DuBois et fils has never behaved like a conventional Swiss watch brand, and the DBF010 is another reminder of that independent streak.
First shown in its inaugural DBF010-01 form at the company’s 2025 AGM, the watch began life as an 11-piece edition reserved for the maison’s shareholder community.
That first run has now been followed by five additional versions of the DBF010, with each new edition limited to 22 pieces.
At a glance
- DuBois et fils has expanded the DBF010 family beyond the original 11-piece DBF010-01.
- The watch sits within a brand known for shareholder ownership, small runs and an interest in historic watchmaking assets.
- Five further DBF010 versions have been introduced, each limited to 22 pieces.
A small-series watch with an unusually loyal audience
The DBF010-01 made its debut in a setting few watch launches can claim, at an annual general meeting attended by the people who own part of the company.
All 11 examples of that first edition were taken by shareholders, which says a great deal about the relationship DuBois et fils has cultivated over the past decade.
Rather than relying solely on traditional retail choreography, the brand has built a collector base that is also financially and emotionally invested in its progress.
That model gives the DBF010 a slightly different energy from the usual limited-edition watch.
It isn’t simply scarce for scarcity’s sake, but part of a continuing conversation between a revived historic maison and the community that helped bring it forward.
Why DuBois et fils still feels independent
The DuBois name has been tied to watchmaking since 1751, when the family registered the company name that remains in use today.
By 1785, Philippe DuBois’s sons had joined the business, and the firm had already produced more than 21,000 timepieces.
Its roots remained in Le Locle even through changes in ownership, while the company itself has continued operating since the mid-18th century.
The modern chapter began in 2010, when Thomas Steinemann acquired DuBois et fils and set about reviving the brand from Basel.
His decision to raise capital through crowdfunding in 2012 was highly unusual for a Swiss watch company at the time.
The result was not only funding, but a distributed base of small investors who became early buyers, advocates and long-term followers of the maison.
Today, DuBois et fils says it has more than 1,000 shareholders around the world.
That explains why a watch such as the DBF010 can land with a ready-made audience without needing to chase the louder rhythms of the mainstream luxury market.
Vintage thinking in a modern watch landscape
DuBois et fils has also become associated with a particular approach to mechanical watchmaking, especially its interest in New Old Stock movements and components.
In 2017, the company secured access to a stock of 230,000 vintage watch movements, later adding further NOS movements and usable watch components to its inventory.
Past models have made direct use of this philosophy, including the DBF004 with a vintage Calibre Record 662 and the DBF006 with a Felsa Bidynator 4007N.
This matters because it positions the DBF010 within a wider brand language rather than as an isolated release.
DuBois et fils has consistently shown interest in practical historic mechanisms, small-scale production and watches with a story that extends beyond surface design.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | DuBois et fils |
|---|---|
| Model | DBF010 |
| First edition | DBF010-01 |
| Initial production | Limited to 11 pieces |
| Debut | Company AGM in 2025 |
| Additional versions | Five further DBF010 versions |
| Production of additional versions | Each limited to 22 pieces |
The DBF010 will appeal most to collectors who enjoy independent watchmaking with a strong ownership story, particularly those drawn to compact production runs rather than broad commercial releases.
For DuBois et fils, it looks less like a one-off product moment and more like a continuation of the brand’s unusual way of doing business.
