Mechanical movements embody a philosophy that bears witness both to the history of the earliest craftsmen and, at the same time, to the most innovative mechanisms ever invented by man. The fruit of three years of development and industrialisation, the Manufacture SOPROD’s Newton® movement is now born. The first orders have left the factory; they have been validated for reliability and are ready to be delivered to our clients, renowned Swiss watch brands. Since 2008, SOPROD has belonged to the Festina industrial group which, through its various companies, masters the components essential to the complete manufacturing of both mechanical and connected quartz movements. At the heart of its six Swiss production sites, the fully independent manufacture produces all of its components, including its escapement assortments: pallet forks, balance wheels, escape wheels and even hairsprings, while its French Jura entity produces only the mainplates. SOPROD here offers a 100% Jura-made caliber, at a competitive price, in perfect keeping with the origin of its components. An entry-level industrial engine, entirely Jura-made and almost exclusively Swiss, that today only the Manufacture SOPROD can offer and guarantee to the Swiss watch houses that uphold the know-how and values of Swiss Made.
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Three years of development
The challenge for the Jura engineers, watchmakers, developers, motorists and micro-mechanics was ambitious : to develop, fine-tune, produce industrially and validate the reliability of a new simple and contemporary mechanical movement. After three years of hard work, the teams at SOPROD have succeeded. The Newton® movement is mature. It can be offered right now to Swiss watch brands seeking a reliable, high-performing, attractive engine that can be customised to the requirements of each house.
An ambitious set of specifications
The objective set by the master of the house, Miguel Rodriguez, owner and head of the Festina Group, was simple to understand, but not easy to achieve. This new movement had to be of impeccable quality and reliability, but also meet the requirements of a 100% Swissness automatic caliber. Not to mention that it had to set itself apart from the competition and bring real added value to the entry-level movement segment, while offering a contemporary design.
Reliability as the driving force
SOPROD here offers an industrial caliber whose primary aim is guided by reliability. To guarantee this decisive point in the development of a new engine in the event of shocks or vibrations, Newton® features the best shock absorber, the double-cone Incabloc®, while the through balance bridge provides enhanced protection of the balance itself. Finally, to give itself every advantage, this Newton® movement was tested by the Dubois Laboratory and obtained the Chronofiable® Certificate. A battery of tests covering accelerated ageing cycles, shocks of all kinds and resistance to magnetic fields.
A clean and adaptable aesthetic
The design of the bridges was deliberately kept particularly clean, in order to bring a contemporary look to the whole. Unlike other competing calibers, the aim was to showcase the balance wheel, making it visible from every angle, at 360 degrees. An aesthetic choice that is expressed through the desire to have a movement that is as symmetrical as possible, along the 6-12 o’clock axis. So that the heart of the movement takes pride of place, the balance is elegantly positioned at 6 o’clock. An endless source of inspiration for the brands that choose to offer « Open Heart » models.
An independent Swiss manufacture
SOPROD, the independent Manufacture that fully produces its own movements
A rare feat among Swiss movement manufactures, SOPROD is also entirely independent in its supply of escapement assortments, balance wheels, hairsprings, pallet forks and escape wheels, to name only the most sensitive elements. They are produced by MSE (Manufacture de spiraux et d’échappements), an entity of the group, based in Muriaux in the Franches-Montagnes. Thanks to the high quality of its components, the SOPROD M100 movement collection and its derivatives achieve a success rate of 90 to 95% on the first pass at Chronometer Certification.
Newton at a glance
Swiss-made
Newton® by SOPROD
Sold in two regulation grades :
1. Elaborated – R7 = 7 sec/day +/- 7 in 3 positions
2. Top – R4 = 4 sec/day +/-4 in 5 positions
11 ½ ’’’ – Diameter 25.60 mm. Height 4.60 mm
Hours, minutes, central seconds
Date by window, semi-instantaneous
Quick date correction
Time-setting with stop seconds
Automatic winding 28’800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz)
23 jewels
Power reserve of 44 hours
SOPROD, the alternative manufacture that is making its mark
Since 1966, SOPROD SA has developed and produced mechanical, quartz and connected (via smartphone) movements with high added value, reliable and high-performing. A key player in the world of Swiss Made movements, SOPROD has many clients, most of them from renowned Swiss watch houses. The Manufacture has six production sites in Switzerland and one site in the French Jura. The Jura arc handles the « mechanical » part, while in Valais, in Sion, the connected quartz movements are conceived and developed. Since 2008, SOPROD has belonged to the Festina industrial group which, through its various companies, masters the components essential to the complete manufacturing of movements. A manufacture 100% free of any dependency. In Muriaux in the Jura, MSE (Manufacture de spiraux et d’échappements) produces the escapement assortments – balance wheels, hairsprings, pallet forks and escape wheels. At the six other sites, SOPROD produces all the other components – mainplates, bridges, pinions, screws, ball bearings, etc. SOPROD has its own collection of calibers, M100 and now Newton®. Families that of course comply with the dimensions of standard Swiss movements, and are constantly expanded through the development of complications.
Frequently asked questions
Since 1966, SOPROD SA has developed and produced mechanical, quartz and connected Swiss Made movements. A key player in Swiss Made, the manufacture has six production sites in Switzerland and one site in the French Jura. It has belonged to the Festina industrial group since 2008.
The Newton® is a simple and contemporary mechanical automatic caliber, the fruit of three years of development at SOPROD. It is an entry-level industrial engine, 100% Jura-made and almost exclusively Swiss, intended for Swiss watch brands.
The Newton is sold in two regulation grades : « Elaborated » R7 (7 sec/day +/- 7 in 3 positions) and « Top » R4 (4 sec/day +/- 4 in 5 positions).
The Newton movement offers a power reserve of 44 hours, with automatic winding at 28’800 vibrations per hour (4 Hz) and 23 jewels.
The Newton is an 11 ½ lignes caliber, that is 25.60 mm in diameter and 4.60 mm in height. It offers hours, minutes and central seconds functions, a semi-instantaneous date by window and time-setting with stop seconds.
The Newton was tested by the Dubois Laboratory and obtained the Chronofiable® Certificate, which sanctions a battery of tests on accelerated ageing cycles, shocks of all kinds and resistance to magnetic fields.
