Lorsa

Lorsa was a French mechanical watch movement manufacturer based in Annemasse, Haute-Savoie, operating from 1941 to 1981. The company was known for producing affordable, reliable ébauches (unfinished movements) during the mid-20th century. Lorsa movements were produced by L'Horlogerie De Savoie (also known as H. Savoie) and specialized in mechanical movements like the P62 caliber, which were basic in finishing but accurate and well-made, comparable to Swiss AS 984 movements and tunable to +10 seconds per day. During the post-WWII rebuilding period from the 1940s to 1970s, Lorsa supplied affordable ébauches primarily to French brands for domestic and some international markets, including Austrian brand Visconte. The company contributed to France's independent movement production peak in the 1960s-70s, which was part of France's robust tradition of generic, mass-produced ebauches alongside makers like France Ebauches, LIP, Cupillard, and Hippolyte Parrenin. Lorsa ceased operations in 1981, aligning with the quartz crisis that impacted many mechanical movement manufacturers. Despite being defunct, Lorsa movements appear in vintage French diving watches and generic timepieces, and replacement parts remain available through suppliers today.