You will find the following in our Press Area:
Photos of the shop and its surroundings,
Portraits of Michel Fréret-Roy
and his wife Sophie,
Photos of Fréret-Roy 1818 watches,
in particular the new features, at the top of the page.
You can download the images in HD by clicking on the "buttons".
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.
Thank you for your participation :)
Portraits of Michel Fréret-Roy
If you would like to publish my photo in an article, here are a few portraits...
Michel Fréret-Roy
Official portrait, color advertisement page
Michel Fréret-Roy
Official black-and-white advertising portrait
New double-page advertisement for Fréret-Roy 1818 for spring 2026.
Image sent on request in HD!
Press Kits
Below you will find the Press kits for our different models, regularly updated and expanded.
The main atmosphere photos, such as those of soldiers, are available in high definition.
To download them, click on the "button" corresponding to the image.
New for 2026
Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon Noir
Unique piece 1/1
Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon
Second half of the limited edition of 10 pieces
Grand Cœur Ouvert® 120H Black
Ultimate limited edition of 5 pieces
Coeur Ouvert® Sapphire
Pre-order now!
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® Sapphire
Pre-order now!
Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V.2.4
New domed glass !
Coeur Ouvert® Chronograph V2
New bezel and domed glass !
Other press images:
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® Black
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute®
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® V.2.3
Coeur Ouvert® Chronograph
Fréret Roy 1818 Sub Ocean Jumbo Chrono
Petite Minute® 12H & 24H
Please feel free to contact us with any questions or for further information.
If you would like to receive more HD images, particularly in PNG format,
Feel free to contact us, we will send them to you without delay.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation and support.
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon"
A limited edition of 10 pieces in steel...
And a unique piece in black steel!
Fréret-Roy 1818 is a French brand,
The first of the (small) independent French brands to have introduced a tourbillon watch!
The only one to offer a skeleton tourbillon featuring a proprietary skeleton cutout design registered with the INPI
(INPI : Intellectual Property Institute).
When we created our brand ten years ago, in addition to my passion for watches and family tradition – my mother's family was active in watchmaking from the early 18th century in Switzerland, then in Normandy – the creation of our brand was based on one idea: to offer our customers the watches they wanted. Our customers regularly asked us for a modern skeleton watch at an "affordable" price, and that's how our first skeleton watch, the "Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague," was born.
Why a Tourbillon watch ?
As with all our other creations, it was discussions with our clients, or at least some of them, that inspired us to produce a tourbillon watch in a very limited series! These loyal customers expressed a desire to acquire a skeleton tourbillon (our specialty) at a price that would still be "affordable" compared to competing products from established brands or independent watchmakers. That's how we embarked on this new challenge.
Genesis of our Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon
This new Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon is equipped with a tourbillon caliber manufactured entirely in Switzerland, in the Jura arc, between Delémont and Vallorbe.
The caliber is produced and fully skeletonized in La Chaux-de-Fonds according to our plans and design, and the model has been registered with the INPI (Intellectual Property Institute) .As it is entirely produced and skeletonized in Switzerland, we wrote on the dial:
"Tourbillon 100% Suisse".
In short...
It is the convergence of talents of these independent watchmakers and myself – as a modest watchmaking entrepreneur and designer – and of course my wife Sophie and our children, who all approved the project, that has given birth to the first 100% Swiss skeleton tourbillon from an independent French brand, whose family origins date back to the 18th century in the Canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland, which is why we wanted to equip this watch with a Swiss caliber. For the brand's history, I invite you to visit the homepage of this website and the "History & Museum" page...
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon" Noir
Unique piece 1/1!
For technical details, please refer to the "Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon" presentation below.
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon Noir"
Unique Piece No. 1/1
Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon Noir
Unique piece 1/1
Hand-satin black steel case, 42 mm diameter, domed sapphire crystal with multi-layer anti-reflective treatment, sapphire case back.
Manufactured caliber with a 4-day power reserve
Black full-skin alligator strap and folding clasp
Price: €26,500 excl. VAT / €31,800 incl. VAT, available!
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon"
Steel
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon"
Here above, item No. 8 of the second batch
Hand-satin-finished steel case, 42 mm in diameter.
Lug-to-lug case length: 50.20 mm
Thickness excluding domed glass: 10.80 mm
Domed sapphire crystal with multi-layer anti-reflective coating, sapphire crystal case back
Manufactured caliber with approximately 4 days of power reserve
Anthracite full-skin alligator bracelet and hand-engraved folding clasp.
