You have just released two new Strike Twos – the Terra and the Highland. Can you tell us the story behind these watches?
They are both linked to nature. The Terra is inspired by my memories of Namibia when I was traveling there, and the Highland is more about adventure, Christopher Columbus, and the greens and browns of the Scottish landscape.
The colours of these new pieces are more subtle than some of your more recent releases; is there a reason for that?
Yes, we still have our colourful watches, but we want to represent more than that and give our collectors more options by offering a rather classic approach. We have so many nice watches from the past, such as the Opus, which is not classic as such, but let's say it is more conservative. We also wanted to return to smaller sizes. Just a few years ago, the scale went up to 44 mm and 45 mm, and now these new pieces are 41 mm, making them sleeker, which brings a different look. They appeal to a different kind of client.
What lessons would you say that you have learned over your 13 years at the helm of Chronoswiss in terms of watch creation?
I think it's not about creating something completely new each time. It's about focusing on the heritage, but with a twist of innovation, this has helped us a lot in the last 13/14, years. It is about getting the DNA right and not straying too far.
Maybe you remember the first timepieces that we did when we entered the company. Somebody had told me that sports watches were the big thing. So, I said let's do this, and we really stepped into new motors. We tried, learned, tried again and evolved over time. So, I think it's this evolution, taking something from the past, combining it with our modern mechanical DNA and tagline, and that's where we have found success over the last couple of years. And then it's also putting quality over the quantity.
I have also noticed that people like limited editions as they offer exclusivity. My wife and I have a little Fiat 500 and I love knowing that they only produce 10,000 and not a million. It makes it more unique. For our watches, we have limited series of 50 or 100 pieces, but we don’t want to do more. When you see these big brands with limited editions of 3,000, 5,000, or 10,000, it doesn’t mean much I feel.
How do you stay connected with your community of clients?
That's one of our big goals – to stay in touch. We have events that we do, not only with our retailers, but also with other communities and of course with our clients. We also see a lot of interest from younger people who want to be different and stand out; they are often looking for something niche. So that's something we try to cater to. This is also true for the modern collector in general and connoisseurs who appreciate both the heritage and the uncut design. So, we offer this mix of modern, mechanical, timepieces.
What is your plan and vision for 2025?
While we keep a close eye on the broader market dynamics, we are thankful to see that things are looking exceptionally positive for Chronoswiss as we head into 2025. Our upcoming novelties will continue to push boundaries and captivate those who seek truly distinctive timepieces - watches that can only be found at Chronoswiss. At Watches and Wonders this April, we’ll unveil creations that will surprise and excite our community of collectors. From entry-level models to high-end complications, we’re preparing something extraordinary that hasn’t been seen from us in quite some time! But I can’t give away too much—some things are worth the wait!
Which watch are you wearing today and why did you choose it?
I am wearing the Open Gear Flying Tourbillon Sunset, which I love due to its flashy colours. I love wearing the latest baby, but today I was running around the office trying to find a Strike Two Highland to show you, but I couldn’t find one. As the head of the organization, you might think I have unlimited access and yet somehow, I am always the last one to get the new watches!
