Do you have a favourite watch at the moment?
Is it the one you are wearing? No, it is the reference 5740G Nautilus Perpetual Calendar. I’m still in my sports watch phase. In addition to sports watches, I am also fond of complications, especially perpetual calendars, and I really like Audemars Piguet skeletons. But if I had to choose, I would take the 5740G.
Will that be your next purchase?
I think my next purchase will be the Patek Philippe ref. 5811. For the 5740G, these kinds of pieces are always at the discretion of the retailers.
Concerning the watches that you do have, what are you wearing the most?
The one I have worn the most this year is the Patek Philippe Aquanaut Ref. 5167R in rose gold. I also wear my Rolex Pepsi ref. 1675 quite often and my Daytona.
Which brands do you have a particular affection for?
I like certain models, but I also appreciate the brands’ stories. For the stories, I like the history of Rolex, Panerai, and Audemars Piguet, even if they are all quite different. And for the models themselves, I have a preference for Patek Philippe, as I am sure you have already guessed! And I rather like Jaquet Droz, especially the automatons, although that’s a whole different price range!
If you could have three watches right now, what would you choose?
To have and keep? Or have and sell?
To have and keep
The Patek Philippe Ref. 1518, the Rolex Paul Newman Daytona, and the last one is not really a wristwatch but a collector’s piece, so for the pure value of it, the Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication.
What appeals to you the most about collecting timepieces?
I love learning about the various maisons and the differences between them. The vision, evolution, and values are unique to each brand. Right now, I am impressed by what Patek Philippe is doing with its communication on Instagram, especially on the heritage side. I like that it is still family owned and keeps the same spirit.
I also like the diversity between the brands. Take Audemars Piguet, for example, that has been very focused on the Royal Oak, but is now trying to do new things with the Code 11.59; this is interesting. And then there are all the innovations, the search for perfection, and the rivalry between brands that fascinate me, for example the world record for the thinnest watch, which was first broken by Buglari with its Octo Ultra Finissimo, and then broken again by Richard Mille.
It is this constant research, evolution, and search for perfection that is in keeping with current trends that are interesting. There is no point in making a watch that no one wants to buy. It is also about being consistent with one’s identity – and for the newcomers – what are their visions of watchmaking? How do they differ and how do they offer something new?
At 22 years of age, you are ultra-savvy, what made you fall in love with watches?
It was when I arrived in Switzerland. My father has always liked watches very much, but we never really spoke much about them. It was only when I came to boarding school in Switzerland that I got hooked. The school had 2,500 day students and 300 boarders. Of those 300, only 26 were in the French section with me. So we were a small and close-knit group and some of my friends’ parents worked in the watch industry, so we would talk about watches together. I also continued researching on my side, and then when I had the opportunity to buy a beautiful piece, I did. That’s how it all started.
