French watch brand Le Forban Sécurité Mer presents Malouine, a limited edition diving watch from its revival collection.
The brand Le Forban Sécurité Mer was renowned for their military grade wristwatches specially created for divers, maritime pilots and crews of the French Navy during 1960s and 70s.
Although long forgotten, Le Forban Sécurité Mer had a very interesting history. Almost after fifty years, now the iconic French military watch brand gets a revival under the leadership of Jean-Sébastien Coste, who also owns the Triton watch brand.
The first model in the revival collection is Malouine, a scuba dive watch that takes inspiration from two Le Forban Sécurité Mer models of the sixties and seventies.
50 years on, the name Le Forban Sécurité Mer is once again to be seen on the dial of a wristwatch. While the design is recognisable and the DNA kept intact the features have been updated, and above all the objective is for the watch to be accessible: rated at 150m, fitted with a unidirectional bezel and containing an automatic movement, the ‘Malouine’ will be available for less than 500 Euros.
Taking its name from the port of St Malo, once famously home to corsairs (or forbans, as they were known in French), the watch will follow the example of its namesakes, but aiming its broadsides at accepted ideas and habits. A successful marriage of ‘tool watch’ and ‘urban watch’, this diver’s watch can be worn daily, in any circumstances, just as appropriate on land as at sea.
Made from marine grade (316L) stainless steel, the watch case measures 38.4 mm diameter and topped with a scratch resistant sapphire crystal glass with anti-reflective coating. The screw on case back is engraved with ‘Le ForbanSécurité Mer’ and individually numbered.
Crafted from 316L stainless steel, its unidirectional diving bezel features blue or black aluminium insert with luminous SuperLuminova C3 markings. Available in Black or sunburst blue variation, the watch dial features luminous SuperLuminova C3 indices, date at the 3o’clock position and ‘Sword’ shaped hour and minute hands painted with SuperLuminova C3. The screw-down crown features the Le Forban Sécurité Mer brand logo on the top.
The Malouine is fitted with an automatic movement, offering customers the beauty of a mechanical watch, but for less than 500 Euros (a price which is made possible by exclusively online sales, apart from one retailer – Emile Léon, also an authorised dealer for the Triton brand).
The movement used is a well-proven and extremely reliable Miyota and assembly of the watch takes place in France – by skilled watchmakers at the Paris workshops of Ateliers Plantin, whose reputation is well established.
The size of the case makes the watch equally suitable for men and women and the choice of silicone for the strap, softer to the touch than classic rubber, makes it extremely comfortable on the wrist.
A new model is also planned for next year, which will be called the Rochelaise (named after the Atlantic port of La Rochelle).
Le Forban Sécurité Mer watches are available for sale online (www.leforbansecuritemer.com) and at Emile Léon, 8 rue Royale, Paris.
Technical details
Model: Le Forban Securite Mer Malouine
Case
316L stainless steel
38.4 mm diameter
Scratch resistant sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating
Rated at 150 metres water resistance
Screw on caseback, engraved with ‘Le ForbanSécurité Mer’ and individually numbered
Bezel
Unidirectional
316Lsteel with aluminium insert
Luminous SuperLuminova C3 markings
Functions
Hours, Minutes, Seconds, Date
Movement
Automatic Miyota 8215
Frequency 21’600 BPH (3 Hz)
40 hours of power reserve
Dial
Black or sunburst blue, with luminous SuperLuminova C3 indices
Quickset date at the 3o’clock position
‘Sword’ hour and minute hands painted with SuperLuminova C3
Crown
Screw-down, with Le Forban Sécurité Mer logo
Strap
Specially made silicone (black or navy blue) with custom buckle
Suggested retail price
€ 490
