Paul Picot has the enviable reputation of creating watches that underline the exceptional craftsmanship and technical wizardry of its watchmakers and also capture the imagination of watch enthusiasts.
“What makes the incredible richness of our profession is the speed of the evolution of technology and creative aesthetics,” Eric Oppliger, Paul Picot’s Managing Director explains. “But curiously, may I say, it is also the timelessness of the most beautiful tradition of Swiss watchmaking, which is fascinating to respect and integrate into what we are doing today.
“I have noticed that the public we target has expectations of our brand that are clearly oriented towards products that are more and more exclusive. This runs parallel to our philosophy and our positioning which we are consolidating and developing.
“Our strategic products (Atelier, Technograph, C-Type, Gentleman) have now acquired a recognized identity. 2007 is, for us, the result of a great deal of work on the core of the Atelier range which is presented at BaselWorld in a new slant - from COSC certified automatic chronometers to superb tourbillons and automatic timepieces with exclusive complications, developed in-house, such as a skeleton version which has been produced by hand by our master watchmakers.
“The stylized design and the haut de gamme technical characteristics of our Technograph and C-Type lines have allowed us to considerably reinforce our principal ranges these last two years. Solid efforts have been made to continue to surprise the market in this popular segment. However, distribution remains a key element to success or failure. It is therefore fundamental that we succeed, seduce and create spontaneous demand since we are not in the circle of the big brands and groups.”




ATELIER MAGMA TOURBILLON in rose gold and the verso of the Atelier Magma Tourbillon in white gold


The tourbillon …
The Atelier Collection, the home for many of Paul Picot’s complications, now contains the brand’s first tourbillon … the Atelier Magma Tourbillon. This collector’s timepiece (42 mm) illustrates the direction the brand is taking with its Atelier Collection with an eye-catching tourbillon at 9 o’clock mounted on a seconds hand, a retrograde calendar at 3 o’clock with a date corrector pushbutton at 2 o’clock, an arcing 5-day power reserve indicator between 4 and 6 o’clock, and finally a completely new and exclusive decoration on the dial and bridges called ‘Côtes visantes’.
The bezel of the 18 carat rose or white gold case is hand-fluted, the horns are soldered to the case and the crown protectors are screwed into the case.
“I have noticed with pleasure that we are on the right track and that our products and our brand are showing their power of seduction, “Eric Oppliger concludes. “The path is clear but there is a lot of room left to conquer. This is what contributes to the richness of our profession.”


Source: Europa Star April-May 2007 Magazine Issue