagues for watchmaking repairs, she found a young watchmaker in Lyon who would become the reference in the capital of the Gauls: François Branciard.

Meanwhile, his son, Auguste Simon, in his turn trained in watchmaking, but not very attracted by sedentary life, he returned to Jaz, the French leader in watchmaking. He will become its commercial director.

It was therefore the grandson, Joseph, who took over the store in 1953, adding the monumental watchmaking to it. This new activity gives him the opportunity to take François, very young, into the bell towers and show him the magic of his gears, which count 86,400 seconds a day and organize the rhythm of life.

Then the heir is also trained in the prestigious École d'Horlogerie d'Anet, which has rivalled that of Cluses since the beginning of the 20th century. He joined the family business and for 6 years continued working at the workbench.

As a worthy descendant of Auguste Simon, François was also on the move and it was, at that time, for the distribution of electronic time that he left the workshop.

When his father died in 1997, he set up the workshop in the fourth arrondissement of Lyon to devote himself solely to the restoration of old watchmaking, whether interior or building, and, with a wink of fate, he received the visit and advice of a retired watchmaker who was none other than... François Branciard.

Achievements. Portal clocks from Louis XVI to Napoleon I, cartels of Louis XII with 19th century copies, Neuchâtel, religious, Capuchin....

Employment. The workshop moved 4 km and joined Caluire. One hundred square metres to the standards of Swiss manufacturers now house the team of six people who restore, still by appointment and without a showcase, watches, clocks and antique clocks for individuals and museums.