L. Leroy is one of the oldest French watchmaking houses, founded in Paris in 1785 as Horloger du Roi (Watchmaker to the King). Known for marine chronometers and high complications, the brand created the Leroy 01 in 1900 — then the world's most complicated watch with 24 functions and 975 components. Revived in 2004 by the Festina Group, L. Leroy produces haute horlogerie timepieces with calibers manufactured in the Vallée de Joux and assembled in Besançon.
Charles-Basile Le Roy founded L. Leroy alongside his father Basile in 1785 beneath the arcades of the Palais-Royal in Paris. The maison was appointed Horloger du Roi, serving Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. In 1828, Charles-Basile and his son Charles-Louis expanded as Le Roy & Fils, collaborating with Swiss Jura ateliers for military and naval chronometers. In 1835, the French Admiralty designated Leroy as watchmaker to the Ministry of the Navy. Queen Victoria granted the royal warrant in 1863. The brand earned 384 gold medals in chronometry. In 1900, Louis Leroy unveiled the Leroy 01 at the Paris Universal Exhibition — a 975-component, 24-complication pocket watch that remained the world's most complex timepiece for 89 years. After the deaths of Louis and Léon Leroy in 1935, the maison operated intermittently until entering dormancy around 1980. In 2004, Miguel Rodríguez, president of the Festina Group, acquired and revived the brand. Assembly operations were established in Besançon. The brand returned to prominence at Geneva Watch Days 2025 with the Osmior Bal du Temps, a minute repeater with flying tourbillon.
PRICE SEGMENT
Haute HorlogerieMOVEMENT TYPES
MANUFACTURING
Full ManufactureSPECIALIZATIONS
HEADQUARTERS
Besançon, France1785 Le Roy family
1828 Le Roy & Fils
1935 Dormant
2004 Festina Group (Miguel Rodríguez)
Current Festina Group
