Since its foundation several years ago Jean Dunand has been doomed to great success; it was headed by the prominent figures in watchmaking business — great movement designer Christophe Claret and Thierry Oulevay, one of the founders of Bovet. Such exciting launches as Tourbillon Orbital and the art deco Shabaka have already secured Jean Dunand a place in the history of watchmaking art.
The company president Thierry Oulevay spoke with us in Geneva at the Hotel Beau Rivage which hosted the presentation of all the new goods by the company.
– Tell us about new watches that await the Jean Dunand aficionados.
– In the next year 2009 we’ll launch a set of the new patented calibre with a chronograph function. Naturally it will be something special but in the same style as our previous watches. Usually the body consists of 3 parts: the bezel, the body itself and the back lid. Our model, however, will consist of 5 parts. The watch will feature various materials. The next European launch will be Tourbillon Orbital in 22 or 24 pieces and Shabaka in 12 or 14 pieces. All in all we’ll issue 3 watches monthly.
We work in the exclusive timepieces niche and we don’t try to win the market in Moscow, New York and other cities: we just make watches that are totally unique and we enjoy it. Our success is made up by the best service, true art of watchmaking and in-depth knowledge. Today Jean Dunand is the epitome of true watchmaking art. It’s easy to just put the goods into the shop window but to care about the consumer and to explain and describe to him what he’s buying is sales at the highest level, something that we strive for and what we’re definitely capable of.
– There’s no doubt of that. Now tell us how you choose the names for your collections. For instance, why did you name the watch after the Egyptian Pharaoh Shabaka?
– When the Shabaka watch had already been designed we started thinking about the name. It was a round or square watch with angular and aggressive lines, in Art Deco style. The peak of Art Deco was marked by a real Egyptomania – it was when Tutankhamun’s tomb was discovered. I decided to emphasize that connection between Egypt and Art Deco. For quite a while I’d studied Egyptian culture. And suddenly remembered the name of Shabaka who was the first Pharaoh of the 25th
dynasty. I thought that it would be great to name a watch like that; it would be reminiscent of life in the Ancient Egypt and the culture they had. It’s very important to think of a fine name for your brainchild. For instance, our first watch was Tourbillon Orbital; its name describes some specific features of the mechanism. Then came Shabaka; its name is connected with history and Art Deco style.
– How did you get the idea to create the brand under the name of Jean Dunand, Art Deco period artist?
– I was going to leave Bovet and came to Christophe Claret with this Art Deco concept. I said that it would be nice to make complicated mechanisms with similar design and style. He looked at me and said, "I have the same idea! I’ve been thinking about it for quite a while." That was how we founded our company. Its name has an interesting background. Yes, we decided to make Art Deco watches and we wanted to associate them with the past.
I`d researched Art Deco style very closely and was excited by the story of artist Jean Dunand. He was born in Geneva and finished the high school of arts there, then went to Paris. He was a famous craftsman, artist and architect of the Art Deco period, and though he wasn’t a watchmaker he still was an icon of design. Jean Dunand designed jewellery, vases and accessories, as well as the interior of large cruisers, such as Ile de France, Atlantique and Normandie. He also designed Zenith pocket watches. However, few people in Geneva know his name, though Dunand’s 2 paintings belong to the city museum. It was then that I decided to revive Jean Dunand’s name. I found out that it was free for branding. We prepared a retrospective of his works and did everything to make his name ubiquitous again but his family gave us no support. However, we solved that problem. In the end we blended the name of a wonderful artist and painter of the Art Deco period and our watches made in the same style.
– Which of your childhood impressions was the brightest?
– The thing is that my parents got divorced and it influenced my life. I was 10 years old when I was sent to the international private school in Lausanne. It was a very democratic school under the American influence. The atmosphere was fantastic: friends, good teachers, lots of sports, competitions and children from all world countries: Latin America, the US, Africa, Asia… I’d spent 10 years there. It was my father’s best decision to put me into that school. After that I went to Boston on the USA to study at the business college. You know, 10 years at school in Lausanne had made me a cosmopolitan though I`m a typical Swiss. For instance, my girlfriend is from Colombia.
My grandparents Maurice and Denise Bougnier were watchmakers. I inherited from them the penchant for watchmaking. My grandfather made mechanisms for Piaget; grandmother tweaked the watch mechanism and adjusted the accuracy movement. They worked at home. My grandfather`ы sister had worked for Zenith for 50 years. I liked watching them. I’m a non-typical man and I like living by my own rules. There’s one thing that I hate – doing what others do. I’m not eccentric, I just have my own life. For instance, I have an 8-year-old daughter but I’m not married.
– What can inspire you to design watches?
– Actually, it’s very important to estimate the surroundings: it’s the best marketing secret during travels. For example, a peculiar hatch or metro can catch my eye, or an item from a flea market, as, for instance, an old alarm clock from the 1940’s. But the main thing is to feel the trend. I have
an acute feeling for all things beautiful. It’s intuitive. When I’m on holiday I like going to flea markets, galleries, antique stores. I’m not a collector but I like buying art books and albums.
– Thierry, what would you like to achieve in the near future?
– The balance between my personal life, work, mind, soul and body. Life is short, that’s why finding balance is so important. I’d like to have a better and longer life and to spend more time with my family and daughter. But business is also important because it allows to self-improve. That’s why one should try achieving the harmony of all elements of life.
Natalia Andrianova
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