This week on Downtime, we jump into the world of independent Swiss watchmaking with Sébastien and Sarah Billières, the brother-sister duo at Genus.
Founded in 2019 by Sébastien, a master watchmaker with over 20 years of experience, and entrepreneur Catherine Henry, Genus quickly made waves in the watch world by winning the Mechanical Exception prize at the 2019 Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève for its groundbreaking GNS1.2.
Known for its innovative time display, the GNS1 set the tone for Genus’s creative and technical ingenuity, which continues with the recently launched GNS2 featuring a closed dial.
While Sébastien leads the Geneva-based brand alongside Catherine, Sarah works there as a watchmaker, spending hours at the workbench next to her brother. Together, they embody a dynamic rarely seen in watchmaking.
While assembling a new GNS2 timepiece, the siblings took turns answering our quick-fire questions, revealing not just their technical expertise but also their shared passions, quirks and inspirations. From Sarah’s dream of exploring Australia to Sébastien’s curious hammer experiment during his childhood, their stories offer a glimpse into the human side of haute horlogerie.
So read on to discover what makes this talented sibling duo tick – both inside and outside the watchmaking atelier.
Hi Sébastien and Sarah. So, tell us: What’s your favourite book?
Sébastien: ‘The Ants’ by Bernard Werber. This book combines a scientific and philosophical perspective and really broadens the horizons of what’s possible.
Your favourite movie?
Sébastien: ‘Interstellar’. It’s an impressive film that blends science and emotion. I loved the unique way it explores the relationship between time and dimensions!
Your favourite album?
Sarah: ‘Hot Rocks’ by the Rolling Stones. It’s one of the best “greatest hits” albums ever, with five of the biggest tracks from this legendary band.
Your favourite food?
Sébastien: Oriental cuisine, without a doubt. Our father, who lived in the region, cooked it so well when we were children.
Your favourite drink?
Sarah: A good glass of Italian red wine is something I’ll never say no to!
Your favourite holiday destination?
Sarah: New York for its diversity. It’s amazing to see all those cultural differences and the endless possibilities for things to explore.
Your favourite TV show?
Sébastien and Sarah: We don’t watch TV!
Your favourite podcast?
Sébastien: Idriss Aberkane. He’s a brilliant thinker with extensive knowledge across a wide range of disciplines.
Your favourite piece of clothing or sartorial accessory?
Sarah: Shoes, an essential accessory for asserting your style!
Your favourite activity that you do in your free time?
Sarah: Fitness. I work out several times a week. After spending all day at the workbench and sitting for so long, I need to move and let off steam.
Tell us something about you that might surprise us.
Sébastien: I’m a firm believer in seeing things to believe them, and I like to test things out. One day, I overheard my father, a watchmaker, saying that he had put an “unbreakable” glass (probably a sapphire crystal) on my mother’s watch. I wanted to check for myself, so I took the watch and hit it with a hammer against a brick. Let’s just say my first encounter with watches was… quite shattering!
What’s one item (not a watch) that you can’t live without? Or that you can’t go anywhere without?
Sébastien: My headphones—I can’t do without them, whether it’s for taking calls or listening to podcasts!
What is on your ‘bucket list’ (an activity, accomplishment or destination that you hope to do or visit before you exit this world)?
Sarah: I’ve been dreaming of visiting Australia for a long time: soaking in nature and wide open spaces, getting close to unique wildlife, and just heading off on an adventure!
Who is someone who has inspired you in your life and/or career. How did they inspire you?
Sébastien: It might be limiting to name just one person, but I’d say Felix Baumgartner, the founder of Urwerk. I was his only employee when I worked with him, and he gave me a lot of freedom. I always felt encouraged. He’s the one who pushed me toward entrepreneurship: if he could do it, I could too!
Name a famous person or historical figure, dead or alive, that you would like to have lunch with. Why?
Sébastien: Elon Musk, who started from nothing and has succeeded in so many fields. He’s capable of leading engineers through highly complex challenges while maintaining a global vision for a project.
What was the first watch you remember owning? What was special about it?
Sébastien: A Rado with a hard metal (scratch-resistant) case.
And finally, a wrist check: What watch are you currently wearing? And what do you like about it?
Sébastien: A Genus GNS2 Prototype. My watch changes every week because we’re constantly testing and making daily updates to it.
For more information about Sébastien and Sarah’s brand, please visit the Genus website.
