Swiss watch brand
Ateliers deMonaco: history, models and value
Ateliers deMonaco is a young haute horlogerie brand with a Monaco name and a Geneva workshop. It made small series and custom pieces with complicated in-house movements.
- Founded
- 2008
- Founder(s)
- Pim Koeslag, Peter Stas
- Headquarters
- Plan-les-Ouates (Geneva)
- Owner / group
- Citizen Watch Co.
Ateliers deMonaco: origins and founding
Ateliers deMonaco came to market in 2008. The company is registered in Monaco, but its watches were developed and assembled in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva, where the brand had its own workshop. The idea was to make high-end watches in small numbers, often to a client's personal specification.
Founders and family
The brand grew out of the circle around Frédérique Constant. Pim Koeslag, a watch engineer, was co-founder and CEO. Peter Stas, who founded Frédérique Constant with his wife Aletta, shared the wish to build bespoke high-end watches. Some sources also name Robert van Pappelendam as a co-founder.
Ateliers deMonaco history and milestones
- 2008: First watches on the market.
- 2016: Citizen Watch Co. of Japan announces the purchase of Frédérique Constant, Alpina and deMonaco.
- 2019: The brand contributes a tourbillon piece to the Only Watch charity auction.
Famous Ateliers deMonaco models
The range was always made in limited editions, and much of the business was custom work. Known models include:
- Tourbillon Répétition Minute – a tourbillon minute repeater.
- Quantième Perpétuel – a perpetual calendar with the "EaZy Adjust" system.
- Admiral Chronographe Flyback – a flyback chronograph.
- Poinçon de Genève – a Geneva Seal watch with the "Freebeat" regulation system.
- Ronde de Monte-Carlo and bespoke pieces such as La Sirène.
Movements and technique
The brand developed its own movements; a 2018 interview mentions six in-house calibres developed from scratch, plus patents for the perpetual calendar adjustment, a flyback return-to-zero mechanism and the Freebeat regulation. The minute repeater used a silicon escapement. Each watch was finished by hand.
Ateliers deMonaco today
The brand belongs to the Citizen group through the 2016 takeover of Frédérique Constant. It sits at the very top of the market (haute horlogerie) with tiny production numbers.
Ateliers deMonaco prices on the pre-owned market
Because so few watches exist, Ateliers deMonaco rarely appears on the pre-owned market. That makes values hard to compare. Complete sets with papers, documentation of a bespoke order and proof of service at the brand matter a lot. Expect a narrow circle of buyers and longer selling times than for well-known luxury names.
How to recognise a genuine Ateliers deMonaco
Check the dial and movement signatures, the individual number on the caseback and the matching certificate. A Geneva Seal model should carry the Geneva hallmark on the movement. With a brand this rare, original papers and the purchase history are your best proof. See our guide on how to spot a fake watch for general checks.
What is your Ateliers deMonaco worth?
For a first idea, send us photos through our free watch value estimate. For a rare piece like this, a written watch appraisal is often worth it for insurance or an estate.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ateliers deMonaco a Swiss watch brand?
The company carries a Monaco name and registration, but its watches were developed and made in Plan-les-Ouates near Geneva.
Who owns Ateliers deMonaco?
Citizen Watch Co. of Japan, which announced the purchase of Frédérique Constant, Alpina and deMonaco in 2016.
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