For centuries, Paris shaped the face of French watchmaking. The city’s jewellers and artisans worked in close quarters, blending precision with ornament in a way that made timepieces feel as connected to Parisian culture as the ateliers and boulevards that framed it. A watch from Paris carried a kind of natural ease — elegant lines, measured details and a preference for simplicity.
Farther east, Besançon developed a different rhythm. By the late nineteenth century, it had become the industrial centre of French horology, producing most of the watches made in the country. Paris expressed the artistry; Besançon handled the method. Together they formed a distinctly French approach to timekeeping — expressive in character, disciplined in execution.
It’s within that tradition that Belvans places itself.
A Young Brand in a Historic Landscape
Founded in 2023 by Jefferson Dorvilne, Marc-Michel Jocelyn and Aroldson Marcelyn, Belvans presents itself as a modern French watchmaker shaped by long-standing values. The brand speaks of clarity, simplicity and thoughtful design — principles that have guided French craftsmanship across many fields. Belvans aims to make watches that feel enduring rather than driven by trends.
The company began in Paris, where its founders shaped the visual direction of the brand. Paris has always favoured understatement — clean lines, purposeful detail, and a design language that doesn’t need to announce itself. That sensibility guides Belvans’s approach. From there, production moved to Besançon, the historic centre of French watchmaking. The move connected the brand to a region known for technical precision and steady craftsmanship.
This combination — Paris for inspiration, Besançon for technique — defines Belvans’s identity.
Design with Intent
The Heritage, Belvans’s debut model, expresses this identity through its silhouette and finishing. The watch follows traditional dress-watch proportions: a 38 millimetre case, 46 millimetre lug-to-lug and a slim profile that sits easily on the wrist. Belvans builds the case from 316L stainless steel and incorporates a titanium base treated with DLC coating, giving the watch durability without sacrificing its pared-back form.
The dial sets the tone for the Heritage. Several versions use Musou Black, a finish chosen for its ability to absorb nearly all ambient light. The effect is striking yet subtle: hands and indices stand out crisply against a deep, matte surface.
Belvans notes that this is intentional — a dial reduced to its essentials so the elements that remain can stand out cleanly.
A small symbolic detail appears on the seconds hand: a counterweight shaped like the Eiffel Tower. It’s an understated reference to the brand’s beginnings, incorporated in a way that doesn’t interrupt the overall design.
Every choice is made to create a watch that feels purposeful without appearing elaborate.
Mechanical Choices and Market Position
Inside, the Heritage uses the Miyota 8315 automatic calibre, selected for its dependability and more than sixty hours of power reserve. Through the sapphire caseback, the movement displays a skeletonised rotor, Geneva stripes and blued screws — finishing that adds character to a watch in this category. The Heritage is fitted with a calfskin leather strap and a buckle engraved with the Belvans emblem, completing a presentation that feels polished and cohesive. Select models offer personal engraving, giving owners a simple way to mark the piece as their own.
Belvans distinguishes itself among young independent brands by avoiding oversized dimensions or experimental shapes. Its focus is on clean forms, thoughtful materials and a design language that doesn’t chase attention. The Heritage reflects that approach: confident, composed and grounded in French sensibility.
For a young brand, Belvans shows clear direction. It isn’t trying to reinvent watchmaking; it’s revisiting long-standing French principles and interpreting them for today. Paris shapes the way the watch looks. Besançon shapes the way it is made. The movement provides reliable performance.
The Heritage hints at what Belvans may become as it develops its collection — a watchmaker that respects tradition while building pieces suited for modern wear. For collectors who appreciate clarity, craft and subtle design, Belvans is a name worth following.
