Archive for the ‘Interviews’ Category:
Interview With Ludovic Ballouard: Creator Of The Upside Down Watch
Puzzling. Ludovic Ballouard is a puzzling man. Everything that this young and brilliant watchmaker does systematically goes against conventional wisdom. While most talented entrepreneurs dream about the development and expansion of their business, he just wants to work alone and not create more than 100 pieces per year. When they buy a new Porsche, he prefers… model aircraft. When others organize prestigious exhibitions to show-case their creations, Ludovic takes his clients out…for a beer at the local bar in his village.
And despite the allure of state-of-the-art Ateliers and luxury houses, Ludovic maintains that he wouldn’t leave his village and his dozen or so dogs and cats for anything.
Welcoming, authentic and modest, Ludovic’s unassuming attitude belies the exceptional career he has carved out in the luxury watch industry, masking the truly outstanding wealth of knowledge and expertise he possesses.
As a former employee of Franck Muller and then F.P. Journe, he admits, albeit with a hint of embarrassment, that he has almost “done it all”. Realizing the depth and breadth of his exceptional talent, clients of these two prestigious companies urged him to develop his own range of pieces.
And so, in 2009, Ludovic launched his business. His first idea took just 15 minutes to crystallize. He took a few more to scribble it down on a post-it note and so the soon-to-be legendary Upside Down watch was born.
©Wai Shan Lam
We recently had the great pleasure to spend a few moments speaking with Ludovic, an experience that stays with you long after you have left this charming, thoughtful man.
Even still, charismatic as he is, conducting a traditional style interview with him is quite a challenge. A business plan? He never gave it a second thought. Future projects planned? Sure, about thirty. Examples of specific sources of inspiration? Not really; it can be a tree, a road, or a dream had in the night.
Still, at least we can tell you what motivates Ludovic Ballouard. Passion and instinct. Nothing more, and nothing less.
So, let us meet with an ordinary man who makes extraordinary things.
TWL: Hello Ludovic. So, how was the experience of your very first creation, the Upside-Down?
LB: Very good, thanks! I am very happy to say that in the last few weeks, all 12 units have been delivered. Each of them is unique, as every model from 1 to 12 is identified with its figure in red directly on the dial of the watch.
TWL: How was the watch received by the very first, specially selected, 12 new owners?
It was a very warm welcome. And even an anticipated welcome you might say, as the Number 1 was acquired even before his owner saw any plans or sketches!
Now they have all been delivered to the right hands. This is very important to me. My watches are the extension of my own personality, and so my clients want to know who is really behind the brand Ludovic Ballouard. It’s important to them, and it’s important to me.
©Ian Skellern
TWL: Why did not you create a brand? Today, Ludovic Ballouard is simultaneously a man, a brand, and a product. It must be hard to manage…
LB: For the same reasons as before. For me, there always has to be a link between the watchmaker and his creation. A brand created from scratch has something very impersonal that does not reflect me as a person. Today, my business associate and I know personally each of the 12 owners. It’s like a club, there is a connection that unite us.
TWL: Talking about this, what’s the typical profile of a Ludovic Ballouard watch owner?
LB: It’s hard to define a unique profile. The amateur of something very unique indeed. Someone looking for authenticity, also, as well as a watch proposed at its real value.
TWL: What do you mean?
LB: I create high end watches, yes, but I don’t add a zero to their price to have them figure artificially on the list of super exclusive brands. I don’t understand these brands that create watches with a steel bezel and a movement produced in the millions and then they sell them for over 100.000 CHF. It’s stupefying, it exasperates me.
TWL: Is the same then for high mass events such as BaselWorld?
LB: Not quite but let’s just say simply that I’m not interested in them. Moreover, I’m always afraid to see other watchmaker’s creations, I’m afraid it has an unconscious influence on me! Other people’s ideas might slow down my creativity.
Sometimes I participate in professional trade shows, but I only work with independent artisans, who are all friends of mine, and it works perfectly like this. As for the opportunity to meet new clients? Well, let’s just say it’s not a great necessity for me at the moment! As I had the privilege to work on the Grande Sonnerie for FP Journe, I acquired a kind of a legitimacy in the industry as well as somewhat of a profile that gave me access to contacts and orders from Paris, London, Sydney or Singapore.
TWL: Consequently, you can remain independent?
LB: Yes, and it’s essential for me. I like total independence, I don’t owe anything to anyone, and I’m financially self-sufficient.
©Wai Shan Lam
TWL: What are your projects for the future?
LB: My plans are to deliver one new model every two years. Thus, in 2012, the Upside-Down will be joined by a new watch, for which I already have about thirty ideas! I have to refine the project, but so it is going well. In principle, I’ll stay quite close to the Upside-Down, but key evolutions are not defined yet. Each new model will have a pre-production of 12 units, which will be first and foremost proposed to the 12 owners of the Upside-Down.
