A watch that is simply incredible, a pure reflection of the 70s when the nuclear power plant revolution was an innovation, but a worrying innovation. And so in the middle of the Lip crisis, in 1975 this watch came out. For France, nuclear power? No thanks! And for Germany: Atomkraft? Neine Danke! Just great, especially since I had been looking for it for 3 years. I bought it from a great seller simply named Montre Vintage.com

Lip nuclear power

<p dir="ltr">The French watch brand <strong>LIP</strong> is an emblematic figure of the watch industry, recognized for his innovation, his avant-garde design and his history rich in twists and turns. Founded in <strong>1867</strong> in Besan&ccedil;on, LIP has gone through periods of glory, economic challenges and social struggles, while leaving an indelible mark in the history of French watchmaking.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Beginnings: Foundation and Expansion (1867-1930)</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The history of LIP begins in 1867 when Emmanuel Lipmann founded a small watchmaking workshop in Besan&ccedil;on, the French capital of watchmaking. Initially named "Comptoir Lipmann", the workshop specializes in the manufacture of high quality pocket watches. In 1893, the company became the "<strong>Soci&eacute;t&eacute; Anonyme d'Horlogerie Lipmann Fr&egrave;res</strong>" and adopted the brand LIP, acronym of the founder's initials.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At the beginning of the 20th century, LIP stood out for its technical and aesthetic innovations. In 1904, the brand introduced the "Lip" pocket chronometer, which met with notable success. <strong>LIP is quickly positioning itself as a major player in French watchmaking</strong>, combining precision and elegance in its creations.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The Age of Innovation: The 1930s-1950s</h2>
<p dir="ltr"><strong>Under the direction of Fred Lip</strong>, son of Ernest Lipmann, LIP enters a period of intense innovation. In 1933, the brand launched the model <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/t18">Lip T18</a>, a rectangular wristwatch equipped with a high-precision movement. This model became emblematic and <strong>was offered in 1948 to Winston Churchill</strong> in recognition of his role during the Second World War.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the 1950s, LIP continued to innovate by introducing<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/electronic"> Lip Electronic</a> in 1952, the first French electronic watch. This model uses a quartz crystal to keep time, constituting a significant advancement in watchmaking technology. Lip offered at this time the first models<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/himalaya"> Lip Himalaya</a> which still remain in the catalog today.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1960s: Expansion and Avant-Garde Design</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The 1960s marked a period of expansion for LIP like the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/nautic-ski"> Lip Nautic-Ski</a> presented during the <strong>Grenoble Olympic Games in 1968</strong>. It was also the beginning of collaborations with renowned designers to create watches with innovative designs. In 1967, the brand called on Roger Tallon, famous industrial designer, to design the collection<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/lip/mach_2000"> Lip Mach 2000</a>. These watches are distinguished by their futuristic aesthetic and their bold shapes, breaking with traditional watchmaking codes.</p>
<p dir="ltr">At the same time, LIP develops watches intended for specific uses, notably for pilots and divers, thus strengthening its reputation as a manufacturer of technical and reliable watches.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1970s: Crisis and Social Struggles</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Despite its successes, LIP faced financial difficulties at the end of the 1960s, exacerbated by international competition and changes in the watch market. In 1973, the company was placed in liquidation, triggering a series of strikes and factory occupations by workers. This social movement, known as "<strong>LIP Conflict</strong>", became emblematic of workers' struggles in France and attracted national media attention.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The employees, led by the trade unionist Charles Piaget, took control of production and continued to manufacture and sell watches under the slogan "It's possible: we make, we sell, we get paid!". This experiment in self-management aroused broad popular support and symbolized workers' resistance to factory closures.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The 1980s-1990s: Relaunch Attempts and Changes in Ownership</h2>
<p dir="ltr">After the liquidation of LIP in 1977, <strong>several attempts at revival were undertaken</strong>. In 1984, the brand was bought by the "Kipl&eacute;" company, but this initiative failed, leading to another liquidation in 1986. In 1990, the businessman Jean-Claude Sensemat acquired the brand and successfully relaunched production, relying on modern marketing methods and reissuing iconic models. Under his leadership, LIP experienced a renaissance and achieved significant sales.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The 2000s: Renewal and Modernization</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In 2002, Jean-Claude Sensemat signed a worldwide licensing contract with Jean-Luc Bernerd, who created the Manufacture G&eacute;n&eacute;rale Horlog&egrave;re in Lectoure, in the Gers region, to produce LIP watches. This collaboration makes it possible to modernize the collections while respecting the brand's heritage. LIP continues to offer reissues of historic models, while introducing new creations adapted to contemporary tastes.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">The 2010s: Back to Basics and Sustainable Development</h2>
<p dir="ltr">In 2015, the brand was bought by the "Soci&eacute;t&eacute; des Montres Bisontines" (SMB), based in Ch&acirc;tillon-le-Duc, near Besan&ccedil;on, France. This return to geographical sources marks a new stage in the history of LIP, which strengthens its local roots and its commitment to sustainable development. Production is relocated to France, and the brand strives to promote French watchmaking know-how. LIP continues to offer its emblematic collections which have marked its history, seeking to meet the expectations of modern consumers.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Check out the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands"><span class="s2">Ranking of the most popular French watch brands</span></a>, including LIP.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">(Updated November 2024)</p>

