Twelve Years, Engraved
An independent Swiss watch for a board chair
The ask
Our chair steps down in June after twelve years. He collects watches quietly and has said he would rather own one thing from a small workshop than ten from a factory. The board wants this to be the gift, and we know it will take time. Budget is open, well above $50k.
The gift
A steel wristwatch from an independent workshop of about ten people in Sainte-Croix, in the Swiss Jura. The watchmaker drew the movement, and the workshop makes its balance, escapement and gear train. The first series is fully allocated, so we find one through dealers and collectors. We have his years as chair engraved on the case, and a written history of the watch arrives in the linen box under a wax-sealed card.
Why it's extraordinary
He asked for one thing from a small workshop. The balance and escapement that keep its time are made a few rooms from where its movement was first drawn.
The moment
The written history is opened at the farewell dinner, and the watch follows once it is found and engraved.
A curator replies within one business day.
