Louis Erard: history, models and value

Founded

1929

Founder(s)

Louis Erard, André Perret

Headquarters

Le Noirmont

Owner / group

Independent

Louis Erard: origins and founding

The company was founded in 1929 in La Chaux-de-Fonds by Louis Erard and André Perret, and the first watches with the Louis Erard name appeared in 1931. For decades it was a family business in the heart of the Swiss watch industry.

Founders and family

Louis Erard was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1893 and died in 1961. His sons René and Jean-Louis joined the company in 1945, and his grandson Paul in 1969. The family ran the firm until the early 1990s.

Louis Erard history and milestones

• 1956: the company receives authorization to make movements.
• 1980s: Louis Erard modifies the Peseux 7001 hand-wound movement to add a regulator display and a power reserve indicator. The regulator becomes its signature.
• 1992–1994: the family business changes hands and the company moves to the Jura, first to Les Breuleux, then to Le Noirmont.
• 2003: a group of investors led by Alain Spinedi buys the company and positions it in the mid-range.
• 2011: launch of the Excellence collection.
• Around 2019: under Manuel Emch, formerly president of Jaquet Droz and CEO of Romain Jerome, the brand starts its series of collaborations.

Famous Louis Erard models

• Regulators: hours, minutes and seconds on separate scales, in many versions.
• Le Régulateur Louis Erard x Alain Silberstein: the first edition of 178 pieces sold out. Further Silberstein pieces followed, including Le Diptyque in 2022.
• Collaborations with Vianney Halter, Konstantin Chaykin (Time Eater), Massena LAB and the designer Eric Giroud, often in editions of 99 or 178 pieces.
• Excellence: guilloché, enamel and marquetry dials.
• Heritage, La Sportive and others: the regular mid-range lines.

Movements and technique

Louis Erard uses Swiss movements from outside suppliers. The regulators are based on the Peseux 7001 (later ETA 7001) and on Sellita calibres such as the SW266-1. Chronographs use the Valjoux 7750, and many Excellence models use Sellita automatics. The added value lies in the dials and in the regulator modules.

Louis Erard today

The company is privately owned and independent, based in Le Noirmont with a small team. It deliberately sits in the accessible price segment, with most watches priced in the low thousands.

Louis Erard prices on the pre-owned market

Regular Louis Erard models, especially older Heritage pieces, usually sell well below their original retail price. The collaboration editions are different: some, especially the early Alain Silberstein and Vianney Halter pieces, attracted strong demand, and the first Silberstein edition sold out quickly. These are the most interesting for buyers, provided the edition number, box and papers are complete.

How to recognise a genuine Louis Erard

Louis Erard is not a frequent target for fakes. Check that the movement fits the model (for example a regulator module on a regulator watch), that limited editions show their edition number on the caseback, and that the papers match. More tips are in our guide on how to spot a fake watch.

What is your Louis Erard worth?

Whether you have a classic regulator or a limited collaboration, our free watch value estimate gives you a first range from your photos. For estates or insurance, a written watch appraisal is available.

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