About

In love with mechanics, timepieces and automobiles, I started collecting watches in the early 90s. The “watch obsession” began with the first one I was gifted from my father : a simple steel 3 hands Omega. It was the late 70s and I had just turned 15. I was not especially happy to receive a mechanical watch while my classmates paraded around with quartz watches which were the trend at the time. However my father, one of the most refined men I know, had watches which fascinated me. His elegant style was matched with his benevolence and his devotion to others. Passionate for all things mechanical, it became his profession and gave me a taste for beautiful cars. My best childhood memories are the trips made with him in Lancia, Alpine and other vintage cars. He loved his watches like he loved his cars.

My father alternated between two Eska, one ultra flat and one with a cloisonné dial and a moonphase Bréguet. One day I had to bring that Bréguet to be repaired to a local watchmaker. It was there that my story changed forever. I met Mr. Barrier practicing in his small workshop as he was turning 85 years old. He opened the watch and spoke to me at length about the mechanism and its beauty. A new world was opening up to me. Like many young men in the 80s and 90s, I had bought fashionable contemporary watches, Breitling and Cartier. I was only interested in looks and trends. Mr. Barrier, whom I started visiting regularly, taught me the history of watchmaking, movements, complications, the golden age of watches, the 40s and 50s. At first, I started to collect the most beautiful movements and in particular the chronograph movements: Valjoux, Venus, Omega, Angelus or Longines. Being a historian by training, my love of watches is intimately linked to the history of watchmaking and manufacturers, but also to the periods in which they were built. This is why most of my collection is located between the end of the 1930s and the beginning of the 1960s. Collectors will understand : the Swiss brands made the most beautiful dials at that time, the most elegant cases and for me the most suitable sizes.

After 30 years of collecting watches, the time has come to move on to a new stage. I decided to sell part of my collection. I will keep the watches that have a special history for me and those of great value, but of the almost 500 watches I own, many will gladly find a new home. All the watches in my possession have been researched with passion and maintained with care.