French manufacturer of measuring instruments
A company founded in 1860
NAUDET was founded in 1860, just a few years after the invention of the aneroid capsule by the French engineer Lucien Vidi.
From its beginnings, the company embarked on a quest for precision and excellence. Very quickly, the quality of its instruments allowed it to carve out a unique place in the world of barometers. The name NAUDET, inherited from one of its founders, gradually became a benchmark.
Over the decades, the company grew and established itself permanently in the French craft landscape.
At its peak, the workshop employed up to fifty people, each specializing in a specific trade: the carpenter shaped the beautiful wooden cases of the barographs, the lathe operators and millers manufactured the mechanical parts, the varnishers took care of the finishes, the watchmakers assembled and adjusted the instruments while the sales representatives crisscrossed France.
Every movement was mastered, every step essential.
On the roads of France
Located for many years on Rue Saint-Claude in Paris, NAUDET was then a true place of life and expertise, where the activity of the workshop blended with the effervescence of the capital.
But the company was not limited to its walls. At that time, NAUDET went out to meet its customers throughout France. Salespeople crisscrossed the country in specially equipped trucks bearing the company's colors, acting as true itinerant boutiques.
From town to town, they presented the instruments, installed them, advised their customers, and spread NAUDET's expertise far beyond the Parisian workshop. These tours largely contributed to the brand's renown, which progressively established itself as an essential reference.
A Precious Legacy
In 1906, the company was taken over by Xavier Dourde, then an employee of the firm. This handover marked the beginning of a long legacy, which would continue within his family for nearly a century.
Over the generations, the techniques remained the same, as did the demands. Expertise is not written down; it is passed on patiently, from person to person, from workshop to workshop.
Today: the living legacy
Today, NAUDET is the last French manufacturer of mechanical barometers and barographs still in operation.
In our workshop, each instrument is manufactured, repaired, or restored with the same care as in the past. Time may have passed, but the essentials remain: respect for the craft, precision in the work, and the desire to perpetuate unique expertise.
Each piece that leaves the workshop carries a history that began more than 160 years ago.
Our Team
Today, NAUDET continues its story with the same high standards that have driven it since its beginnings.
While times have changed, the essentials remain: precise gestures, attention to every detail, and an unwavering passion for mechanical instruments.
At the heart of the workshop, a close-knit team brings this savoir-faire to life every day, each contributing their expertise to perpetuate this heritage.
Morgane
After several internships at NAUDET during her watchmaking studies, Morgane naturally joined the company at just 19 years old.
She began by manufacturing and assembling instruments, gradually discovering each stage of the craft. Over the years, she progressed within the workshop and mastered all its aspects.
Today, as workshop manager, she oversees all production and ensures the quality of each piece.
Her journey gives her a complete overview of the company. She also manages the commercial side, customer relations, and the website.
Organized and deeply committed, she embodies the continuity of NAUDET's savoir-faire on a daily basis.
Valentin
Always passionate about watchmaking, watches and mechanics, Valentin trained in the timekeeping professions. After several years of experience in customer relations and specialized sales, he developed a true sense of service, attentiveness, and precision.
He has followed the history of the NAUDET company for many years through Morgane, with whom he became friends during their years at watchmaking school. Over time, he discovered the workshop's world, the company's expertise, and its core values. Joining NAUDET then became an obvious choice, allowing him to put his passion and expertise at the service of the company.
Today, he oversees order tracking, participates in instrument assembly, and coordinates the repair service, meticulously ensuring the follow-up of all cases.
His enthusiasm, versatility, and attachment to traditional savoir-faire contribute daily to the quality of the work carried out at NAUDET.
Gwenaël
Trained as a turner-miller, Gwenaël joined NAUDET in 2005.
A passionate mechanic, he has a strong taste for precision and well-executed work. Attentive to the smallest detail, he strives to understand how each part functions in order to restore its full accuracy.
In the workshop, he shapes the casings on machine tools, finishes the wooden cages of the recording barometers, and also handles the painting and varnishing of the parts.
He is also a specialist in assembling hair hygrometers, a delicate task that requires great meticulousness.
Outside the workshop, he extends this passion by making models, reflecting his interest in mechanics and precisely constructed objects.
His high standards and technical mastery make him an essential pillar of manufacturing at NAUDET.
Tom
Tom, a career changer, trained as a watchmaker after working for many years in audiovisuals, particularly in museum lighting.
Always drawn to repair, he would dismantle, understand, and restore all sorts of objects before specializing in precision instruments.
Having joined NAUDET more recently, he quickly found his place in the workshop.
Today, he handles repairs and meticulously restores each device, always seeking to deeply understand the origin of the malfunction.
He is also responsible for manufacturing scientific instruments, particularly for the Navy, used in demanding environments such as submarines.
His high standards, precision, and eye for detail make him a specialist in meticulous work, where every adjustment counts.
Francis
In 2014, François took over NAUDET with the aim of preserving unique expertise.
Now retired, he remains deeply attached to the company and continues to be involved by regularly visiting the workshop.
Committed to the continuity of the company, he ensures that its activities endure and its high standards are maintained.
It is thanks to this commitment that NAUDET is still the last French manufacturer of mechanical measuring instruments today.
