Le Forban Sécurité Mer is a French watch brand with a history rooted in maritime professional equipment. Originally founded in 1969, the brand gained a reputation during the 1970s and 1980s for supplying rugged “skindiver” watches to the French Navy and maritime patrol sailors. After the company ceased operations in the late 1980s, the marque was revived in 2019 by Jean-Sébastien Coste and Océane Jolivet. Coste, who previously relaunched the Triton diving watch brand, partnered with Jolivet, a graphic designer, to bring the heritage label back to the market with a focus on vintage-inspired mechanical tool watches.
The brand’s identity is defined by its connection to French horological heritage and the maritime history of Brittany. While the founders are based in France, the timepieces are designed and assembled in Rennes by skilled French craftsmen. Enthusiasts are drawn to the brand for its ability to offer high-quality, professional-specification diving watches at an accessible price point. The watches are appreciated for their neo-retro aesthetics, which faithfully interpret 1960s and 70s design codes, and their use of reliable mechanical movements, typically from the Miyota 8000 and 9000 series.
The Le Forban catalog is organized around key models named after French port cities and maritime locations. The Malouine, launched in 2019 to mark the brand’s 50th anniversary, is a 39mm diver inspired by 1960s skindiver watches, featuring a 150-meter water resistance and a signature engraved diving helmet on the caseback. The Brestoise offers a similar retro profile with different dial variations. For those seeking a more technical 1970s aesthetic, the Rochelaise features a cushion-case design with an internal bidirectional bezel operated by a secondary crown. The collection also includes the Marseillaise, a robust professional diver utilizing a 40.8mm Monnin-style case with 250 meters of water resistance, and the Omaha, a model released to commemorate historic naval milestones.
