I had the privilege of interviewing the duo for The New York Times last year, and I love their stuff. But: I am very curious as to how they plan to survive in the long run as they in 2025 were at capacity of making 20 watches priced at 60K. How do you even pay rent, materials, R&D, and 13 staff with a 1.2 million turnover? Perhaps the mentoring part of the LV Prize should focus on business sense.
Speaking of young talent, on Thursday night we also saw the winner of the 2026 Prix Piaget Young Talents of HEAD–Genève, Haute École d’Art et de Design, better known as HEAD-Genève. Frédérique Faucher, a second-year student in the bachelor design education at HEAD showed extreme talent; her fruity cocktail ring design deserves to come into production!
Earlier that day, we also saw Omega launch the wonderful Constellation Observatory collection with four pieces in steel and five in precious materials, all in the 1950s pie pan case design with the vintage influence underlined by dog-leg lugs. Perhaps, it is against the raison d'être to make a Master Chronometer without a second hand. But at the end of the day, I am a fan. Somehow the because-we-can-attitude reminds me of a certain double tourbillon from RJ Watches, which only had a night and day indication. Depending on which tourbillon was spinning, you knew if it was day or night. When it comes to the Observatory collection, the because-we-can-attitude coupled with a pinch of if you know you know. It is funny, whimsical, unique and extremely precise.
This precision is also coupled with a new standard of chronometer certification from the Laboratoire de Précision. With their aid, Omega and other clients can collect big data that can help them in watchmakers’ quest for zero in the precision of watches. How big? When you look at normal certifications from COSC, a certification that Omega will continue to work with, we are talking about one impression per day. With the Laboratoire, you get 120 000 impressions per 15-day cycle as it provides a continuous testing. With the help of such detailed data, watchmaking will for sure go further. As Omega President and CEO Raynald Aeschlimann put it: “You always want to improve. When you have landed on the moon you want to go to Mars!