The watch is back in stock!
Price: €24,000 excl. VAT/€28,800 Incl. VAT, available
Above is number 8 from the second batch on my wrist!
Distinctive features of our
"Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon"
Our Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon is offered in our Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V2 T case, with a diameter of 42mm, in hand-satin-finished steel, featuring a domed sapphire crystal, which benefits from a very high-quality reinforced anti-reflective treatment applied to both sides and a sapphire case back.
Our tourbillon caliber is an integrated, manufacture movement, and is hand-wound. Certified "Chronofiable," it is adjusted in six positions and boasts a substantial power reserve of approximately four days (plus or minus 5%), at 21,600 Hz per hour, The tourbillon is positioned at 6 o'clock, beneath a bridge.
The skeleton design is by Michel Fréret-Roy; both the cut and the model are registered with the INPI (National Institute of Industrial Property). Once skeletonized, the tourbillon movement is micro-blasted and then treated in anthracite, as is the flange. The tourbillon bridge at 6 o'clock, whose shape evokes a bridge and also the "arches" of the movement, is finished with rhodium. The movement screws are made of blued steel.
A new signed open dial at 3 o'clock!
In order to leave the skeletonized movement visible in its entirety, we moved the brand logo to 3 o'clock.
The logo, resembling the number "3," rightfully finds its place in this strategic location, impossible to miss as soon as the shirt sleeve partially reveals the watch! A signature that speaks for itself, a mark of identification. The hours are indicated by gem-set "capsules," hand-filled with Super-LumiNova whose color matches the hands.
In the "Coeur Ouvert®" family,
Here is the
"Grand Coeur Ouvert® 120H Noir"...
Why "Big"?
Because the movement is totally visible, like in the "Phantom" (sold-out model)!
After the "Grand Coeur Ouvert® Fantôme", the "Grand Coeur Ouvert® 120 H Noir" this time features a brushed "gunmetal" coloured bezel which contrasts with the rhodium-plated silver-capped decoration of the caliber.
This is the "ultimate" series of our last five available movements of this exceptional caliber which is no longer manufactured in small series for independent watchmakers like us, its production cost being too high.
The seamless transition of the "Phantom" version, where movement and flange merged, is replaced by the powerful contrast between the silver rhodium-plated decoration of the movement and the intense black of the dial, whose retrograde date and power reserve arches stand out harmoniously above the plate, highlighting the magnificent crimping of the decorated plate of the MHVJ caliber for Fréret-Roy 1818.
This watch has the unique feature of symmetrical asymmetry!
The Coeur Ouvert® (a registered trademark belonging to us since 1999!) is perfectly centered at 9 o'clock. While the arches of the two complications – the retrograde date and the power reserve – are placed in vertical symmetry on the right side of the movement and dial, creating a kind of symmetry within asymmetry, the triangle unfolding from left to right.
The finely decorated manufacture 120-hour caliber is fully revealed, allowing you to admire both its front and back. In this version, the hours are marked by hand-filled capsules of Super-LumiNova, as is the brand logo at 12 o'clock, its color matching the hands. The white lettering now stands out against the brushed gunmetal finish and is highly legible, as are the secondary hands for the power reserve and retrograde date.
Above, the Grand Coeur Ouvert® Noir on a hand-decorated sideplate hunting rifle (19th century)
“Grand Cœur Ouvert® 120H Noir”,
Ultimate limited edition of 5 pieces
The new "gunmetal" coloured highlight brushed contrast
with the rhodium-plated silver-capped decoration of the caliber.
Full alligator strap and folding clasp
Price: €8500 including VAT, available
Coeur Ouvert®
A registered model name since 1999 !
Skeleton watches are at the heart of the Fréret Roy 1818 collections !
Exclusive watch families, all released in limited series.
"Coeur Ouvert® Sapphire"
Pre-order now!
Translucent sapphire case, 46 mm diameter, multi-layer anti-reflective sapphire crystal, transparent screw-down case back. Unitas 6498 base caliber cut according to our new design and treated in anthracite.
Luminescent chapter ring with indexes and logo at 3 o'clock.
Handmade full-skin alligator strap and steel folding clasp.
Price: €12,500 including VAT for pre-orders.
Price once in stock: €15,000 (VAT included)
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute®
The fusion of two brand icons!
