LIP Annapurna Automatic Manufacture R26 PVD Yellow Gold white silver 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

With its warm glow and assertive presence, the LIP Annapurna 39 R26 ref. 676012 embodies the most refined expression of the collection. Designed as an urban adventure watch, it combines the elegance of a gold timepiece with the robust, functional spirit of LIP’s historic models.

Its polished PVD gold-coated 316L stainless steel case catches the light without excess, striking a subtle balance between sophistication and authenticity. Measuring 39 mm in diameter, it retains proportions faithful to the original 1950s designs while perfectly fitting modern wrist standards.

The silver-tone dial plays with contrast and texture: sunray finish at the center, sandblasted around the edge, and adorned with gold-tone indexes and skeletonized hands reminiscent of the precision instruments from the golden age of watchmaking. The result evokes the clarity of altimeters and mountain compasses, blending instant legibility with refined aesthetics.

Protected by a domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating, the watch is water-resistant to 50 meters — robust enough for everyday use. The transparent caseback reveals the beauty of the automatic LIP R26 movement, a symbol of the Bisontine manufacture’s revival and French craftsmanship.

The finishing touch lies in its genuine brown leather strap with alligator embossing, whose warm tone perfectly complements the gold hue of the case. Supple, durable, and secured with a LIP-signed pin buckle, it ensures impeccable comfort while enhancing the piece’s vintage elegance.

A rare alliance of traditional watchmaking and controlled adventure, the Annapurna 39 R26 ref. 676012 stands as a watch of true character — a testament to French heritage that unites the spirit of the heights with refined detail.

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.