Favre Leuba × Jean Rousseau Elevate the Deep Raider Revival with Luxurious Leather Straps

In case you weren’t already aware: Favre Leuba is having a good September.

First, the brand’s Chief Skeleton was nominated for the 2026 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) in the Challenge category. This is the brand’s first GPHG nomination, achieved within just two years of its global relaunch.

Considering the competition (the Chief Skeleton was only one of six finalists in a field of 62), just being nominated is truly impressive – especially considering it features a fully skeletonized movement, layered architecture, and detailed finishing for a watch priced below CHF 4,500.

And now, the Swiss maison has introduced the newest iteration of its Deep Raider dive watch: A limited-edition collaboration with the French luxury leather goods maker Jean Rousseau.

Eyes On The Prize

So far in 2026, the brand has added many new complications to its Chief, Sea Sky, Harpoon, and 1737 collections. But the Deep Raider family of dive watches is a cornerstone of Favre Leuba’s comeback.

Now Favre Leuba has just announced three limited editions of the Deep Raider Revival, created in collaboration with French strap maker Jean Rousseau. It’s the first collaboration between the two maisons. This mini collection is comprised of just 99 timepieces total (so that means 33 pieces per iteration).

Each execution pairs the 39mm Deep Raider Revival with a handcrafted Jean Rousseau strap in either black calf leather with a “soja grain” finish, brown Seaqual recycled material, or beige rubber, alongside exclusive Favre Leuba design details.

Strap In

Getting into strap lore is an inevitable part of watch collecting. Seasoned enthusiasts will talk up the works of Gay Frères just as easily as dropping the names of designers like Gérald Genta. But there’s a good reason to educate oneself about ateliers like Jean Rousseau.

Established in France in 1954, the luxury leather goods brand supplies straps for watchmakers within LVMH, Richemont, and Swatch Group. Moreover, the family-run company received the “EPV” label, or “Living Heritage Company” moniker, from the French Ministry of the Economy and Finance in 2007. However, its main claim to fame is the Jean Rousseau Bespoke Watch Strap Service.

Final Thoughts

Collaborating with Rousseau is a smart move for Favre Leuba. The Deep Raider is based on the Maison’s Deep Blue, launched in 1964, which was around the same time Rousseau was securing its place as a leading strap maker. And while these leather, Seaquest, and rubber options are not technically bespoke, they feel perfectly tailored to the Deep Raider Revival, elevating the look of the diver without inflating the price point.

Like the Deep Raider, the Seaquest and rubber strap options are, of course, perfectly suited to the rigors of diving. Leather isn’t as water-friendly, but gosh darn it, it’s the best-looking of the three options.

But these three iterations are attractive for many reasons. As Favre Leuba CEO Patrik Hoffmann commented in a press release about the collaboration:

This 99-piece limited edition brings the core values of both houses together harmoniously, down to the smallest details – from the matching seconds hands to the custom-engraved casebacks.