Le Forban Sécurité Mer Watches Review: Collections and My Picks

Le Forban Sécurité Mer is an easy brand to enjoy if you like vintage sports watches with a little personality. The compact cases, maritime names, and distinctive dials give the collection a clear identity, while the twin-crown Rochelaise and retro Omaha chronograph keep it from feeling repetitive.

I would start with the Malouine for an affordable everyday watch, the Rochelaise for its unusual case and dial, or the Marseillaise for a more substantial diver. My Malouine review and Rochelaise review take a closer look at two of those designs.

This guide covers all five current collections, with galleries of every color and strap configuration currently shown on the official site. That includes the sold-out green Omaha, which is clearly marked. My recommendations draw on the existing articles and current official specifications; I have not worn every model in the range.

Jump to Malouine, Brestoise, Rochelaise, Marseillaise, Omaha, or my buying advice.

A French Brand With A Maritime Past

Le Forban Sécurité Mer began in 1969. According to its official history, its watches equipped French Navy and maritime patrol personnel during the 1970s and 1980s. The original business disappeared in 1989, before Jean-Sébastien Coste and Océane Jolivet revived the brand in 2019, working with watch designer Eddy Burgener.

Today, the watches are assembled, tested, and adjusted in Rennes, Brittany. Their movements come from established suppliers in Japan and Switzerland. I find that a useful distinction: the French identity comes through in the design, assembly, and maritime references, while the calibers are supplied rather than made in-house.

There is a contemporary connection to the sea, too. Le Forban supported the Nerrivik association’s 2026 Mission Sedna, equipping five sailors on a Toulon-to-Greenland expedition involving oceanographic, educational, and social work. The expedition account is a worthwhile part of the brand’s story.

The Range At A Glance

Prices and availability were checked on October 21, 2026. These are the official storefront’s euro prices marked “Incl. VAT (FR).” Shipping and taxes differ by destination; outside the EU, local taxes and duties may be collected separately. All purchase links go directly to Le Forban. Gallery photographs are from the brand.

What Am I Paying For?

Across the range, the recurring ingredients are 316L steel, sapphire crystals, automatic movements, and relatively short cases. The biggest differences are the dial layout, movement family, bezel arrangement, and water-resistance rating.

Malouine and Brestoise offer the lowest entry price with the Miyota 8215. Rochelaise moves to the date-free Miyota 9039 and a distinctive internal bezel. Marseillaise adds a Swiss Sellita movement and a 250m rating; Omaha puts the budget into a mechanical chronograph. Paying more buys a different set of features, so I would choose by intended use rather than simply work upward through the prices.

I also would not mistake vintage styling for identical construction. Rochelaise takes visual inspiration from Super Compressor watches, but the official description does not establish a pressure-operated compressor case. Omaha’s 50m rating is a separate proposition from the divers, even though it also has a rotating bezel.

Malouine: My Everyday Starting Point

The Malouine is the one I would recommend first to someone who wants a straightforward introduction to the brand. Its sunburst dial, silver inner ring, and restrained numerals make it the dressier-looking of the two €490 models. Onyx Black is my most versatile pick; Ocean Blue adds color without changing the character.

The case measures 38.4mm across, or 39mm including the bezel, with a short 45mm lug-to-lug length. The current specification lists a hacking Miyota 8215, a date, and 150m water resistance. My dedicated Malouine review explores the dial and case in more detail; the card below uses the current official specification and price.

Brestoise: The More Assertive Skin Diver

Brestoise shares Malouine’s compact dimensions, movement, and price, but its large numerals and lollipop seconds hand create a more playful, functional-looking dial. The brand connects this design to its first model from 1969.

I would choose Deep Black if I wanted the strongest contrast between the dark dial and pale markers. Ocean Blue offers the same layout with a sunburst finish. This is primarily a choice of visual character over Malouine: neither requires moving to a larger case or a higher price.

