Daniel Roth

A native of the Riviera city of Nice, Daniel Roth can be properly regarded as one of the original forerunners of the indie watchmaking boom that began taking place in the 1990s.

Inspired by his paternal grandfather (also a watchmaker, originally from La Chaux-de-Fonds), Roth undertook three years of technical training in France before moving to Switzerland to produce work for various manufacturers.

In 1988, following over a decade at Breguet, Roth launched his eponymous brand - steering the company through an era of genuine indie watchmaking for approximately 8 years. Over time, Roth took on external investment, and in 2000, his company was sold to Bulgari. Though not directly affiliated with the revived Daniel Roth brand backed by Louis Vuitton, Roth himself continues to make watches under the name of Jean Daniel Nicolas.

The history of the Daniel Roth brand can be a somewhat confusing one. Initially founded by the eponymous French watchmaker in 1988, it was eventually sold wholesale to Bulgari in 2000 - thus making it a subsidiary of the LVMH watchmaking family.

In 2023, the French luxury group announced its revival as a standalone brand - with watchmaking taking place under the supervision of two of Roth’s former associates at the sprawling La Fabrique Du Temps manufacture.

Consistent with its heritage, this new incarnation of one of the most important independents of the 20th century focuses on watches in Roth’s emblematic “Double Ellipse” case, enriched with hand-made dial work and historical complications.

C187 Tourbillon, Jean Daniel Nicolsa Tourbillon “2 Minutes,” C147 Chronograph