LIP Type 14 Manufacturing

LIP Type 14 Manufacture with its own newly developed calibre

In the 1930s and 1940s, French fighter pilots flew the LIP Type 14 in their cockpits. Almost a century after the original, LIP pays tribute to this legend with a contemporary reinterpretation faithful to the spirit of the pioneers of the skies. The Type 14 R26 preserves the aesthetic and technical codes of the aeronautical instrument, now adapted to the wrists of modern adventurers.

The 41 mm brushed 316L stainless steel case features a bidirectional rotating internal bezel with triangular indexes, operated by a screw-down crown at 2 o'clock. The black dial with a fine texture recalls the surface of an airport apron. The slightly domed sapphire crystal with an anti-reflective coating protects the Arabic numerals with "old radium" luminescence. The watch is fastened to the wrist with a beige nubuck leather strap with a chrome buckle and the Manufacture LIP logo.

Movement: LIP R26 Manufacture calibre

Convinced of the need to restore LIP to its former glory, the management of the Besançon manufacture embarked on an ambitious project: to redesign a French manufacture movement worthy of the brand’s illustrious legacy. After three years of patient development in collaboration with the SupMicroTech engineering school in Besançon, the LIP R26 calibre was born – the first automatic movement designed and assembled in Besançon in more than half a century.

Diameter 26 mm (11½ lignes) with a height of 5.92 mm. The name is based on the traditional LIP nomenclature: R for round shape, 26 for diameter in millimeters. More than 70% of the movement’s manufacturing costs come from Besançon and the surrounding region. The bridges and oscillator are individually laser-decorated with the LIP logo. The bridge screws have hexagonal heads as a subtle reference to the French style from design to production. The movement operates at a frequency of 21,600 vibrations per hour (3 Hz), has a power reserve of 42 hours and an accuracy of −5 to +10 seconds per day. Each piece is individually regulated by LIP watchmakers. Stop-seconds and rapid date adjustment functions are standard.

Through the transparent screw-down caseback, the movement is visible in all its glory - a large oscillator oscillating at a rhythm of 3 Hz and a rotor with the LIP logo, which appears and disappears as the wrist moves like a living ornament.

Technical details:

Case: 41 mm, stainless steel, Internal bezel: bidirectional, operated by the crown at 2 o'clock
Dial: textured black, "old radium" Arabic numerals, luminescence, date 
Crystal: domed sapphire, double-sided anti-reflective coating 
Water resistance: 100 m 
Movement: LIP R26 Manufacture, automatic winding | Movement diameter: 26 mm | Movement thickness: 5.92 mm | Frequency: 21,600 bph / 3 Hz | Power reserve: 42 hours | Accuracy: −5 / +10 s/day
Bracelet: beige nubuck, chrome buckle with LIP Manufacture logo, width 20 mm. 

LIP legend from France

LIP is a well-known French brand that has been producing quality watches for more than 150 years. The company was founded in 1867 by Emmanuel Lipmann in Besançon, France. Initially, the brand focused on the production of pocket watches, but with the development of technology, it also began to produce wristwatches. Over the years, Lip has designed and manufactured around 40 different movements for pocket and wristwatches.

LIP watches are known for their elegant and timeless design, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. The brand has collaborated with renowned designers and artists such as André Donat (designer of the T18) and Roger Tallon (designer of the Mach 2000).

One of the most iconic LIP watches is the "Baignoire" model, designed in 1925 by the company's founder. This watch has a rectangular case and a unique crown position at 12 o'clock. It has been worn by famous figures such as Pablo Picasso and Marilyn Monroe.

An indelible mark on the watchmaking world

The watches launched in the 1950s and late 1960s are probably the most sought-after among watch collectors. At that time, LIP helped the then virtually unknown Blancpain brand with the marketing and sales of its waterproof watches. Models from this period not only have the Blancpain logo on the dial, but also the LIP logo. Moreover, initially the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms series was actually powered by the Lip R23 movement.

LIP watches also made history by being the first brand to introduce an electric watch in 1952. The watch worn by Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in space in 1961 was powered by a licensed LIP movement.

Today, LIP continues to innovate and produce quality watches that combine elegant design. Their watches are sold in more than 70 countries around the world and are very popular among watch enthusiasts and collectors.