In a world where craftsmanship meets luxury, one artisan’s work stands out for its exceptional precision and creativity. The clients of this master engraver range from renowned fashion houses to prestigious watch brands, including some of the most celebrated names in high watchmaking. Each brand has its own distinctive requirements for watch dials, yet all are produced by the same skilled hands.
As we walk through the brightly lit workshops, it is evident that the craftsmanship involved is nothing short of extraordinary. The workers, including engravers, goldsmiths, enamellers, and jewelers, are deeply engaged in intricate tasks. Some of these tasks, such as gold micro-sculpting, require working at 10x magnification, while miniature enamel painting demands a brushstroke-by-brushstroke approach to shrink masterpieces to fit the small space of a watch dial. Everywhere, artisans display their practiced ease and exceptional skill.
The story of this artisan begins at La-Chaux-de-Fonds, where he honed his craft at an engraving school. “There were only three students in each year, with a total of 12 students,” he recalls. After completing his training, he started his own business in 1978. During this time, “skeleton movements” – which required elaborate engraving – were popular. He worked extensively for Audemars Piguet, as the brand did not have an in-house engraver at that time. Over the years, a group of young artisans gathered around him, working in a historic workshop near Geneva’s famous Jet d’Eau. “We worked in an idealistic way,” he says. “I wanted to break the codes and hierarchies of the traditional atelier, sharing everything and remaining open to new ideas.”
This idealistic approach led to the creation of a multidisciplinary atelier, which became renowned for its exquisite watchmaking. In 1995, the atelier began creating engraved dials and dials with animated figurines that moved to indicate the hours and minutes. As the business grew, well-known watchmaking houses like Corum and Piaget approached them, and the atelier gradually specialized in producing highly intricate dials. Reflecting on his journey, the artisan notes, “For 30 years, I worked with a burin in my hand.”
Despite having a busy order book, the artisan remains committed to retaining the creativity and imagination that has made his work so highly coveted. “Making a large series of watches kills the métier,” he explains, emphasizing that his work is not a production line. He strives to keep his craftsmen motivated, ensuring they are always engaged in creative, challenging projects.
A new chapter in his journey began with his daughter’s marriage, which led to an exciting creative partnership. His son-in-law’s half-brother, Olivier Gaud, had worked as an executive at Richemont, with stints at Cartier and Vacheron Constantin. “I kept meeting Olivier and his wife Dominique at family gatherings,” Gaud recalls. During these meetings, they discussed their desire to create a watch showcasing the atelier’s most innovative projects. When Gaud left Richemont in 2021 to launch his own brand, Oligo, he seized the opportunity to help bring this dream project to life. “I called Olivier to say that I had time to work on his dream,” Gaud says, marking the beginning of a new, creative collaboration.
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