On the occasion of the French President's State visit to Japan, the Élysée Palace is displaying a replica of the watch gifted by France to His Majesty Emperor Naruhito of Japan. Crafted by the Péquignet Manufacture, also a partner of the Élysée brand, this creation embodies the pinnacle of French horological expertise and celebrates the historic friendship between the two nations.
For this rare diplomatic occasion, the Manufacture made a significant symbolic modification: the traditional Fleur de Lys, which usually adorns Péquignet watches, has been replaced by the "RF" monogram of the French Republic (on the movement, the crown, and the clasp). At the heart of this unique piece, the dial, painted in miniature by artist Philippe Jacquin-Ravot, depicts two intertwined branches: the oak, symbolizing France's strength, and the cherry blossom, representing Japan's elegance. This design, where the East meets the West at the center of the dial, illustrates a Franco-Japanese friendship that is regularly renewed.
Faithful to its DNA as a French high horology manufacture, Péquignet equipped this model with its Calibre Initial. Created in 2021, this automatic movement has a 65-hour power reserve. Thanks to local anchoring, all components are produced within an 80 km radius around Morteau, with 72% of them being of French origin. The watch also benefits from the prestigious Chronometer certification from the Besançon Observatory, the highest degree of horological precision in the world.
For this State piece, Péquignet brought together the best artisans from Franche-Comté, at the heart of the watchmaking basin inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The La Pratique workshops in Morteau crafted the blued steel hands in strict adherence to the rules of the art. The exceptional alligator strap was hand-stitched by the Jean Rousseau Manufacture. Finally, the France Étuis house in Besançon created the custom case for the Imperial Attitude. This white lacquered wood and pale gray suede box, enhanced with orange details, underscores the preciousness of the gift. An interior inscription completes the ensemble: "Offered by Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic."
As part of this exhibition on the theme of Japan, visitors will also be able to admire in the diplomatic gifts space an engraving of the Aki Miyajima Itsukushima sanctuary, gifted to the President of the Republic during his trip to Japan for the G7 summit in Hiroshima from May 18 to 21, 2023. Created by engravers from the National Printing Bureau of Japan, who manufacture Japanese banknotes, it was made using the burin engraving technique. The Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社, Itsukushima-jinja) is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Hatsukaichi on the island of Itsuku, in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. This site has been on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1996.
