What first made you interested in the watchmaking business?
Adrian Buchmann (A.B.): Somehow, I’m like Obelix, I fell into it when I was a kid. I used to spend a lot of time in the watchmaking school in Le Locle as a kid because my parents were working there. So, I’ve always been around watchmaking desks and I learned to love the smell of the oil on the CNC machines. Later on, and with my passion for drawing and creating, watches kind of became a natural place to go.
Harry Guhl (H.G.): I admire true traditional craftsmanship, and what is so special in Swiss watchmaking is that the same thing (Time and its correlations with man and nature) is perpetually re-interpreted in so many different ways. This is quite unique.
What unique quality do you think you bring to your brand?
A.B. : A balance of respect of traditional watchmaking while trying to bring it to the 21st century.
H.G. : I can see opportunities in situations and people, that’s hidden for others.
Tell us about an experience that defines your leadership style.
A.B. : I truly believe in the power of teams for problem solving. And think teams (me included) are like very rough stones you throw in a washing machine and you make spin. If it’s spin at the right speed you will finish with beautifully polished stones. If too slow, stones remain rough, if too fast you end up with sand. My role is to make sure the machine spins at the right speed.
H.G. : It was many years ago, when I lived in New York. There was a blind woman, who wanted to cross the streets but no one really cared and she wasn’t capable to handle the situation safely, so I help her intuitively. It was immediate, without hesitation. It was a good thing to do. It felt really good. A few weeks later, a similar situation occurred: an older man was standing at the crossing. Knowing that it felt good the last time, I offered some help, even though the only things he was interested in was some money he was begging from pedestrians. This experience pretty much defines my current leadership style. I leave no space for fake intensions and I let some time for things to develop. When action is needed, I am available without hesitation.
Which watch do you wear most often, and why?
A.B. : Mainly Sequent watches for testing but I always enjoy wearing other watches to compare and learn.
H.G. :Mostly, I am wearing prototypes to provide product feedback.
What have you achieved as CEO/Executive Chairman that you are most proud of?
A.B. : Bringing mechanical watchmaking into the 21st century with strong focus on health and sustainability. The latest worldwide crises proved us that this is the right focus if we want to preserve ourselves and our planet.
H.G. : I initiated the development of a new category of watch, where everyone thought it's impossible to realise.
What is biggest misconception that people have about Sequent?
A.B. : Most people think smartwatch = digital screen. But the screen is just a way to display an information. What makes a watch smart is the information itself. The day we are proven screen doesn’t become obsolete after a few months, we might consider it but for now they don’t match our ethos.
H.G. : When people hear “Automatic Smartwatch”, they often say…. “Oh yes, that exists for many years. Tissot made that (Autoquarz) or Seiko does this (Kinetic).” That is fundamentally wrong because we continue where those concepts end. Sequent has a totally different level of complication because we add to the Automatic/Kinetic self-winding concept the electronic elements of firmware and software. That makes Sequent watches the most cutting-edge mechatronic development in the watch market.
On the other hand, what is one thing about Sequent that is not well known, but super important, in your view?
A.B. : We are probably the only watch brand looking to be a zero-carbon emission by 2021 by planting trees to offset our carbon footprint. It just feels like the right thing to do.
H.G. : Sequent combines traditional watchmaking with cutting-edge smart technology, laying the foundations of 21st century watchmaking.
Give us a one-word (or one-phrase) hint about your future plans for the brand.
A.B. : We are at the start of the journey of changing mechanical watches.
H.G. : The Swiss watch industry need to look into the future, we are the answer to this challenge.
