Swiss watch brand
Simon Brette: the young independent and his watch's value
Simon Brette is a young independent brand from Geneva, founded in 2021 by a movement designer. Its first watch, the Chronomètre Artisans, quickly became one of the most talked-about independent watches.
- Founded
- 2021
- Founder(s)
- Simon Brette
- Headquarters
- Geneva
- Owner / group
- Independent
Simon Brette: origins and founding
Simon Brette went independent in April 2021 and set up his brand in Geneva. His goal was a watch that openly credits the craftspeople who make it: engravers, polishers and case makers. Each watch comes with a passport that names the people who worked on it.
Founders and family
Simon Brette is French, the son of a carpenter, and trained as an engineer, not as a classic watchmaker. From 2011 he worked with Jean-François Mojon at Chronode, a company that develops movements for independent brands. He then worked at MCT and later at MB&F, where he led movement projects, including work on the HM10 Bulldog.
Simon Brette history and milestones
- 2021: Simon Brette starts his own brand.
- 2023: launch of the Chronomètre Artisans in a 12-piece zirconium subscription edition; the watch wins the Horological Revelation prize at the GPHG.
- 2024: titanium production version (Edition Titane).
Famous Simon Brette models
The Chronomètre Artisans is the brand's first watch: a 39 mm case, 10.5 mm thick, with a red gold dial hand-engraved in a "dragon scales" pattern and translucent sapphire rings for the minutes and seconds. It exists as the zirconium subscription edition and the titanium Edition Titane.
Movements and technique
The watch uses the hand-wound calibre SBCA, designed by Brette himself. It beats at 18,000 vibrations per hour, has two barrels for about 72 hours of power reserve and a free-sprung balance with a Breguet overcoil. The finishing includes a grained three-quarter bridge, hand-polished bevels and concave polished screw heads set in gold chatons.
Simon Brette today
The brand is an independent, very small maker in Geneva at the high end of the market. The subscription edition was offered at about CHF 50,000 before tax.
Simon Brette prices on the pre-owned market
Demand far exceeds supply, and resale prices can be well above retail. One documented example: a Chronomètre Artisans Edition Titane from 2024 sold at Phillips in Geneva in November 2025 for CHF 279,400, against an estimate of CHF 60,000 to 120,000. That is one auction result, not a guaranteed value. Complete papers, the artisans' passport and perfect condition are important.
How to recognise a genuine Simon Brette
With so few watches made, provenance is everything. Check that the passport, certificate and numbers match the watch and that the SBCA movement and dragon-scale dial look exactly as in official images. When in doubt, contact the brand. See also our guide on how to spot a fake watch.
What is your Simon Brette worth?
Upload photos of the watch and its papers for a free watch value estimate. For insurance or an estate, you can order a written watch appraisal.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Simon Brette?
Simon Brette is a French-born engineer and movement designer who worked at Chronode, MCT and MB&F before founding his own brand in Geneva in 2021.
How much is a Simon Brette Chronomètre Artisans worth?
Few pieces exist and demand is high. A titanium example sold at Phillips Geneva in November 2025 for CHF 279,400, but each watch should be valued on its own edition, condition and papers.
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