Sophie Furley
The art of timekeeping was invented to coordinate communal activities, regulate farming, and help us navigate the oceans. Today, fine timepieces have an additional role – that of reminding us to stop racing and to appreciate the time we have on Earth. It is strange when you think about it. The one object that started the frenzy for efficiency has now become a reminder that time is the most precious thing we have.
Claude Meylan’s Fenêtre Sur Temps is a beautiful expression of this. With its two dial openings and open hour hand that rotate around the dial, the Fenêtre Sur Temps gives us ever-changing glimpses of the mechanical movement beneath, almost as if the movement is a metaphor for our working lives, and the dial is a representation of all the beauty around us.
I think it must be working because I am sitting here at my desk with this fabulous timepiece on my wrist and a big my smile on my face, while my colleagues are in a heated discussion about scheduling….it might be time for me to pass this timepiece on!
Mathieu Rotzer
Claude Meylan is one of those brands that just put a smile on your face. The “Fenêtre sur temps” is the perfect example of this phenomenon. Mechanical watches are made for those who appreciate the simplistic, yet extremely complex nature of having a movement beat with no electronic aids to it. How better to highlight this fascination than by opening up the hour hand, allowing the wearer to see different parts of the movement every hour of the day? Simply genius. In addition to this, the two rotating discs expose even more of the mechanical beauty. With the red accents on the movement, this makes for a sensational viewing. Turn the watch around and you will see craftsmanship at its best, with no obstruction between your vision and all the various jewels, screws, wheels and bridges. To me, a great watch is one where you discover something new every time you stare down at it. The “Fenêtre sur le temps” uncovers the marvels of timekeeping hour after hour which in my opinion is what watchmaking is all about.
Steven Rogers
Openwork watches can sometimes be a little busy for my taste, especially when the calibre on show has been pared down to its bare essentials. While I certainly appreciate a good movement as well as the skill required to skeletonize one, the resulting circles and sinews don’t always make the best backdrop for indications.
That’s why Claude Meylan’s La Fenêtre sur Temps really works for me. While wearing this model, I enjoyed the general sobriety of the dial but also the ever-changing glimpses of the skeletonized movement that the wearer is afforded thanks to the three cleverly-constructed dial apertures.
I like the visual contrast on offer here too, with the sporty looking dial side – a sleek carbon fibre weave paired with flashes of red, silver and gold – a world away from the rather stately-looking back of the watch.
Suzanne Wong
It's rare to come across a watch with a truly innovative approach to time display, and yet Claude Meylan have done so at a price point that is frankly astonishing. One might argue that it is a shame to cover up the elaborately decorated and skeletonised movement, but the three dial cutouts provide a tantalising peek at the mechanical components while still allowing the time to be read quickly and intuitively. And, of course, if you're as fascinated by movements as I am, the transparent caseback is there to provide a completely unobstructed view of what you're looking for.
Allissa Pataki
Before joining WorldTempus, I had never heard about Claud Meylan. And looking back, it was quite a shame! Their watches and their designs are original and innovative – take this Fenêtre sur Temps as an example. When you first see it from afar, you don’t fully understand what the fuss is all about – it displays hours and minutes and has an interesting pattern on its dial. But when you look closer, you notice that there is in fact no hours hand – it is merely a cutout that provides a window to the movement underneath (literally translated “Fenêtre sur temps”). And if you flip the watch, you get a completely unobstructed view of it – the beautifully decorated and entirely skeletonized engine that powers it all. I look forward to seeing what the lovely team of Claude Meylan come up with next!
