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An exceptional collaboration
Born from an exceptional collaboration between two unique expertise, the two manufactures present a limited series of watches and terrestrial globes, the result of a joint effort between a geographer, a watchmaker, a painter, and an artisan.
The watches: 4 dials, 4 worlds
The Cape of Good Hope: a mythical waypoint since the Age of Discovery, the Cape of Good Hope marks the moment when navigators were about to leave the Atlantic Ocean to reach Asia. Its evocative name carries a strong dimension in the collective imagination.
The Korea Strait: south of the peninsula, the Korea Strait symbolizes the passage to Japan. It also carries with it all the imagery of exoticism and the spice route, at a time when sea voyages followed the African coasts before reaching India. In a way, it was the end of the route.
The Imaginary Archipelago: mapped as if it were real, this archipelago is the product of Alain Sauter’s imagination. Drawing on a group of small islands with detailed coastlines, it symbolizes a dreamed microcosm, a place to pause for a moment in our real world, which sometimes moves too fast.
Morteau, the contour lines: like a musical score for a musician, contour lines are the primary lines for a geographer, capable of instantly deducing the relief, the visual signature of a place. Focused on the Morteau valley, this map pays tribute to the Pequignet Manufacture, established here since its beginnings.
The terrestrial globe: a work of art in 24 pieces
The collaboration between the two Franche-Comté manufactures also resulted in a series of 24 unique globes, designed and created by Globe Sauter for Pequignet. Minimalist in style, with the emblematic orange tones of the Manufacture, these globes embody the meeting of watchmaking time and mapped space.
Uniques Features
No country or capital names: only terrestrial and underwater reliefs are represented.
Discreet borders: to help with location without naming.
Longitude and latitude grid:
- Latitudes: Equator, Tropics of Cancer/Capricorn, Polar Circles.
- Longitudes : 15° subdivisions, corresponding to 1 hour of Earth’s rotation.
Analemma (geometric figure) centered on Besançon: visualizes the equation of time and the difference between solar noon and civil noon.
Discreet fleur-de-lys in Morteau: a nod to Pequignet’s identity.
Inscription of a traditional sundial motto: Horas Non Numero Nisi Serenas (“I count only the serene hours”).
Available exclusively by reservation on the Globe Sauter website.
Globe Sauter: the only French manufacture of handmade globes
Globe Sauter is a French artisanal manufacture specializing in the creation of terrestrial and celestial globes entirely made by hand. The company was born from the passion of Alain Sauter, a former lecturer and researcher in geography, who decided to revive the artisanal production of globes in France—a craft that had disappeared for decades. Years of research were required to rediscover and master traditional techniques. Crafted in the workshops of Besançon, the manufacture’s globes now join collections around the world.
Each terrestrial, celestial, mythological, historical, or contemporary globe is entirely handmade, using plaster, covered with paper strips, and hand-painted in watercolor. Every globe is unique and filled with emotion. It is not merely an object, but also a gateway to understanding the world—an aesthetic and poetic vessel of cultural transmission, a piece designed to be passed down through generations.
The Meeting of Earthly and Celestial Time
In the historic workshops of Morteau and Besançon, two worlds shaped by time, precision, and French passion come together. In Morteau, Pequignet crafts exceptional movements—true masterpieces of micro-engineering that bring time to life. In Besançon, Globe Sauter & Cie revives the ancient art of terrestrial and celestial globes, transforming cartography into a genuine work of art.
From January 15 to February 14, 2026, these combined areas of expertise will be showcased in Paris, within the refined setting of the Pequignet House in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, at 60 rue de Rennes. On display will be a selection of exceptional terrestrial and celestial globes, as well as flat representations of our planet. For the first time, globes in the colors of the Pequignet House will be unveiled, along with an exclusive collection of Manufacture watches, created for this exceptional occasion in a very limited edition.
Discover all the expertise of the Globe Sauter manufacture.
