Is watchmaking the preserve of watchmakers? Not necessarily, answers Samuel Soleilhac, a self-taught individual. Not very academic, he studied electricity, worked as a sports coach, and then pursued a Master's in cybersecurity, straddling between Saint-Étienne, his hometown, and Australia. A pragmatic jack-of-all-trades who, through various jobs, eventually settled in Geneva. Where, inevitably, the watchmaking bug piqued his curiosity.
This is where his novice perspective becomes an added value. The young man learns on his own, gets introduced to CAD, builds his network, and dares to propose concepts far removed from academic courses but seem natural to him. Among them, a watch where winding would be handled by a pendulum similar to that of a magnetizer, thus on two axes. The idea is clever, but the calculations confine its effectiveness to the size of a table clock, rather than a watch.
Never mind, Samuel Soleilhac keeps his watch design but replaces it with a double rotor. To discuss its technical direction, he gets closer to Shona Taine, a young watchmaker taken under the wing of David Candaux from the AHCI (Academy of Independent Watchmakers). The project seems solid. Samuel Soleilhac then proceeds with the full technical certification of his movement. He entrusts it to Bruno Herbert (HB Créations). The work will be launched soon, and the subscription for the Harmonie will allow it to be definitively completed. The production of the first components will follow subsequently. A rational, efficient plan that should lead to a prototype at the Geneva Watch Days 2026.
Step by step
Thus, the 2025 edition of the Geneva event is when the concept is presented... and initial expressions of interest are gathered. “I am making contacts with collectors from around the world, and the first feedback is very positive," explains Samuel Soleilhac. “Sometimes, I receive quite relevant comments that allow me to adjust a few small details, but overall, the design of the Harmonie is widely accepted."
Its production will rely on a network of experienced partners. The movement is 100% in-house. It is not based on any existing model. Therefore, all components must be custom-made, “except, of course, for the escapement. It will be supplied by Atokalpa," notes the constructor. For the rest, Soleilhac - Samuel's surname, but also the name of his brand - will rely on a conventional network of Swiss and French subcontractors. The individual allows himself two years for the delivery of the first pieces of his Harmonie, which will take a little over four years in total from the original CAD to the delivery of the exemplar 001. A total of 18 inaugural pieces are planned, made of grade 5 titanium. The subscription price, available until the end of September, is CHF 49,000. It will later be around CHF 60,000 for the first series of 100 pieces. That means there are 2 months left — and a few pieces still available — to follow and subscribe to this project marking the birth of a brand and a model, both equally promising, already distinguished by a strong technical and aesthetic identity.
More information here.
