Independent watch Manufacture for mechanical movements – from R&D through manufacturing to assembly
Concepto Watch Factory SA
La Chaux-de-Fonds, CHNew on Amplifa
Independent Manufacture
Concepto Watch Factory SA is an independent Manufacture based in La Chaux-de-Fonds that develops and manufactures mechanical movements entirely in-house. Its range of services includes research & development with 3D design and prototyping, machining with 5-axis machining centers, CNC lathes, electro-discharge machining and laser cutting (ML-5), tool and stamping-die manufacture (étampes) as well as the DTR department for décolletage, taillage and roulage. The Manufacture produces its own assortiments (balance, hairspring, pallet fork, escape wheel) with internally developed alloys and offers decoration and finishing such as anglage, poli noir, Côtes de Genève, perlage and femto-laser decoration. In the horlogerie atelier covering more than 500 m², garnissage, assembly and case fitting (emboîtage) are carried out, including for Grandes Complications. Technical metals and precious metals are processed; customers come from the watch industry, in particular brands with private-label movement manufacturing.
- Site
- La Chaux-de-Fonds
- Processes
- Milling (5-axis machining centers, simultaneous), Turning (CNC lathes / CNC turning), Electro-discharge machining (électroérosion / wire EDM), Laser cutting (ML-5 laser, extreme precision, without draft), Stamping / press-forming of steel (étampage des aciers, stamping-die manufacture), Rotolage / rolling (rotolage), Grinding / rectification, Mise d'épaisseur / thickness machining to micron accuracy
- Materials
- Technical metals (métaux techniques), Precious metals (métaux précieux), Steels (for stamping, tools, components), Internal alloys for assortiments (alliages développés en interne), Technical Metals, Precious Metals, Steels, Internal Alloys for Assortiments
- Certificates
- ISO 9001
- Industries
- Watch industry / Horlogerie, Brand horlogerie (private-label movement manufacturing), Brand horlogerie (private-label movement manufacturing)
- 01
Recherche & Développement (concept, 3D design, prototype)
- 02
Methods (item setup, routing plans)
- 03
Matières (storage, heat treatment, thickness machining)
- 04
Usinage (milling, turning, EDM, laser, stamping)
- 05
Precision mechanics & étampes
- 06
DTR (décolletage, taillage, roulage)
- 07
Assortiments
- 08
Décoration & Finissage
- 09
Contrôle
- 10
Assembly & Emboîtage
Materials & Processes
Technical Metals
Base material for tools, wheels, screws and axes of all movement parts.
Precious Metals
Processing of precious-metal components with the same quality standards as technical metals.
Steels
Used for stamping, toolmaking and hardened movement components.
Internal Alloys for Assortiments
In-house developed alloys for balance, hairspring, pallet fork and escape wheel to ensure chronometric precision.
Site
La Chaux-de-Fonds
CHManufacture / production site
- Lot size
- Prototype to semi-industrial volumes
- Materials
- Technical metals, precious metals, steels, internal alloys
- 5-axis simultaneous machining centers (partly with loading robot)
- CNC lathes
- Electro-discharge machines
- ML-5 laser cutting machine
- Femto laser
- Screw machines (décolletage)
- Gear shaping/milling machines (taillage)
- Roulage machines
- Grinding machines
- ca. 150 usinage units
- Horlogerie atelier > 500 m²
Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milling (5-axis machining centers, simultaneous)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metals, Steel |
| Turning (CNC lathes / CNC turning)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metals, Steel |
| Electro-discharge machining (électroérosion / wire EDM)Machining | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Laser cutting (ML-5 laser, extreme precision, without draft)Machining | – | – | – | – | Steel, Metals |
| Stamping / press-forming of steel (étampage des aciers, stamping-die manufacture)Forming | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Rotolage / rolling (rotolage)Forming | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Grinding / rectificationMachining | – | – | – | – | Metals, Steel |
| Mise d'épaisseur / thickness machining to micron accuracyMachining | Micron range (précision au micron) | – | – | – | Metals |
| Décolletage / screw-machine manufacturing (wheels, pinions, screws, axes)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metals, Steel, Brass |
| Taillage / gear cutting (rouages & pignons)Machining | – | – | – | – | Metals, Brass, Steel |
| Roulage / rolling (DTR department)Forming | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Annealing (heat treatment)Heat Treatment | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Hardening (durcissement)Heat Treatment | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Quenching (trempe)Heat Treatment | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Blasting (sablage)Surface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Trowalizing / vibratory finishingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| TribofinishingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Anglage / hand deburring and polishing of functional edgesSurface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Poli noir / black polishing on a zinc block with diamond pasteSurface | – | – | – | – | Steel, Metals |
| Côtes de Genève / Geneva stripes (fine grinding in curved form)Surface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Perlage / pearl grainingSurface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Laser decoration / laser engraving and machining (laser femto)Surface | – | – | – | – | Metals |
| Precision mechanics / tool and fixture makingMachining | – | – | – | – | Steel, Metals |
| Manufacture of complete stamping dies (étampes complètes)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Steel |
| Assembly (assemblage) and emboîtage of movements (incl. Grande Complication)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of own assortiments (balance, hairspring, pallet fork, escape wheel)Joining | – | – | – | – | Metals, internal alloys |
| Research & development / concept & prototyping (3D design, prototyping, reliability engineering)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Methods engineering / routing plan creation and item setup (gammes opératoires)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Quality control of all manufactured parts with high-performance metrologyTesting | – | – | – | – | – |
| Washing / cleaning of raw materialsSurface | – | – | – | – | Metals, Steel |
11 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-axis simultaneous machining centers (partly with loading robot) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| CNC lathes (tours numériques) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Electro-discharge machines (machines de découpe par électroérosion) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Laser cutting machine | ML-5 | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Femto laser (decoration, engraving, machining) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Screw machines for décolletage (DTR department) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Gear shaping/milling machines for taillage (rouages/pignons) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Roulage machines (DTR department) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Grinding machines (rectification) | – | – | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Total machine fleet (unités d'usinage and specific equipment) | – | ca. 150 | – | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
| Horlogerie atelier (>500 m², assembly & emboîtage) | – | – | > 500 m² | – | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
Additional services
Quality
All manufactured parts are meticulously inspected with high-performance metrology equipment at every production stage. Quality is confirmed according to the website by ISO 9001 certification.
| Evidence | La Chaux-de-Fonds |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 |