LIP Annapurna Automatic Manufacture R26 black dial leather strap 39 mm

Reaching the summits

In 1950, accompanied by Louis Lachenal and a team of seasoned mountaineers, Maurice Herzog achieved a world first — reaching the summit of Annapurna, standing at more than 8,000 meters above sea level.
This feat, a symbol of endurance and pioneering spirit, also marked a milestone in French watchmaking history: on Herzog’s wrist was a LIP watch, witness to this human triumph over the elements.

A close friend of Fred Lip, Herzog inspired the Bisontine manufacture to create one of its most emblematic timepieces — a watch launched in 1951 and named Annapurna in tribute to this heroic ascent.
Two years later, following the conquest of Everest by Sir Edmund Hillary in 1953, the piece was ultimately renamed Himalaya, destined to become one of the brand’s most iconic collections.

In 2025, LIP brings back the name Annapurna to reconnect with this founding heritage and to honor the spirit of extreme adventurers.
Powered by the in-house automatic movement LIP R26, the new Annapurna 39 follows in the footsteps of the models from the 1950s — the same balance, the same functional elegance, yet refined and technically enhanced to meet today’s standards.

Designed and assembled in Besançon, faithful to the spirit of vintage expedition watches, the Annapurna R26 celebrates the boldness, mastery, and precision of French savoir-faire. A watch for explorers and city dwellers alike, ready to conquer new heights.

Design & spirit of exploration

The LIP Annapurna 39 R26 ref. 676010 is designed for those who seek the perfect balance between understated style and mechanical excellence. Its design, both sleek and robust, draws direct inspiration from the exploration watches of the 1950s — timepieces made to withstand the elements without ever compromising on elegance.

Its polished 316L stainless-steel case, featuring satin-finished sides, evokes the precision instruments used during great mountaineering expeditions. Measuring 39 mm in diameter, it maintains a discreet and harmonious presence, true to LIP’s classic proportions.

The black dial reveals a stunning double texture: sun-brushed at the center and sand-blasted around the numerals, creating refined contrasts and remarkable visual depth. Skeletonized hour and minute hands, paired with gilt markers and a detailed peripheral minute track, ensure smooth and balanced legibility — even in the most challenging lighting conditions.

Protected by a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, this watch is water-resistant to 50 meters, a testament to its solid and precise construction. It retains the spirit of the golden age of mechanical timepieces — the kind worn on mountain trails as well as on the wrist of an elegant man in the city.

Its genuine black leather strap, soft yet durable, reinforces this refined and functional identity. The deep tone enhances the dial’s elegance, while its natural texture subtly recalls the equipment of mountaineers from a bygone era.

A true watch of character, the Annapurna 39 R26 ref. 676010 stands as a symbol of precision, balance, and French distinction — a timepiece born to conquer the summits of everyday life.

The LIP R26 movement

Determined to restore LIP to its former glory, the management of the Bisontine manufacture launched an ambitious project — to once again design a true in-house French movement, worthy heir to the great creations of Fred Lip.
After three years of patient collaboration with the SupMicroTech engineering school in Besançon, the LIP R26 caliber was born — the first automatic movement designed and assembled in Besançon in more than half a century.

Developed through a process of reverse engineering applied to a proven mechanical base, the R26 has been entirely re-imagined: new schematics, redesigned components, micrometric adjustments, and modernized finishes.
Over 70 percent of its production cost is French, with most manufacturing based in the Besançon region — a rare level of localization at this price point, almost unique in modern watchmaking.

Measuring 26 mm in diameter and 5.92 mm thick, the movement stands out with its gear-train bridge and oscillating weight laser-engraved with the LIP logo, integrated directly into the structure.
This moving decoration, both playful and hypnotic, comes alive with the wearer’s movements, revealing the brand’s signature as if by magic.
Hexagonal screws — a subtle nod to French identity — further emphasize the national pride behind the project.

Beating at 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), the R26 caliber delivers a 42-hour power reserve and precision within –5 to +10 seconds per day.
It features a hacking-seconds mechanism and quick-set date for intuitive and accurate adjustment.
Each movement is individually regulated and meticulously inspected by LIP’s master watchmakers, ensuring a level of execution worthy of the finest manufactures.