Lip

The history of LIP began in 1867, when Emmanuel Lipmann established a small watchmaking workshop in Besançon. Driven by several generations of entrepreneurs, watchmakers and visionary creators, the Maison became one of the great symbols of French watchmaking. LIP made its mark through technical innovations, electric watches and collaborations with leading designers, while creating iconic models such as the Himalaya, Churchill, Général de Gaulle, Nautic-Ski and Mach 2000.

LIP watches are designed, assembled, adjusted and inspected in Besançon, the historic centre of French watchmaking. Depending on the model, the Maison uses carefully selected French, Swiss or Japanese movements. Each watch undergoes checks relating to its precision, water resistance and overall quality. LIP is also continuing to develop its mechanical expertise through proprietary solutions such as the R26 automatic calibre, assembled and inspected in its Besançon workshops.

Choosing a LIP watch means choosing a French timepiece combining heritage, distinctive design and accessible pricing. The Maison offers automatic, hand-wound mechanical, meca-quartz and quartz watches, ranging from Art Deco-inspired dress watches to diving watches and motor racing chronographs. Each collection reinterprets an important chapter in LIP’s history while meeting contemporary expectations for comfort, reliability and precision.

LIP’s most emblematic collections include the LIP Himalaya, renowned for its elegance and robustness, the Churchill, characterised by its rectangular cases, and the Général de Gaulle, known as the “Watch of Presidents”. The Maison’s sporting heritage is represented by the Nautic-Ski and Rallye collections, while the Mach 2000 embodies the avant-garde spirit of French design.

The LIP Himalaya is closely associated with the great French mountaineering expeditions of the twentieth century. It notably accompanied Maurice Herzog and Louis Lachenal during their historic ascent of Annapurna in 1950, before being worn during further Himalayan achievements. Today, the collection retains its reputation for reliability while adopting elegant, timeless lines. Himalaya watches are available with automatic, hand-wound or quartz movements in a variety of sizes and configurations.

The LIP Churchill is associated with the T18 watch presented to Winston Churchill by the French government in 1948. Its rectangular case and Art Deco design make it one of the Maison’s most recognisable dress watches. The LIP Général de Gaulle draws inspiration from the electric watch equipped with the innovative R27 movement, which was offered to figures including General de Gaulle and President Dwight Eisenhower. It consequently became known as the “Watch of Presidents”.

First offered in 1967, the LIP Nautic-Ski became the first French diving watch made available to the general public with water resistance to 200 metres. It is recognisable by its compressor-style case, internal rotating bezel and strongly domed crystal. The LIP Mach 2000, designed by Roger Tallon and introduced in 1975, stands out through its asymmetrical case, ergonomic construction and brightly coloured spherical pushers. Together, these collections illustrate LIP’s ability to combine technical innovation with bold design.

A new LIP watch is covered by a two-year international warranty from the date of purchase. This warranty covers manufacturing defects recognised by the Maison when the watch has been used normally. It does not cover normal wear and tear or damage caused by accidents, inappropriate use or unauthorised intervention. The original warranty card or purchase invoice must be retained and presented when requesting assistance.

As an authorised LIP retailer, Lepage guarantees the authenticity of every watch and the application of the Maison’s international warranty. By exploring the LIP universe at Lepage, you benefit from an extensive selection of automatic, mechanical, meca-quartz and quartz watches, personalised advice from our watch experts, secure payment and attentive assistance before and after your purchase.

You can purchase your LIP watch online at lepage.fr, an authorised retailer of the French Maison. Discover the Himalaya, Churchill, Général de Gaulle, Nautic-Ski, Rallye and Mach 2000 collections online. You can also contact the Lepage boutiques to enquire about the availability of a specific model and receive personalised guidance from our advisers.