CAPUSSON, AUTOMATIC WATCHES CRAFTED IN FRANCE
At a time when many young watch brands are trying to stand out through increasingly bold designs, Capusson takes a more measured approach. The French brand creates automatic watches with clean, contemporary lines, paying particular attention to proportions, machining quality, and finishing.
Behind this apparent simplicity lies a genuine design process. A Capusson watch does not try to multiply complications or visual effects: instead, it focuses on balanced proportions, the way light interacts with the dial, the contrast between polished and brushed surfaces, and the refinement of every detail.
This philosophy gives rise to elegant watches that remain easy to wear every day, combining classic watchmaking, contemporary design, and French industrial craftsmanship.
› Capusson: where precision meets elegance
Capusson is a young French watch brand founded by Florent Mathis and built around a relatively simple idea: creating a coherent, durable, and carefully executed watch while giving an important place to French expertise.
The process begins long before assembly. Each model starts with a drawing, followed by genuine mechanical design work carried out by Capusson. The proportions of the case, its volumes, its different surfaces, and the integration of each component are all considered as part of a single coherent design.
This approach reflects the brand’s philosophy particularly well: a successful watch is not simply a collection of technical specifications. Above all, it is an object in which every element naturally finds its place.
› A case machined in France
One of the most distinctive aspects of the Capusson project can be found in the manufacturing of its case.
The case is machined in France from a solid block of 316L stainless steel. The material is worked with particularly precise tolerances to create the different shapes envisioned during the design process.
The design then fully reveals itself through the work performed on its surfaces. Polished areas catch the light, while brushed sections add greater depth and contrast to the case.
Finishing is entrusted to specialized craftsmen in Portugal who are familiar with the demands of watchmaking. Each case undergoes careful polishing and brushing designed to highlight its lines rather than conceal them.
Assembly and final inspection are then carried out in the brand’s workshop in France. This approach allows Capusson to retain control over the essential stages of production while relying on the most appropriate expertise for each component.
› CS01: elegance as a guiding principle
The Capusson CS01 collection perfectly reflects the identity of the brand.
With a 40 mm case and a restrained thickness of 11.4 mm, it offers enough presence to give the watch character while maintaining an elegant profile on the wrist.
The double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating also contributes to this sense of refinement. Its shape follows the curves of the case while effectively protecting the dial from everyday scratches.
A screw-down crown and 5 ATM, or 50 meters, of water resistance complete a design primarily intended for everyday wear.
› Dials that play with light
While the case provides the structure, it is naturally the dial that gives each Capusson watch its personality.
The CS01 collection features a sunray-brushed dial whose shades evolve depending on the light and the angle of the wrist. The result remains deliberately understated, yet never completely uniform.
Applied hour markers and hands continue this focus on refinement. They also feature Super-LumiNova C3, helping maintain good readability as the surrounding light begins to fade.
A discreet date window completes the design without disrupting the overall balance of the dial.
› Vert Héritage, Bleu Riviera and Brun Havane: three personalities
Capusson currently offers the CS01 in three distinct color identities: Vert Héritage, Bleu Riviera and Brun Havane.
The Vert Héritage probably has the most classic personality in the collection. Its sunray green dial creates depth without becoming overly dramatic, while the brown leather strap reinforces its elegant and subtly timeless character.
The Bleu Riviera takes a brighter, more contemporary approach. Depending on the light, the brushed dial allows the blue to reveal different shades, bringing a fresher character to the overall design.
Finally, the Brun Havane offers a warmer interpretation. Its brown dial naturally complements leather and classic tones while preserving the understated character that defines Capusson design.
Three interpretations of the same watch, allowing the wearer to choose a mood and personality rather than a completely different architecture.
› The Miyota 9015: a proven automatic movement
Beneath the dial, Capusson has chosen a Japanese automatic movement particularly well known among microbrand enthusiasts: the Miyota 9015.
Produced by Miyota, a company belonging to the Citizen Group, this caliber has gradually established itself as a benchmark in many contemporary automatic watches thanks to its combination of slim dimensions, performance, and reliability.
It operates at a frequency of 28,800 vibrations per hour, or 4 Hz, and provides up to 42 hours of power reserve.
This choice fits Capusson’s philosophy particularly well. Rather than developing a proprietary movement that would significantly increase the price of the watch, the brand relies on a proven and widely recognized mechanism, allowing it to focus its efforts on design, case construction, finishing, and assembly.
› French manufacturing with a transparent approach
Calling a watch French does not necessarily mean that every one of its components is manufactured in France, and Capusson takes a relatively transparent approach on this subject.
Design and mechanical engineering are carried out in France. The 316L stainless-steel case is machined in France before being entrusted to Portuguese craftsmen for its finishing operations. Assembly and final inspection are then performed in Capusson’s workshop.
For certain components such as dials, hands, and movements, the brand works with specialized partners located notably in Hong Kong and Japan.
This international approach allows Capusson to combine different areas of expertise rather than artificially pursuing a single origin for every component.
This is precisely why the expression “crafted in France” accurately reflects the brand’s philosophy: a strong French identity in design, machining, and assembly, complemented by carefully selected expertise wherever it is most relevant.
› A chic, minimalist watch made for everyday wear
What ultimately defines a Capusson watch may not be one particular specification, but rather the overall balance of the design.
The CS01 does not attempt to adopt the proportions of an imposing sports watch, nor does it try to become an extremely traditional dress watch. It sits somewhere between the two, with a style that could best be described as casual chic.
It can easily accompany a shirt and jacket while remaining contemporary enough to work just as well with a more casual outfit.
That versatility is reinforced by well-balanced dimensions, a highly readable dial, and an aesthetic deliberately stripped of anything unnecessary.
› Capusson, a contemporary vision of French watchmaking
Capusson obviously does not yet have the century-long history of some established French watchmakers. But that is also part of the appeal of these younger brands: they are free to interpret French watchmaking through their own perspective.
There is no excessive nostalgia here, nor any attempt to simply reproduce a watch from the past. The design remains contemporary, the technical choices are pragmatic, and the work carried out in France focuses on the areas where the brand believes it can bring genuine value.
The CS01 therefore illustrates a modern approach to the French automatic watch: proven Japanese mechanics, French design and machining, artisanal finishing, and an understated aesthetic designed to remain relevant for years rather than quickly fall out of style.
A watch designed above all to be worn, with an elegance that comes more from attention to detail than from unnecessary showmanship.
➥ Discover Capusson Watches at O’Clock Store
Explore the Capusson CS01 collection selected by O’Clock Store and discover the Vert Héritage, Bleu Riviera and Brun Havane models, three French automatic watches combining elegance, minimalist design, craftsmanship, and proven Japanese mechanics.
