Heritage
A workshop, a conviction, a dynasty.
In 1889, while the world marvelled at the new Eiffel Tower in Paris, a young Swiss watchmaker named Édouard Vallat quietly resigned from his position at a prestigious Geneva manufacture. He had a single mission: to build the most accurate mechanical movement the city had ever seen — not for a client, but for himself.
Within a year, the first Aurum Tempus calibre was complete. Tested against the Geneva Observatory's master clock, it deviated by one second over fourteen days. The horological establishment took notice.
"I do not make watches. I make arguments — for the irreplaceable value of human patience."— Édouard Vallat, Founder, 1892
Milestones of a
Living Manufacture
Foundation
Édouard Vallat establishes the Aurum Tempus workshop at Rue du Rhône 14, Geneva, with a staff of three apprentices and one clear mandate: perfection above profit.
First Grand Prix
Calibre AT-0302 wins the Grand Prix at the Exposition Universelle de Liège. The movement's lever escapement becomes a template for Swiss watchmaking for the following decade.
The Perpetuelle
Henri Vallat, Édouard's son, introduces the first Aurum Tempus perpetual calendar — one of only three independent houses to have produced this complication by that date.
The Chronos Line
Developed for Swiss Alpine Club expeditions, the first Chronos Sport withstands temperatures of −40°C and pressure of 30atm. It goes to Everest Base Camp in 1952.
The Ultra Thin
Marie-Claire Vallat commissions the Élégance Thin — at 5.9mm, still the thinnest in-house movement ever produced. It wins the Geneva Seal for twenty consecutive years.
The Grande Complication
Five years and eleven watchmakers in development: the first Grande Complication leaves the Rue du Rhône atelier. Only twelve have been produced each year since.
Silicon Revolution
Fourth-generation Luc Vallat introduces silicon escapement components across all in-house calibres. Accuracy improves to ±1.5 seconds per day across the collection.
The Fifth Generation
Juliette and Thomas Vallat assume leadership of the manufacture. A new movement lab opens — the first new building at Rue du Rhône since 1924 — for the development of Calibre AT-2025.
Five Generations,
One Obsession.
Édouard Vallat
Founder, 1889–1921. Former Patek Philippe finisseur.
Henri Vallat
Directed 1921–1958. Invented the Perpetuelle movement.
Marie-Claire Vallat
Directed 1958–1985. Commissioned the Élégance Thin.
Luc Vallat
Directed 1985–2022. Led the silicon and Complication eras.
Juliette & Thomas
Co-Directors since 2022. Preparing the next century.
What We
Refuse to Compromise.
In-House Only
Every component of every calibre — from the mainspring to the escapement lever — is designed, machined, finished, and assembled within the Rue du Rhône manufacture. We do not source movements. We never have.
No Quarterly Targets
Aurum Tempus remains in Vallat family ownership. We have no shareholders and no public listing. This means each piece ships when it is ready — not when a calendar demands it.
The Seven-Year Rule
No watchmaker works on a finished movement until they have completed seven years of apprenticeship within the manufacture. The Grande Complication requires an additional three years of specialised training.
Heritage is Only
as Good as its Craft.
Discover how each movement is brought to life — from the raw alloy to the finished calibre beating inside your timepiece.