A Fréret Roy 1818 exclusive, this skeleton watch breaks the mold by displaying a large hour marker and the now-famous Petite Minute®, this time presented in the brand's own new skeleton caliber. This is the first collection of mechanical watches on the watch market with a large hour hand and a small central minute hand in a fully skeletonized version!
Below is the steel model, with a time display exclusively in 12-hour format.
“Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® Sapphire”
Pre-order now!
Translucent sapphire case, 46 mm diameter, multi-layer anti-reflective sapphire crystal, transparent screw-down case back. Unitas 6498 base caliber cut according to our new design and treated in anthracite.
Exclusive switching Petite Minute® with large hour hand, central small minute and middle seconds.
Luminescent chapter ring with indexes and logo at 3 o'clock.
Handmade full-skin alligator strap and steel folding clasp.
Price: €12,500 including VAT for pre-orders.
Price once in stock: €15,000 (VAT included)
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute®
Black
The fusion of two brand icons!
Now available in a black steel case, the Fréret Roy 1818 watch
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® breaks the mold by displaying a large hour and the now famous
Petite Minute®,
this time presented in the brand's own new skeleton caliber.
This is the first collection of mechanical watches on the watch market with a large hour hand and a small central minute hand in a fully skeletonized version!
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® Sapphire Black
Same features as the CONV2.3 Black, but with a small Minute turnout
Limited edition models, available:
Price: €4100 including VAT on a checkered rubber strap with a folding clasp
Price: €4100 including VAT on a full-skin alligator strap with a folding clasp
Open Heart® Quick Minute® Steel
Price: €3950 including VAT on a checkered rubber strap with a folding clasp
Coeur Ouvert® Petite Minute® V2.3
New skeleton movement cutout and V.2.3 open dial!
Our Fréret-Roy 1818 Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V.2.3 inaugurated the new cut of our caliber "Skeleton" redesigned.
The dial also features a new cut, inspired by that of the Coeur Ouvert® Torubillon where the logo that resembles the number "3" is placed at 3 o'clock and where the small seconds ring has disappeared, allowing it to "surf the wave" of the movement!
The logo positioned at 3 o'clock is the new visual signature of our models. Skeleton, whose registered name is Coeur Ouvert® .
The new indexes, logo and hands are treated with blue Superluminova, giving this dial a unique personality.
We have refined this new flange as much as possible so that it conceals as little as possible the new skeletonized caliber, which we have cut and finished by independent workshops in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
The base caliber remains a Unitas 6498, but we have redesigned the balance bridge cutout, which now adopts the movement's "wave" pattern. A series of 60 movements is currently in production.
Our Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V2.3 is offered in the same Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V2 case, measuring 42mm in diameter and 10.90mm thick, in hand-satin-finished steel or black steel, featuring a flat sapphire crystal with effective anti-reflective coating and a transparent case back. The watches are delivered on a choice of a handmade rubber or full-grain alligator strap, with a hand-satin-finished steel folding clasp engraved with our logo.
Below are photos of
Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V.2.3
Open Heart® New Wave V2.3 Steel
Price: €3890 including VAT on a checkered rubber strap with a folding clasp
Open Heart® New Wave V2 Black
Price: €4100 including VAT on a checkered rubber strap with a folding clasp
"Open Heart® Chronograph"
Completely skeletonized and transparent!
New frame and domed lens!
Unlike most skeleton chronographs, which have only the movement's upper plate cut away, our chronograph caliber is fully skeletonized and transparent!
"Coeur Ouvert® Chronograph V2 Dome"
This model is equipped with the thin bezel and domed glass with reinforced anti-reflective coating of the Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon.
Diameter 42mm, thickness of 13.35mm excluding domed glass.
Limited edition of 11 pieces!
The watch appears different from the V1 version, whose flat glass, also highly anti-reflective, gives it a more "surgical" look.
The choice is yours.
The additional cost of version V2 is €250 including VAT.
Above, the Coeur Ouvert® Chronograph V2 on a hand-decorated sideplate hunting rifle (19th century)
Open Heart® Chronograph V2
Limited edition of 12 pieces!
This model is equipped with the thin bezel and domed glass with reinforced anti-reflective coating first introduced on our Coeur Ouvert® Tourbillon.
Diameter 42mm, thickness excluding domed glass: 13.35 mm.
The V1 version, whose flat, highly anti-reflective glass gives it a more "surgical" look, is shown below. The choice is yours.
Version V2 is offered at €9750 including VAT.
