"A watch should be functional, durable, and have character."
Fabrice Pougez
Founder of MAT
Born in Franche-Comté, Fabrice Pougez discovered watchmaking more than thirty years ago at France Ébauches, a maker of watch movements. In 2005, he founded MAT with one goal: to design technical, reliable and distinctive watches, made to last.
Based in Paris, in the Madeleine district, for more than twenty years, MAT has built a recognised expertise in designing and making high-end technical watches, for professionals and adventurers alike.
Driven by a love of mechanics and respect for work well done, Fabrice Pougez pays particular attention to the choice of materials, the quality of finishing and the reliability of every piece. Surrounded by passionate watchmakers and partners, he stands for authentic watchmaking, where every detail has a reason to be there.
His conviction: a watch should be functional, durable and have character, without ever sacrificing elegance for utility.
At the heart of Jura watchmaking
Based in Maîche, in the former France Ébauches workshops, Soprod has carried on a tradition of watchmaking mechanics for more than 40 years. This is where the parts that bring movements to life are made and machined: mainplates, bridges and other essential components, using precision techniques such as bar turning and stamping. The workshops also decorate the bridges, mainplates and rotors, giving these mechanical parts their finish and character. Demanding industrial know-how, rooted in the Haut-Doubs, where skilled hands and precise machining remain at the heart of the craft.
In Les Reussilles, in the Swiss Jura, Soprod brings the mechanics to life. In a setting that is as much laboratory as watchmaking workshop, highly automated, high-tech equipment handles component assembly, final checks and timing operations. Here, precision relies on technology, innovation and constant investment in industrial tools. Every movement is checked, regulated and inspected with care. This is where the heart of our watches starts to beat.
Four generations of know-how in the service of precision
In Morteau, La Pratique has kept a rare watchmaking craft alive for more than a century. At its head is Gilles Buliard, the fourth generation of a family business whose legacy he carries on with passion and high standards. Gilles is also a friend of thirty years, with whom we share far more than a trade: the same watchmaking culture and the same love of work well done.
In his workshops, more than 10,000 tools bear witness to this exceptional heritage. La Pratique masters the entire chain, from designing its own stamping and cutting tools to manufacturing, polishing and applying luminescent material. It also preserves the traditional heat-bluing of steel hands, a precise gesture that is as much craft as technique.
As the last French maker of watch hands, La Pratique is an invaluable partner for MAT. A living craft, passed down from generation to generation, that we are proud to keep alive through our watches.
Meet Gilles Buliard
Head of La Pratique, Morteau
Assembled in the Jura
In the French Jura, in Morteau, our partner has cultivated demanding watchmaking expertise for decades. A team of professionals carries on the gestures of fine craftsmanship, with the precision, rigour and care that every watch requires.
Each watch is assembled by the book. The hands are spaced with precision, the stems are fitted exactly and the screw-down crowns are carefully lubricated. Every detail counts, every gesture is mastered.
Quality control takes place at several stages of assembly. Timekeeping is rigorously checked and every watch is water-resistance tested.
A proven method, rigorous procedures and constant attention to detail: all guarantees from a trusted partner, committed to the reliability and finish of MAT watches.