Here is one of my vintage, a so-called jumbo Lip with a gold-plated case in the art deco style from the 50s I think with the famous R25, size 38 mm, good size for the time and small seconds, it has been restored, revised and re-plated by a watchmaker friend in Belgium, it is like new with its white dial which has suffered the traces of time with a lunar effect. A marvel and a piece of French watchmaking history on my wrist.

Ma Lip vintage jumbo 

Interesting watch with its pulsation and breathing functions which are simple to use and efficient in data. Quartz movement, sapphire crystal waterproof 100M for a reasonable price. Very readable dial with its Nato or tropical strap pleasant to wear. My first purchase at Lip and it is a success for me. In short, I recommend.

Lip Courage a doctor on the wrist ;)

This Lip Genève panda 🐼 inverted watch is exceptional and now historic from the 1960s, it is the little sister of the Breitling co-pilot, powered by a Venus 178 movement. There must have been between 100 and 300 models only. To find out more, go to YouTube on the dialicious channel: Lip Genève watch 😉

Lip Geneva panda watch 🐼 reversed

Here is a very beautiful LIP, quite rare, with a rather improbable look. It seems to me to date from the beginning of the 80s, probably at the time of one of the umpteenth attempts to relaunch the brand after the slump of the strikes on the Lip sites in Besançon. I really like this style of 70s watch with a sort of integrated case. Paradoxically, it has a screw-down crown and a unidirectional bezel that gives it the characteristics of a diving watch without really being one! even if it proudly announces on the back that it is water-resistant to 100 meters! Two things are noteworthy: it must have spent a long time in a drawer because you can see the traces left by the hands on the inside of the glass... and the still active tritium treatment is nice... For those who like the 70s look, this vintage watch is simple, fun while generating curiosity 😎


LIP forever even in quartz version

What a pleasure to have a little piece of French heritage in your pocket. Watch of about 50 mm and reliable Breguet spiral movement with manual winding, what a joy to wait for its very present tick tock. This is the 'common type' model. Watches to have in a collection..........

French Heritage

As a LIP fan, I am always careful not to miss an original model - at least for me! This is done with this simple and elegant mechanical watch like Lip made dozens of in the 50s/60s. Found in an auction lot for a few dozen euros with other Lips ;-)

A favorite purchase for its very original handles

I found this little LIP TV at a flea market. The watch looked bland but I saw straight away that it was running. Bought at the time for barely more than a pack of cigarettes, I cleaned the watch which actually had a nice gold plating that was not very worn. The mechanics were also relatively clean with a Durowe caliber. I don't wear it often but with a nice lizard strap it has a good vintage style. A good dress watch.

A well-hidden LIP

Here is a Courant type LIP that dates from the early 1910s. A classic at the time, with its almost square case (31.5 x 32mm) and its welded lugs. These watches were decorated with a canvas strap or a set leather, but I preferred to put a 22 mm NATO on it to make a slightly offbeat style. On the wrist, the LIP is a little small (the standards of the time), but with the NATO, it fits (but it still looks more like a bracelet than a watch).
It is in very good original condition, because unlike the majority of Courant types of the time, this one is not in nickel chrome, but its case is in solid silver (hallmarked), therefore free of corrosion.
It needs a revision of its movement because it does not want to start again (it had been 10 years since I had taken it out either). It is almost never used and the oils must have solidified.
I bought it mainly for its look, its condition, and its age. And then it's a LIP.....and I like old LIPs in general!

