Watchmaking is a family affair for the Goutens. Having been active in the industry since the mid-1990s, David Gouten served as Managing Director of Perrelet before joining Harry Winston Rare Timepieces in 2001. As Vice President Wholesale Timepieces and Jewelry, he took charge of commercial development and was heavily involved in drawing up product strategy. In doing so, he became one of the key players in the tremendous expansion of the brand’s watchmaking business and the development of its offer between 2000 and 2010. Reaching beyond its expertise in jewellery and its traditional women’s collections, Harry Winston seized on the potential of watchmaking in a combination of creative audacity and technical exploration. Of particular note was the ‘Opus’ series, the fantastic adventure launched by Maximilian Büsser and that gave rise to a series of exceptional, radical, and innovative creations in collaboration with a select number of the most talented independent watchmakers.
In 2011, David Gouten took the helm of DeLaneau, a Geneva-based firm renowned for the creation of outstanding, unique timepieces for women, its expertise in jewellery, as well as unrivalled skill in enamel work. As CEO, he refocused the brand’s business on the wealth of artisanal know-how residing in its workshop, whilst also expanding the company’s retail network and raising its profile worldwide.
In 2013, Gouten embarked on an entrepreneurial adventure with a decidedly family touch. Together with his cousins Alexis and Marc, he took over Manufacture Royale, serving as Chief Executive Officer. Originally set up in Ferney by Voltaire in 1770 and reopened in 2010, the brand drew inspiration from its original founder’s independent spirit, giving birth to audacious, contemporary, and highly technical timepieces. Manufacture Royale has staked its all on genuine creativity – as evidenced in its Androgyne and ADN collections – and its off-the-wall steampunk style together with recognised expertise in the creation of bespoke, unique timepieces have carried the day.
*Written by Xavier Markl
*On the occasion of GMT Magazine and WorldTempus' 20th anniversary, we have embarked on the ambitious project of summarising the last 20 years in watchmaking in The Millennium Watch Book, a big, beautifully laid out coffee table book. This article is an extract. The Millennium Watch Book is available on www.the-watch-book.com, in French and English, with a 10% discount if you use the following code: WT2021.