To introduce this model to them, I’d like to organize a weekend get-together somewhere in the world, although I don’t know where yet at this stage. I don’t like traveling though, so I’ll have to make a great effort as I don’t feel comfortable with long distances!
TWL: What can we expect from this new model?
LB: I don’t know yet, but, however, nothing to do with a tourbillon or a chronograph!
TWL: Why?
LB: I don’t know, I’m just not interested in them, it’s not in the spirit of my creations. It doesn’t match with the way I see things. To be honest though, I don’t have any creative plans or even a business plan, I work purely on instinct…
What do you think? Leave a comment. | Filed under Interviews, New This Week
Entretien avec Ludovic Ballouard, créateur de l’Upside Down
Déroutant. Ludovic Ballouard est un homme déroutant. Tout ce qu’entreprend ce jeune et brillant à l’horloger part systématiquement à l’opposé des sentiers battus. Quand la plupart de ses confrères indépendants rêvent de développement et d’expansion, lui veut rester seul et ne pas dépasser 100 pièces par an. Quand certains de ses confrères s’achètent une nouvelle Porsche, Ludovic s’achète…une maquette d’avion. Quand ils organisent de prestigieux show-cases, Ludovic emmène ses clients… boire une bière à la buvette du village. Et là où tous rivalisent de prestigieux ateliers et demeures, pour rien au monde Ludovic ne quitterait son village et sa douzaine de chiens et chats.
Accueillant, authentique et modeste, Ludovic n’en cache pas moins un savoir-faire horloger prestigieux. Ancien des ateliers Franck Muller puis F.P. Journe, il avoue, presque gêné, avoir “tout fait“. Rapidement, face à sa maîtrise, les clients de ces deux ateliers le pressent de développer sa propre pièce.
En 2009, Ludovic se lance. Une idée lui vient en 15 mn. Il en prend quelques-unes supplémentaires pour la griffonner sur un….post-it. Et ainsi naquit l’Upside-Down, une montre qui ne pouvait être….qu’à l’envers.
Nous avons eu le plaisir de passer un moment en compagnie de Ludovic. L’interviewer est un exercice difficile. Un business plan ? Il n’y a pas pensé. Des projets pour la suite ? Oui…une trentaine. Des sources d’inspiration particulières ? Non, pas vraiment, ça peut être un arbre, une route, ou un rêve fait dans la nuit.
A quoi marche Ludovic Ballouard, alors ? A la passion et à l’instinct uniquement. Rencontre avec un homme ordinaire qui réalise des choses extraordinaires.
©Wai Shan Lam
TWL : Bonjour Ludovic. Comment s’est passée l’expérience de ta première réalisation, l’Upside-Down ?
LB : Très bien ! Ca y est, depuis quelques semaines, les 12 modèles sont livrés. Chacun d’entre eux est unique, puisque chaque modèle de 1 à 12 est identifié par son chiffre correspondant teint en rouge sur le cadran de la montre.
TWL : Comment la montre fut-elle accueillie par ces douze premiers élus ?
LB : Il y a eu un très bon accueil. Et même un très bon accueil anticipé, puisque la numéro 1 a même été commandée sans que le client n’ait vu un seul plan, une seule esquisse !
Elles ont toutes été livrées en mains propres. C’est très important pour moi. Mes montres sont l’extension de ma personnalité, et mes clients veulent savoir qui il y a véritablement derrière une Ludovic Ballouard. C’est important pour eux, c’est important pour moi.
TWL : Pourquoi ne pas avoir créé une marque ? Aujourd’hui, Ludovic Ballouard, c’est simultanément un homme, une marque, et un produit, ce n’est pas évident à gérer…
LB : Pour les mêmes raisons que précédemment. Pour moi, il ne doit pas y avoir de rupture entre l’horloger et son travail. Une marque créée de toutes parts a quelque chose d’impersonnel qui ne me ressemble pas. Aujourd’hui, mon associé commercial ou moi connaissons personnellement chacun des 12 premiers possesseurs. C’est comme un club, il y a quelque chose qui nous unit.
©Ian Skellern
TWL : Justement, le profil du client Ludovic Ballouard, c’est quoi ?
LB : Difficile de définir un profil type. L’amateur de quelque chose d’unique, assurément. Une personne à la recherche d’authenticité, également, ainsi que de très haute qualité proposée à sa juste valeur.
TWL : Comment cela ?