A very pretty ancestor

After spending a few years of research, I finally found my Lip Geneva chronograph. It was the ideal chronograph for me, size and shape of the case, gray dial. The chronograph is equipped with a Valjoux 7730 movement, a reference at the time. Classy and sporty, it goes through all eras. With this Geneva marking, LIP rises qualitatively to be close to its Swiss counterparts, the case has a particularity: it is a monobloc case.

Lip chrono Geneva

A very small and delicate watch. EVERYTHING is in the raised and faceted glass that recalls cut stones and gives the impression of a magnifying glass. The golden case and the smoked glass are obviously very 70''. On the other hand, the shiny brown crocodile-style strap is quite ugly and really cheap. The very small attachment is not very handy. I will try to find a way to change this strap.

Ma Mini Lip Gold Diamant

This Lip is very endearing with its temperature probe right in the middle, a nice option for its time (late 60s). The color effects also make the charm of the watch. The visibility of the hands is very limited, it takes practice to read the time. I like the shine of the bezel, it is close to the ceramic effect. An important point: the watch is very fragile, especially the glass.

Lip thermometer

<p>Cr&eacute;&eacute;e en 2017 par le designer Nicolas Ducoudert, <strong>Beaubleu apporte une dimension nouvelle &agrave; l&rsquo;horlogerie</strong> en cr&eacute;ant des montres &agrave; la fois esth&eacute;tiques, &eacute;tonnantes et profond&eacute;ment symboliques. Les aiguilles rondes, signature de la Maison, sont le reflet d&rsquo;une singularit&eacute; et d&rsquo;une simplicit&eacute; sophistiqu&eacute;e. Chaque mod&egrave;le arbore un design d&eacute;licieusement contemporain, o&ugrave; chaque d&eacute;tail, chaque surface, interagissent avec la lumi&egrave;re.</p>
<p>Cassant les codes de l'horlogerie traditionnelle en apportant une vision nouvelle du temps, les montres Beaubleu sortent des sentiers battus en arborant des aiguilles rondes et &eacute;vid&eacute;es, inspir&eacute;es des travaux de Galil&eacute;e dans sa compr&eacute;hension du syst&egrave;me solaire. Ces aiguilles affichent de mani&egrave;re po&eacute;tique les heures, qui ne pointent pas un index ni une graduation, mais qui indiquent une position, un instant depuis le centre du cadran.</p>
<h2>Quels sont les principaux mod&egrave;les de la marque Beaubleu ?</h2>
<p>Beaubleu vient d&rsquo;annoncer le 5 juin 2024, le lancement d&rsquo;une nouvelle collection en s&eacute;rie limit&eacute;e nomm&eacute;e <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise">Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise</a>. Une belle innovation esth&eacute;tique et po&eacute;tique comme en a le secret la marque., avec une aiguille volante des secondes et un calibre fran&ccedil;ais de France &Eacute;bauches. <strong>La Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise fait partie des nomin&eacute;s au Grand Prix d''Horlogerie de Gen&egrave;ve 2024</strong>.&nbsp;</p>
<p>La collection <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/ecce">Beaubleu Ecce</a> reste la collection permanente de la marque lanc&eacute;e en octobre 2023. Malgr&eacute; sa jeune histoire, Beaubleu a d&eacute;j&agrave; commercialis&eacute; 3 collections en s&eacute;ries limit&eacute;es :</p>
<p><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/b01">Beaubleu B01</a><br><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/union">Beaubleu Union</a><br><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/vitruve_date">Beaubleu Vitruve Date</a> et <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/vitruve_gmt">Beaubleu Vitruve GMT</a></p>
<h2>Quel est le prix d'une montre Beaubleu ?</h2>
<p>Le prix des montres Beaubleu &eacute;voluent et diff&egrave;rent selon les mod&egrave;les. La plupart co&ucirc;tent <strong>entre 800 &euro; et 1,600 &euro;</strong> selon les r&eacute;f&eacute;rences. A titre d'exemple, une <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/ecce/vesperal">Beaubleu Ecce Vesperal</a> est propos&eacute;e &agrave; 890 &euro; sur le bracelet cuir et la nouvelle collection <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise">Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise</a> est vendue &agrave; partir de 1,490 &euro; sur bracelet cuir &eacute;galement. <a href="bit.ly/4abJPrn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tous les prix Beaubleu sur le site de la marque</a>.</p>
