TUDOR News

Forging the Future with Julien Faure

Nov 02

A high-quality strap is an essential component of an exceptional wristwatch. It's a defining element of the modern wristwatch and should never be considered an afterthought.

Since 2010, with the launch of the Heritage Chrono, TUDOR has collaborated with renowned French ribbon-maker Julien Faure to produce exceptional fabric straps that honour a centuries-old tradition of quality craftsmanship. Ribbon-making in the St-Étienne region of France dates back to the Renaissance when silk production moved north from Italy. Today, this area remains one of the last places where the expertise and heritage techniques needed to create these rare woven treasures still thrive.

Julien Faure, a family-owned company now led by the founder’s great-grandson—also named Julien Faure—was established in 1864. The family name endures through both the company and its present owner, embodying a commitment to tradition and to doing things “the right way,” making it an ideal partner for TUDOR.

For TUDOR's watch straps, Julien Faure employs 19th-century shuttle looms that weave the fabric in a unique way, impossible to replicate with modern electronic looms. These looms operate at a much slower pace than contemporary machinery, producing just six metres of material each day. To put it in perspective, a single metre of fabric yields only three watch straps, so each loom can produce just 18 straps daily.

Creating a specific strap involves fine-tuning various factors: the yarn thickness, material, variety, and weaving pattern are all adjusted to achieve the desired look and feel. For TUDOR’s straps, very fine yarns are used, requiring significantly greater quantities, but this results in a strap with exceptional flexibility and strength—ideal for a watch strap that is both comfortable and long-lasting. TUDOR’s fabric straps differ from traditional designs by incorporating a “tunnel” for the spring bars that attach the strap to the watch, making it more secure. This design also ensures the watch remains fastened even if one of the spring bars fails.

This approach brings its own set of challenges. Beyond crafting the straps and ribbons, Julien Faure must also maintain its specialized looms, some of which are centuries old. Replacement parts aren’t readily available, nor are there instruction manuals online—repairing and operating these looms is a skill in its own right, essential to sustaining Julien Faure’s tradition of fine craftsmanship.

The Heritage Chrono was the first watch to feature a woven fabric strap of such exceptional quality. Since 2010, however, TUDOR has collaborated with Julien Faure to design many additional straps for various models within its collection. These straps include variations on the original striped design, as well as solid colours and even camouflage patterns—all thoughtfully crafted to perfectly complement each watch they accompany.

Most recently, TUDOR and Julien Faure introduced a new fabric strap for the Pelagos FXD, featuring reinforced stitching and a self-gripping fastening system. This design feels like a natural extension of the watch, aligning seamlessly with its no-nonsense spirit, while remaining highly comfortable for everyday wear.

Sometimes, the key to shaping the future lies in embracing the past.