Last night saw the third Salon WorldTempus at the Chez Calvin restaurant in Eaux-Vives, where deputy Editor in chief Anders Modig Davin talked with TAG Heuer’s master watchmaker, Carole Forestier-Kasapi, who now goes by the title Haute Horlogerie Watches & Movements Strategy Director. In their conversation about innovations, sensibility and complications, with plenty of questions from the audience, both recent products and human emotions were touched upon.
Innovations, sensibility and complications: As we all know, these three words are interlinked. For a complicated innovation to come to life, it must make sense – and you must possess a certain sensibility – and arguably genius – to realise how to make the world better through innovation.
In a recent opinion editorial for WorldTempus, Ms. Forestier-Kasapi argued that watch complications should be categorized “I think we should classify them by using seven pillars. This would clarify for the consumers what they are buying into. Because there will always be marketing people saying things are complex when they are not. This happens in every industry, not only in watchmaking. Why not be more transparent?” she asked rhetorically. Published on May 1, the article lists the categories in an ever-more complex hierarchy starting with display and ending with striking.
Around 35 people from Geneva, Valée de Joux, Bern, and neighboring France joined the event where Chez Calvin’s friendly staff offered a generous apéro riche paired with exquisite wines, craft beers and Non-alcoholic healthy alternatives. Despite the rainy Tuesday, the evening had a summery vibe since the restaurant last week revamped itself for its summer theme “Chez Calvin by the sea”
Said mental coach and art and furniture collector George Yoconto, who traveled across Switzerland to join Salon WorldTempus for a second time. “This brings a new episode to Geneva, whether you are in the watch industry or not. We need to have more informal events like this where you have connected conversations sharing the emotions between us. A salon like this brings a new matisse with a symbiosis of generations, color palettes and styles.”
