WORLDTEMPUS - 9 June 2011
Olivier Müller
Life is all about unexpected meetings leading to no less unexpected results. The story of Thomas Prescher and Eva Leube, two Germans, formerly master and apprentice is a perfect case in point.
The former is the incredibly skilled master watchmaker known in particular for his Single, Double and Triple Axis Tourbillon pieces and his bras en l'air watches called Tempusvivendi, which can be personalized as desired. The latter began her professional career as his apprentice and now works on her own. Her first piece, christened Ari, was one of Baselworld's main independent attractions this year.
Leube now lives in Australia, while Prescher remains in Switzerland. In this exclusive interview, they independently answer the same questions – with interesting answers. Without much further ado, ladies first…
Worldtempus: What is the biggest challenge of making a first timepiece?
Eva Leube: Designing the movement, making all the special tools needed, then making the prototype ? all without the benefit of a regular income! This often includes giving up little luxuries like weekends, evenings and holidays in order to push on with the project.
Thomas Prescher: The first piece is a bit like a virus in your head. You know that you have to do it but due to the absence of experience the way of realization is not absolutely clear. In the end, the most important challenge to finish the first piece is never to give up and to learn that if one trial failed, you have to accept that you have just learned one way in which it will not work. And then you try it again.
How important for you is the reaction of people seeing it, in particular journalists?
Eva Leube: It's important. This year I just needed to exhibit in Basel to get a positive reaction. Imagine working on your own for four intense years with noone knowing what you are even working on other than the vague term "a watch"!
Thomas Prescher: After several years of making bespoke watches, I turned out to be more of an artist than a craftsman. Everybody knows applause is a quite important thing for artists. I think that every person wants to hear that what he is doing is good and that it makes sense. On the other hand, I made the Triple Axis Tourbillon because several people said that it is impossible to make when I first presented the Double Axis pocket watch tourbillon. And one year later it was ready.
What did you learn from each other?
Eva Leube: Thomas opened up this whole new world of independent watchmaking to me. From the start he was very generous and open with sharing his knowledge, his experience and his new ideas. I couldn't have found a better tutor.
Thomas Prescher: Before Eva came to me, she worked for different well-known watch brands. She also had a lot of experience in restoring old watches. It is always an important gain for a company to have somebody experienced like Eva.
Today do you have a clear overview of where you could be in a distant future?
Eva Leube: Still creating beautiful handmade watches in limited numbers. I'm bursting with enough ideas to last me a lifetime!
Thomas Prescher: Next to my family, watchmaking is the most important thing in my life. It is my passion and so I am sure that I will keep on making bespoke watches.
Does your opinion about the world of watchmaking evolve as years go by and as your art matures?
Eva Leube: No, I find that I still love my profession with its technical challenges and creativity. Beautiful things can be so exquisite they bring tears to your eyes.
Thomas Prescher: For sure my opinion has evolved and changed ? and it still does. The environment of watchmaking is steadily changing, new brands are coming and others are going. New materials are constantly progressing and production methods are continuously emerging. All this makes it unpredictable for me to say where I will be long-term. I will try to keep my philosophy of making bespoke watches with an extremely high percentage of handcrafted work to create dream watches for my clients.