Rochelaise: My Pick For Something Distinctive

Rochelaise is the design I find most individual. The rounded case, offset twin crowns, and internal rotating bezel give it a different silhouette from a conventional diver. Its Miyota 9039 also allows a clean, date-free dial.

All three colors—Sea Green, Ocean Blue, and Sand Grey—are offered on silicone or vintage steel mesh. The gallery includes all six combinations. I would lean toward Sea Green on mesh for the contrast between the vivid dial and steel, while Sand Grey is the quieter alternative.

My Rochelaise review goes further into its case, crowns, and dial. For the current watch, I use the 46mm lug-to-lug length repeated in the official specification sections; a separate marketing paragraph on the same page still says 45mm.

Marseillaise: My Choice For A More Substantial Diver

The Marseillaise revisits the brand’s 1979 Monnin-style diver, with a current 40.8mm case, 46mm lug-to-lug length, and 11.95mm thickness including its flat sapphire crystal. Its 250m rating and Sellita SW200 distinguish it from the smaller Miyota-powered models.

My pick is Abyss Blue on the Dive Bund FKM rubber strap. The central pad gives the watch a distinctive appearance, and it can be removed to wear the strap conventionally. Onyx Black has warmer-looking markers. Both colors are also offered on the modern steel mesh bracelet, so all four current configurations appear below.

The bracelet costs €50 more than the rubber configuration. I would compare the two complete looks before deciding; the Bund pad changes the watch’s presence more than a simple color swap does.

Omaha: The Chronograph With A Different Job

Omaha was introduced in 2024 to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Its gold-colored subdials, syringe hands, and pear-shaped crown give it a 1940s-inspired character. Inside is the Seiko NE86 automatic chronograph, with a column wheel and a brand-listed 42-hour reserve.

Black on aged black leather is the available option I would consider. The green version, limited to 44 pieces, remains visible in the selector but is sold out. I include its photograph for completeness and label it accordingly.

Despite its 39mm case diameter, this is 13.9mm thick including the crystal, and the bezel brings the overall width to 40mm. I would buy it for the chronograph and vintage styling. Its 50m rating and leather strap make it a different choice from the Marseillaise for time around the water.

What I Would Check Before Buying

Compare length, thickness, and the complete strap configuration. Most of the range is 45–46mm long, but Omaha’s domed crystal and Marseillaise’s optional Bund pad affect the overall profile. Le Forban currently publishes conflicting thickness figures for Malouine and Brestoise (12.55 versus 12.75mm including the crystal), and Rochelaise (11 versus 11.4mm). I have left those disputed heights out of the cards; if sleeve clearance matters, I would confirm the measurement with the brand.

Match the watch to how you will use it. A date-free Rochelaise, a date-equipped Malouine, and an Omaha chronograph answer different needs. The quoted power reserves are the brand’s figures, rather than results from my own timing tests.

Check delivery and after-sales terms for your location. The official FAQ states a two-year warranty from shipment, with assembly and repairs handled in Rennes. It also describes a 14-day return window and requires returned watches to be in new condition with their packaging and protective stickers. I would read the current terms before ordering internationally.

Which Le Forban Would I Choose?

• For the simplest everyday choice: Malouine Onyx Black. It has the restrained appearance and compact proportions I would start with.
• For bold vintage numerals: Brestoise Deep Black, at the same €490 entry price.
• For the most distinctive design: Rochelaise Sea Green on steel mesh. This is the one I would spend the most time considering.
• For a more substantial diver: Marseillaise Abyss Blue on the removable-pad Dive Bund strap.
• For chronograph appeal: Omaha Black, provided its thicker profile suits your wrist and wardrobe.

For me, Rochelaise and Malouine make the strongest introduction to Le Forban. One has an unusual case and bezel arrangement; the other keeps the appeal of a compact skin diver at an accessible price. The rest of the collection gives those starting points useful alternatives without losing the brand’s maritime identity.

Frequently Asked Questions