Driving up and over the Mollendruz pass, the sweeping curves of the empty mountain roads are an absolute joy to navigate. It is Friday morning, long after the watchmaking rush hour, and I am on my way to discover Claude Meylan’s workshops with the brand’s owner Philippe Belais and PR and Marketing Manager Pia Chefdebien. While driving over the hills of the Vallée de Joux, it suddenly strikes me that there aren’t many people I will sacrifice my weekly day off for (I work 80%) – but these people are most definitely among them.
It is my first time visiting the workshop and it couldn’t be more oldy-worldly. Located in an old village house in the village of L’Abbaye on the Lac de Joux, the date 1684 is displayed over the door, along with an inscription “Svfficit Mihi Gratia Dei Im”, which translates as “The grace of God is sufficient for me”. Going through the door is like stepping back into the past as you get the impression that beyond the light switches and running water, not much has changed since the 17th century. Add to this the one-metre thick walls that cut any cellular contact with the outside world, and it is a heavenly place to spend a Friday morning.
We are greeted by Carole Harlé-Voutaz who has the biggest, friendliest smile. Carole takes care of logistics and is on first-name terms with most of the brand’s clients as she connects watch lovers with timepieces such as the brand’s Lac, Tortue, Lionne, and L’Abbaye models. Sitting down in one of the rooms at the back of the house, a glimpse out of the window into the sunshine reveals the Breguet Manufacture on the other side of the meadow. The watchmaking history of this magical place runs deep.
A Brief History
The Claude Meylan story began with Samuel-Olivier Meylan, the first pocket watch producer to set up in the Vallée de Joux in the 18th century. By 1776, eight Meylans were registered as watchmakers in the region. In 2002, the company was bought by Henri Berney who is also the owner of another watch company, Berney Blondeau S.A. On Berney’s semi-retirement, he passed the family businesses to his daughter, and then his grand-daughter Carole (the very same Carole mentioned above), but it was a lot of work for one person, so they decided to approach Philippe Belais to see if he would be interested in taking the flame. The year was 2010, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Although now the property of Belais, the company remains on the Berney premises with Carole at the front desk and 91-year-old Henri living in the apartment on the first floor. Henri is often in the workshops, tinkering with different watch mechanisms, that is when he isn’t traveling around Switzerland and beyond looking for interesting historic movements for the brand. The philosophy here is very much about doing what you love with the people you love, and it shows.
The Sculptor of Time
Today, Claude Meylan is best known for its skeletonized timepieces, made from different historic movements from companies such as Unitas and Valjoux. The movements are completely modified to present a new contemporary interpretation of time, most often unrecognizable from their initial form. There are blackened movements, calibres with bridges in the form of the very first Swiss flag (the one with flames emanating from the centre), and others in the form of a tulip.
After looking over some exceptional pieces such as the Tortue Lady with its fascinating movement architecture and micro-rotor and one of the latest skeleton pieces with a blackened movement, we all head to an alpine chalet for lunch where things probably haven’t changed much from the 18th century either. We all lose track of time as we enjoy a host of regional specialties, including warm apple juice with rum, local cheeses and charcuterie, and tomato fondue. The whole day feels like an outing with friends, rather than a day at work, but that’s the Claude Meylan way, whether you are a client, supplier, or journalist, it is all about making time and spending time with friends with good vibes through and through.