Fréret Roy 1818 "Petite Minute®"
Registered name and designs!
An exclusive from Fréret Roy 1818 and, above all, a world first!
The first collection of mechanical watches on the watch market that displays time differently:
A large hour hand, a small central minute hand, and a medium seconds hand!
Two different versions with 12-hour and 24-hour time display.
First series of 50 pieces in eight different versions!
The idea behind this watch, or these watches, is to do things differently. In fact, the hour hand is undoubtedly the most important for structuring our daily schedules; the minute hand is secondary or secondary, but nonetheless necessary when we have to catch a train, for example, or a plane, or strictly adhere to a timetable, an important meeting with a minister (just kidding), a boss, a partner, a client, their banker... or for executives and CEOs when the overbooked boss's schedule is planned down to the minute, and this is not just a figure of speech, but a reality.
The concept of single-hand watches intrigued me but didn't completely satisfy me for the reasons mentioned above. That's how I came up with the idea and the desire to produce a truly different watch, one whose display is a world first and exclusive to Fréret Roy 1818! Some also compare these "Petite Minute®" watches to the well-known regulators where the hour is at the top, the minute in the center, and the small seconds at the bottom of the dial. I've also been thinking these past few days—and a friend of mine had the same thought—about the sundials of ancient times, a kind of return to the essentials.
As you will have understood, in each of these examples and for each model, it is a question of reinventing the reading of time, of breaking free from stereotypes.
In the future, to complete this collection of typically masculine watches and not to make anyone jealous, a unisex version in a 38mm case should be offered, with or without small seconds.
As their name suggests, the "Petite Minute®" models feature a central minute hand and a large hour hand. Original, yet very legible!
On this model, a small seconds hand at 6 o'clock, which is longer than the small minute hand, completes the dial and reinforces the "regulator" spirit.
The 42mm cases are those of our iconic model the Coeur Ouvert® Nouvelle Vague V2, compatible, as they use a caliber of the same size.
Our large-diameter calibers (36.60 mm or 16 1/2 lignes), produced in series of 50 pieces to limit production costs, are derived from the renowned Unitas caliber 6498/2. However, since these calibers are reserved exclusively for Swatch Group brands, we started with a similar base (which is royalty-free as it has entered the public domain), which we then had modified and customized in La Chaux-de-Fonds by an independent watchmaker. This is a manual-winding caliber with an approximately 45-hour power reserve and a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour, featuring a small seconds subdial at six o'clock. The 24-hour version has a power reserve of approximately 42 hours, slightly less, as the hour wheel consumes a little more energy. The specific and personalized high-end decoration of these calibers is handcrafted in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Assembly and quality control are performed by our master watchmaker, Bruno Laville.
All "Petite Minute®" models will be available in two case colors, steel or black HIP steel, at the customer's choice, making eight different models.
The distinctive feature of the 24-hour version is that it displays "12" at the top, to symbolize midday at the zenith, and "24" midnight, at the bottom to symbolize night.
Some models are sold out, please refer to the page
Fréret Roy 1818 "Petite Minute®"
"Petite Minute®"
12 H
Jumbo Chrono
Limited edition of 30 pieces.
This generously sized chronograph is equipped with the famous Valjoux 7750 caliber, with the date positioned at 4:30. To make each piece unique, or almost, the finishes of our movements may vary from one model to another, making them “different.” Some calibers feature a ruthenium finish, while others have the plates at the center of the dial brushed and hand-finished.
The case is made of 316L steel and is water-resistant to 200 meters. It features a screw-down crown engraved with our logo, measures 46.5 mm in diameter excluding the pushers and crown, and is 17.20 mm thick overall. The 4.6 mm thick crystal is reinforced, and the steel case back is engraved. The total lug-to-lug length is 55.95 mm, but the curved lugs allow it to fit fairly slim wrists (see the photos on my 17 cm wrist).
The anthracite-bronze dial is openworked to reveal the caliber. Its exceptional construction alternates grained and circular-brushed finishes. The counters are thin, cutout discs that obscure as little of the movement's center as possible.
This “Jumbo Chrono” comes on a strap matching the dial, made of stitched anthracite-bronze rubber and fitted with a butterfly deployant clasp engraved with our logo. Designed for water sports, the watch also comes with a second black, orange, or khaki rubber strap with a pin buckle.
Click the button below to view the complete press kit for this model:
For any information, please do not hesitate to contact us...