<p>La marque Beaubleu est ind&eacute;pendante et vend plusieurs milliers de montres par an, tous mod&egrave;les confondus. Pour choisir le mod&egrave;le Beaubleu qui vous correspond le mieux, les <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/beaubleu/seconde_francaise/20.24_gris_perle/review/66607be37f15bc103d620fe3">avis clients Dialicious sur Beaubleu</a> sont une pr&eacute;cieuse ressource pour &eacute;valuer les diff&eacute;rents mod&egrave;les &agrave; travers l'exp&eacute;rience r&eacute;elle des clients de la marque.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Consultez le<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/top/les_meilleures_marques_de_montres_francaises"><span class="s2"> Classement des meilleures marques de montres fran&ccedil;aises</span></a> dont Beaubleu fait partie.</span></p>
<p>(Mise &agrave; jour Novembre 2024)</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p dir="ltr">Created in 2017 by designer Nicolas Ducoudert, Beaubleu brings a new dimension to watchmaking by creating watches that are aesthetic, astonishing and deeply symbolic. The round hands, signature of the House, reflect singularity and sophisticated simplicity. Each model features a deliciously contemporary design, where every detail, every surface, interacts with light.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Breaking the codes of traditional watchmaking by providing a new vision of time, Beaubleu watches go off the beaten track by featuring round, hollowed-out hands, inspired by the work of Galileo in his understanding of the solar system. These hands poetically display the hours, which do not point to an index or a graduation, but which indicate a position, an instant from the center of the dial.</p>
<h2 dir="ltr">What are the main models of the Beaubleu brand?</h2>
<p dir="ltr">Beaubleu has just announced on June 5, 2024, the launch of a new limited series collection called<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise"> Beaubleu Seconde Francaise</a>. A beautiful aesthetic and poetic innovation as the brand has the secret, with a flying seconds hand and a French caliber from France &Eacute;bauches. The Beaubleu Seconde Fran&ccedil;aise is one of the nominees for the 2024 GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Gen&egrave;ve).&nbsp;</p>
<p dir="ltr">The collection<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/ecce"> Beaubleu Ecce</a> remains the permanent collection of the brand launched in October 2023. Despite its young history, Beaubleu has already marketed 3 collections in limited series:</p>
<p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/b01">Beaubleu B01<br></a><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/union">Beaubleu Union<br></a><a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/vitruve_date">Beaubleu Vitruvius Date</a> And<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/vitruve_gmt"> Beaubleu Vitruve GMT</a></p>
<h2 dir="ltr">How much does a Beaubleu watch cost?</h2>
<p dir="ltr">The prices of Beaubleu watches change and differ depending on the model. <strong>Most cost between &euro; 800 and &euro; 1,600 according to the references</strong>. As an example, a<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/ecce/vesperal"> Beaubleu Ecce Vesperal</a> is offered at &euro; 890 on the leather strap and the new collection<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise"> Beaubleu Seconde Francaise</a> is sold from &euro; 1,490 on a leather strap as well. All Beaubleu prices on the brand's website.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Beaubleu brand is independent and sells several thousand watches per year, all models combined. To choose the Beaubleu model that best suits you, <a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/beaubleu/seconde_francaise/20.24_gris_perle/review/66607be37f15bc103d620fe3">Dialicious owners' reviews on Beaubleu</a> are a valuable resource for evaluating the different models through the real experience of the brand's customers.</p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Check out the<a href="https://www.dialicious.com/en/top/the_best_french_watch_brands"><span class="s2"> Ranking of the best French watch brands</span></a>, including Beaubleu.</span></p>
<p dir="ltr">(Updated November 2024)</p>

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Lip nuclear power

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