Talking watches with Antoine Pin, CEO Bvlgari Watches

Italian creativity, deep knowledge of Swiss watchmaking and high-tech to reach new heights: this is the essence of Bvlgari watches, according to its boss, Antoine Pin. Any young watchmaker should master the old way, before daring into the new territories where we should take the industry.

Who are you and what do you do for a living?  

Antoine Pin, Managing Director at Bvlgari Horlogerie.

What changed completely with the Covid & post-Covid era for Swiss watches? 

I would say that society has changed in general, and not necessarily and just due to Covid.
The impact that Covid has had is part of a cyclical evolution of business. There are significant changes in the world, and Covid was a moment in time, but we can’t associate the current issues of watchmaking only with Covid.

Give me ‘the’ one thing that watch makers cannot disregard now. 

Technique. Know-how. Craftsmanship. Paradoxically, the more we innovate, the more we need excellence. You must be humble, and to be humble you must know things well. It’s your expertise that makes you progress. The danger is that technology may prevent you from going deeper and progress, indeed.

However, what is the one thing that did not change? 

Technique. Know-how. Craftsmanship… again! This hasn’t changed and should never change. The essence of watchmaking. Despite technological advancements, the dedication to meticulous craftsmanship and excellence remains fundamental.

What is the ‘why’, the uniqueness or the reason to exist of Bvlgari Watches?

Asking this question is the essence of our profession. How are we going to put the Italian touch into Swiss watchmaking? We ask ourselves about our origins. Creativity is our identity. It’s part of our history. The need to create beauty. We can’t conceive the functional without the beautiful. Our ability to elevate aesthetic creativity to the same level as functional creativity is a true skill. Watchmaking is very functional, and we go beyond that.

Bvlgari’s uniqueness? We stand out for our unique blend of Italian design combined with exceptional craftsmanship, and innovative engineering. From world record-breaking thinness to high-end tourbillons and stunning jewelry timepieces, culminating in a diverse and captivating collection, we never cease to celebrate the brand’s unique heritage.

New Gen-s: what’s your take on the appeal of watches for them? What do you observe? 

It’s a fascinating world to explore. However, I do observe that the young generations aren’t necessarily the most innovative or daring ones. The older generations still hold that position. Because watches are expensive, you can be daring only with pieces that aren’t risky investments. And young people usually want to wear their parents’ watches. However, I see that there is a real passion and interest among young generations, strong knowledge and respect for heritage.

One tip for a young designer or businessperson wanting to try the watch business right after college? Why should they join this community and profession? 

To begin with, I would advise to focus on learning and mastering the fundamentals of watchmaking. To be completely open-minded. Today, watchmaking is extremely contradictory; because it’s ultra-traditional and, at the same time, it makes use of ultra-modern technologies. So, I think that the key is: appreciate the old know-how and intellectually create bridges between technology and know-how. A true watchmaker revisits the old methodology and ways.

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