Independent watchmakers

Independent watchmakers

THE WATCH FILES

Independent watchmakers

From F.P.Journe to Kari Voutilainen, a selection of Europa Star articles on the vibrant independent watch stage.

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Rudis Sylva: Watchmaking with family and friends

Rudis Sylva: Watchmaking with family and friends

After a career with a number of big watch brands, Jacky Epitaux chose the path of independence, cofounding Rudis Sylva in 2006. The brand is named after (...)

Morteau, home of watchmaking's new wave

Morteau, home of watchmaking’s new wave

When meeting the new generation of young independent watchmakers, one name came up time and again: Morteau. Specifically, the watchmaking programme at Lycée (...)

Olivier Mory: industrial methods meet fine watchmaking

Olivier Mory: industrial methods meet fine watchmaking

Olivier Mory was thirteen when he fell in love… with watchmaking. Fortunately the feeling was mutual and the two have been together ever since! What makes (...)

Shona Taine: “That's what I want to do!”

Shona Taine: “That’s what I want to do!”

Remember the name! Shona Taine is one of the too few women independent watchmakers. At just 25, she has already accrued impressive technical skills and a (...)

Sylvain Pinaud: the origins of Origine

Sylvain Pinaud: the origins of Origine

At the last ever Baselworld, in 2019, we had the good fortune to meet Sylvain Pinaud, who was showing his Chronographe Monopoussoir Artisanal – at that time (...)

Julien Tixier: independent but not isolated

Julien Tixier: independent but not isolated

At just turned 30, Julien Tixier is considered to be one of the most gifted watchmakers of his generation; something he recently demonstrated with the (...)

Luc Monnet: freedom and sharing

Luc Monnet: freedom and sharing

The Zen aphorism that “there is no goal at the end of the path, the path is the goal” could easily apply to Luc Monnet, a watchmaker, specialist in (...)

Portraits of a new wave

Portraits of a new wave

REPORT

A new wave is coming to watchmaking. It’s not a tsunami and it won’t change the face of the industry, but it will have an effect. These are a new generation (...)

New waves

New waves

EDITORIAL

In our latest issue we offer a series of portraits of some of these new-generation artisans, who will certainly make some waves. You’ll enjoy reading about (...)

Hervé Schlüchter's existential watchmaking

Hervé Schlüchter’s existential watchmaking

PORTRAIT

As independent watchmaking continues to make its mark, a new workshop – that of Hervé Schlüchter in Biel/Bienne – creates classically inspired watches with a (...)

BA111OD gets to grips with the chronograph

BA111OD gets to grips with the chronograph

INTERVIEW

On 11 October 2022, three years after launching his own watch with the sole aim of proving that a gap existed in the traditional business model by (...)

Doxa: the spectacular comeback

Doxa: the spectacular comeback

STRATEGY

The historic specialist in diving watches saw its desirability increase tenfold in the midst of the pandemic. The Swiss family-owned brand has just (...)

Czapek and the Antarctique success story

Czapek and the Antarctique success story

Independent watchmaker Czapek has decided to suspend orders for its flagship model, the Antarctique, for a year. The move is intended to help the brand (...)

Kari Voutilainen and Tatsuo Kitamura: a meeting of minds

Kari Voutilainen and Tatsuo Kitamura: a meeting of minds

COVER STORY

This year, Kari Voutilainen celebrates 20 years of independent creation by joining forces with his Japanese “soulmate”, Tatsuo Kitamura, an expert in the (...)

David Candaux: The price of independence

David Candaux: The price of independence

PORTRAIT

We are in Le Solliat, in the Joux Valley, two hundred metres from Philippe Dufour’s workshop and a short distance, as the crow flies, from the great (...)

Svend Andersen: Chance and necessity

Svend Andersen: Chance and necessity

PORTRAIT

Svend Andersen, the co-founder of the AHCI, has played an important role, not only as a master watchmaker but also by welcoming a whole generation of young (...)

Vianney Halter: A free agent

Vianney Halter: A free agent

PORTRAIT

A more endearing man than Vianney Halter would be hard to find. The man – or kid, you might be tempted to say, since he has never succeeded in shaking off (...)

Rexhep Rexhepi: In pursuit of authenticity

Rexhep Rexhepi: In pursuit of authenticity

PORTRAIT

At the heart of Geneva’s historic city centre, the windows of Rexhep Rexhepi’s workshop – Akrivia – open directly onto the street, and it is no rare occurrence (...)

Ludovic Ballouard: The accidental philosopher

Ludovic Ballouard: The accidental philosopher

PORTRAIT

“At the moment, I’m in demand. I’ve never worked so hard, to the point that I’m scared the coronavirus is going to stop! I’m getting more and more requests, (...)

Denis Flageollet: Materials, it all starts with the materials

Denis Flageollet: Materials, it all starts with the materials

PORTRAIT

Just above the Sainte-Croix Pass and the high-perched abode of Denis Flageollet, the watchmaker behind the De Bethune trademark, you will also find the (...)