BRAND

Techné represents a return to the fundamen-

tal virtues of an al l -terrain watch: legibi l i ty

under extreme conditions, rugged protection

from the elements and affordabi l ity.

The word techné is Ancient Greek for “manu-

facturing know-how” and since 2009, the

brand has been making watches with a

distinctive “functional ist” design reminiscent

of vintage mil itary instruments.

Techné watches are designed by VANTGARD,

a family-owned company based in Grandson,

in the Swiss Watch Val ley stretching across

Geneva, the Jura mountains and Basel .

The watches are assembled in Asia with Japan

and Swiss parts to maintain competitive retai l

prices.

FOUNDER

Francis Jacquerye registered the trade mark

Techné in 2007, and in the wake of the 2008

financial crisis it became clear to him that he

wanted to invest his time and energy into

making honest products that had a tangible

qual ity l ike the vintage time instruments he

col lects.

Besides a track record with I tal ian and Swiss

watch companies, he is the recipient of a

2001 international design award and the

inventor of three commercial watch patents.

Francis Jacquerye (far right)

Signalkuppe, 4,554m above sea level (1 4,941 ft)

DESIGN

Trained in the “functional ist” design phi lo-

sophy (form fol lows function), Francis wanted

the watches to be as legible as the tools he

rel ies on during a mountain cl imb or a wind-

sai l trip.

He chose to distinguish al l Techné watches by

using a contrasting dial that could instantly be

read under extreme conditions.

The markings always use luminous fi l l ing,

Arabic hour numerals with an identifiable

mark at 1 2 o'clock.

WATCHES

Al l Techné watches are manufactured to Swiss

standards with high-grade materials such as

surgical stain less steel , tempered glass or

scratch-resistant sapphire crystal ; and their

imperviousness to water makes them suitable

for most environments.

Techné self-winding models use Japan me-

chanisms, and their top of the range bears the

marking “Opus Manufactum”, which is Latin

for “assembled by hand”.

Techné quartz models use Japan or Swiss

parts with mercury-free batteries.

Every Techné watch is individual ly numbered

and by 201 5, the brand has put more than

5,000 timepieces into production.

COLLECTIONS SNAPSHOTS

SparrowHawk original 373

released in 2009

Goshawk 41 1

released in 201 0

Merlin 249

released in 201 3

TIMELINE

SUSTAINABILITY

Since 2009, Techné has been offsetting its

carbon footprint through a partnership with

the CarbonFund organization.

The company donates proceedings from

sales and auctions to non-profit organisations

such as the American Red Cross, the Asia

Foundation, Doctors Without Borders and the

Starl ight Chi ldren's Foundation.

The Techné trade mark and designs

are used under exclusive l icense

by VANTGARD Sàrl Private Label watches

Grandson, Switzerland

www.vantgard.ch

www.technewatches.com

201 4 - Designed in Grandson, Switzerland - Printed in the United Kingdom