evived heritage watch brand Lebois & Co has entered the third stage in their new timepiece’s collaborative development. Enthusiasts can get a first glimpse of the new Heritage Chronograph, which is currently in its final stages of development. Lebois & Co also includes plans for a digital twin certificate and will be accepting pre-orders per 14 December.

In Step 2 of their communal design project CoLAB, Lebois & Co asked their fans to vote for their favourite casings and dial options. They got an overwhelming response. CEO Tom van Wijlick: “We love the interaction. This whole endeavour is in line with our mission of becoming the most personal luxury heritage watch brand. Lebois & Co wants to create maximum value for money: quality timepieces with luxury finishes within a market- friendly price-range.”

On their project website, Lebois & Co has now opened Step 3. Here, they explain their design choices in detail, and offer further watch specifications as well as details on case finishes. Real eye-catchers are the high-definition 3D images for four possible variants: two salmon-coloured dials, a sector dial, and a cream-coloured dial.

They additionally discuss a whole string of other new features, such as strap choices and, remarkably, a unique, old-styled buckle. “It’s an essential part for keeping your watch in place, yet it is often overlooked. We want to make something truly unique by giving it our full attention.”

In order to prepare the heritage brand for an increasingly digital future, Lebois & Co are partnering with Adresta AG. This Swiss based tech company is setting the new standard to securing digital identities for watches on the blockchain.

Van Wijlick: “We’re offering unfalsifiable, digital proof that the watch you’re buying is genuine. It lets you keep track of your watch stats, its warranty, manual and other user documents through an app. This adds an extra, virtual dimension to your watch’s history. If you decide to sell your watch, the digital certificate will pass hands as well, and it will be a new chapter in your watch’s history book.”

Another way in which Lebois & Co adds a new element to the heritage-inspired design is by offering a glimpse into the mechanical details of the watch, through a glass panel in the back. “We want buyers to be able to admire the sheer craftmanship of our beautiful, LC-450 column wheel chronograph movement. Closing the lid on that would be a shame, in my opinion. But if our voters decide otherwise, we can always opt for a closed back.” To find out, the website hosts a ‘Quick Poll’, for a last voting round.

The Netherlands-based Swiss watch brand will start making prototypes soon, which they will present and discuss in great detail in the future. But perhaps more interestingly, Lebois & Co also uses the same page for announcing the first round of pre-orders, due 14 December. “Pre-ordering now will give you benefits such as highly favourable pricing and a chance to be ahead of the crowds.”

Pre-order pricing starts at € 2,230 (approx. US$ 2,520) and includes DDP (Delivery Duty Paid) for Europe, United Kingdom, Switzerland and the USA.

Lebois & Co is one brand of the Compagnie Des Montres Lebois Et Cie, an initiative that seeks to revive dormant pedigree watch brands. Recent success stories are their Lebois & Co Venturist as well as the re-edition of the legendary French Army watch, the Airain Type 20.