Following the release of the Ondine this spring, Claude Meylan returns with a new model for Geneva Watch Days 2024, catching the eye of all of us in the WorldTempus office.
Blazing a Trail
When it comes to feminine timepieces, Claude Meylan loves to blaze its own trail. In 2021, it introduced its Tortue Lady, a mini timepiece created exclusively for women that combined micromechanics with sensual curves in the cutest little automatic timepiece. This timepiece was way ahead of the “mini” trend, which has since exploded on the watch scene. The new Ondine collection is just as original, blending a unique feminine design with a mesmerising open-worked mechanical movement. The beauty of these timepieces lies not only in their original feminine designs but also in the movements that power them, proving that a mechanical movement can seduce all the sexes.
More on the Movement
The skeletonized movement is a signature design feature at Claude Meylan. The creation of these movements involves the careful removal of excess material from the individual components to reveal the intricate inner workings of the watch. The result offers a captivating visual experience, allowing wearers to observe their timepieces in action. The Ondine is the perfect example of Claude Meylan’s art of skeletonization with an open-worked Swiss Made manual movement becoming the face of the watch, with just the 12 Roman numerals and the logo positioned on a discrete white lacquered inner bezel.
Ripples on Water
Bracelet design is a hugely important element of any watch with all kinds of variations that are mostly created with a system of links. Think of the famous Jubilee, Presidents, Milanese, Shark Mesh, and Engineer bracelets, for example. The Ondine bracelet is quite different, however, with its rings that were inspired by the shapes of ripples on water. The first versions of the Ondine featured open rings, while this brand-new model for Geneva Watch Days is adorned with rings filled with elegant mother-of-pearl discs.
Summer Comfort
As the temperature in the WorldTempus office exceeds 29 degrees Centigrade (84 degrees Fahrenheit), comfort in this heat has taken on a whole new meaning! Thanks to the Ondine’s lightweight and open bracelet design, air can circulate freely between the wrist and the timepiece, making it the perfect summer wristwatch.
Philosophy
The arrival of the Ondine model reflects the Claude Meylan philosophy. As a small independent brand, the focus has never been on smashing sales targets or reaching lightning-speed global expansion, it is all about creating beautiful timepieces to please customers looking for something a little different. The fact that their workshop is housed in a 17th century village house in the Vallée de Joux, with walls so thick that there is no cellular service, puts all the focus on the watches, and it shows in timepieces like this. After all, the Ondine is the perfect reminder to slow down and appreciate time, to pick up a stone and skim it across a pond, delighting in the formation of ripples as it passes and the magic of each moment.
