Company history

The LAVAL Group, nearly 140 years of innovation.

In 1878, François LAVAL founded the LAVAL group, specialised in iron-casting and clock-making parts.

At the end of WWI, two of François' sons - Joseph and François - took over the company and continued selling spare parts for clocks and watches.

Each of François' sons worked in the family business right through to 1954, when Dominique Laval brought about important changes with innovative packaging, rationalisation of references and the introduction of avant-garde products.

In 1960, Dominique LAVAL took over the management of the firm and launched the sale of tools for clockmakers and jewellers.

In 1969, The quartz watch signed the death warrant for traditional clockmakers. The firm decided to offer material for jewellers such as jewellery presentation boxes, display stands, labels and watch batteries. It is also at this period that the company first developped its mail order activity for professionals.

In 1971, Dominique LAVAL opened the SELFOR store in Paris, the first self-service shop dedicated to the clock-making and jewellery professions.

Some years later, he also opened SELFOR DECOR - specialised in shop window display materials and SELFOR +, a store devoted to supplying tools to professionals.

In 2006, LAVAL opened a further '5rue' store, later renamed 'La Galerie du bijou', in the heart of the jewellery quarter in Paris, a jewellery store where professionals can buy gold and silver jewellery as well as other collections.

Catherine LAVAL, has been managing the firm for over a decade, and is the fourth generation to run the family business. Having studied Art and Design and been CEO of an event management firm for several years, she pays particular attention to constantly updating products and creating new collections. 

The LAVAL Group's activities 

Wholesaler for all the products needed by jewellers and clockmakers:

• jewellery gift boxes, jewellery display stands, gift wrapping and packaging, labels and batteries.
• distribution in wholesale of finished jewels and watches for department stores, network of independent jewellers.
• tools and accessories needed to create jewellery for jewellery, watchmaking and clockmaking craftsmen.
• gold and silver jewellery findings, cleaning agents for jewellery, distribution of Moissanite (a high-technology man-made stone).

The LAVAL group has a logistics platform in Chedigny, Indre-et-Loire. The company stocks and packages 22.000 references in their 6,000 m² base with 18 product lines. 500 parcels are sent out daily, mainly to its French and European clients, who are in the vast majority independent clockmakers/jewellers.

For 5 years, the company has been developing internationally, aiming primarily the other countries of the European Union.

Resolutely turned towards the future, the LAVAL Group aims to anticipate the future needs of professionals in this fascinating trade.

Our product lines

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Jewellery gift boxes

Gift packaging

Jewellery displays stands

Jewellery boxes & watch cases

Jewellery

Jewellery findings

Jewellery tools

Watchmaking tools

Batteries

Labels

Office supplies

Watchmaking supplies