JeanRichard: history, models and value

Headquarters

La Chaux-de-Fonds

Owner / group

Sowind Group (Girard-Perregaux)

JeanRichard: origins and founding

The name honors Daniel JeanRichard (1665–1741), a watchmaker from La Sagne in the canton of Neuchâtel who died in Le Locle. He is credited with helping to spread watchmaking in the Jura mountains, and tradition says he made his first watch in 1681. The modern brand did not exist in his lifetime. It is a much later company that uses his name.

JeanRichard history and milestones

• Early 1980s: the movement maker Nouvelle Lemania held the name but used it little.
• Late 1980s: Luigi Macaluso, owner of Girard-Perregaux through the Sowind Group, acquired the name and developed it as a more affordable sister brand.
• 1994: launch of the TV Screen collection and move to La Chaux-de-Fonds.
• 2004: introduction of the in-house automatic movement JR1000.
• 2011: the luxury group PPR (later Kering) took control of Sowind, and with it JeanRichard.
• 2012: relaunch with a single cushion-shaped case and the Terrascope, Aquascope and Aeroscope lines.
• From about 2016: the brand became largely inactive.
• 2022: Kering sold its stake in Sowind to the management, so the name stayed with the Girard-Perregaux group.

Famous JeanRichard models

• TV Screen: a rectangular case with a rounded "television" shape, made in many versions including chronographs.
• Paramount and Bressel: classic lines from the 2000s. Bressel was Daniel JeanRichard's nickname.
• Terrascope, Aquascope, Aeroscope: sporty 44 mm watches from the 2012 relaunch, sharing the same modular cushion case.
• 1681: the top line, named after the year of Daniel JeanRichard's first watch, with the in-house movement.

Movements and technique

Most JeanRichard watches use bought-in Swiss movements, for example from Sellita, with chronograph modules from suppliers such as Dubois-Depraz. The exception is the JR1000 family, developed with Sowind in 2004. It powers the 1681 line and had variants with power reserve, date and moon phase.

JeanRichard today

JeanRichard belongs to the Sowind Group in La Chaux-de-Fonds, together with Girard-Perregaux. New collections have not been widely presented since the mid-2010s. Its watches sat in the mid-range: the 2012 core collection started at around 2,500 Swiss francs at retail.

JeanRichard prices on the pre-owned market

Because the brand is little known and no longer actively marketed, most steel JeanRichard watches sell well below their original price. Steel Terrascope, Aquascope and TV Screen models are the most common. Pieces with the in-house JR1000 movement and gold models are more interesting to buyers. Full sets with box and papers sell more easily, and a recent service matters, since parts for an inactive brand may take longer to get.

How to recognise a genuine JeanRichard

JeanRichard is not a common target for fakes, but you should still check the basics: crisp printing on the dial, the brand name and reference engraved on the caseback, and a movement that matches the model. The 1681 should show the JR1000 calibre. Check that the papers name the same model and serial number as the case. Our guide on how to spot a fake watch covers the general checks.

What is your JeanRichard worth?

Take photos of the dial, the caseback and any papers, and our free watch value estimate gives you a first price range. For estates or insurance, a signed written watch appraisal is also available.

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