LB : Je produis du haut-de-gamme, mais je ne rajoute pas un zéro aux prix de mes montres pour le simple plaisir de les positionner artificiellement dans l’ultra haut-de-gamme exclusif. Je ne comprends pas ces marques qui proposent des montres à 100.000 CHF avec une monture acier et un mouvement produit ailleurs sur lequel seule la platine est changée, par exemple. C’est ahurissant, cela m’exaspère.
TWL : Les grandes messes type BaselWorld aussi, non ?
LB : Non, disons juste que ça ne m’intéresse pas. De surcroît, j’ai toujours peur de voir les créations des autres m’influencer sans que je ne m’en rende compte ! Voir les idées des autres freine ma créativité.
Je vais parfois dans des salons professionnels, mais je travaille avec des fournisseurs indépendants, qui sont tous des amis, et cela fonctionne très bien comme cela. Quant à la rencontre de nouveaux clients que ces salons peuvent m’apporter, disons que pour le moment, ce n’est pas nécessaire… ! Après avoir eu le privilège de travailler sur la Grande Sonnerie de FP Journe, j’ai une certaine légitimité, ainsi qu’une notoriété qui me permet de recevoir des commandes depuis Paris, Londres, Sydney, ou encore Singapour.
TWL : Tu peux donc rester indépendant ?
LB : Oui, et c’est pour moi essentiel. J’aime l’indépendance totale, je ne rends de compte à personne, et je suis financièrement autonome.
©Wai Shan Lam
TWL : Et pour l’avenir, quels sont tes projets ?
LB : Je pars sur une base d’environ un nouveau modèle tous les deux ans. Donc d’ici 2012, l’Upside-Down sera complétée par une nouvelle montre, pour laquelle j’ai déjà une trentaine d’idées ! Il faut que j’affine le projet, mais c’est déjà bien avancé. A priori, je resterai proche de l’Upside-Down, mais avec des évolutions encore non définies à ce stade. Chaque nouveau modèle sera préfiguré d’une série limitée à 12 exemplaires, qui seront proposés en priorité aux 12 propriétaires de l’Upside-Down. Pour leur présenter, j’aimerai d’ailleurs réunir ce club le temps d’un week-end, quelque part dans le monde, je ne sais pas encore où, mais je n’aime pas trop voyager, il faudra que je me force un peu, les longs trajets m’ennuient… !
TWL : Que peut-on imaginer pour ces nouveaux modèles ?
LB : Je ne sais pas encore vraiment, mais quoi qu’il en soit, l’ajout d’un tourbillon ou d’un chronographe ne m’intéresse pas à ce jour !
TWL : Pourquoi ?
LB : Je ne sais pas, ce n’est pas dans l’esprit de mes créations. Ce n’est pas dans ma manière de voir les choses. Je n’ai pas de plan créatif ni de business plan, à vrai dire, je travaille à l’instinct…
Wow Watch Wednesday: Claret’s Dual Tow
Yesterday we published Part.1 of an exclusive interview with Mr Christophe Claret, Founder and Owner of Christophe Claret SA, creators of the some of the world’s most complicated timepieces. In Part.1 Claret talked quite openly about his company and how they are fairing through the financial crisis, as well as his vision for the future of his company.
Today, in Part.2 we shift the focus to the DualTow, a superb timepiece created by Claret and released under the company’s brand name in 2009 to celebrate their 20th anniversary.
BaselWorld 2010 saw the return of the DualTow, in the form of an all black, highly attractive version aptly named the Night Eagle. Scheduled to be produced in a limited production of just 68 pieces, the sophisticated design allows for maximum viewing pleasure of the highly complicated movement housed within.
And believe us, you are going to want to see as much as possible!
As one would expect from such an accomplished brand the DualTow features several complications, including one patented innovation. Time is displayed on two rubber belts and the complex movement features a single-pusher planetary-gear chronograph with 12-hour, 60-minute and 60-second chronograph counters complete with striking mechanism that causes a gong to chime each time you press the chronograph pusher. As is standard on most high-end timepieces the DualTow also features a stunning flying tourbillon.
Priced at over half a million dollars, the DualTow truly showcased to the world what Claret is capable of and allowed him to well and truly step into the limelight. Fortunately, he was also willing to share some thoughts on this exceptional piece with us
Read on to find out what he had to say.
The all-black Claret DualTow Night Eagle
TWL: Let’s talk about the Dual Tow. How long did it take to make, from the very first sketch to the first unit?
CC: I can’t tell you that, it’s confidential, but I can tell you that we worked very hard and fast, way faster than the usual 3 to 4 years of development required for a new model, which is a standard in the industry…
TWL: Was there anything you learnt from the work you deliver every day for your clients that you incorporated into the Dual Tow?
CC: No, in fact, nothing we did not really know already… Sometimes our clients have specific requests that might not be, in my opinion, a good idea. On some occasions, I let them know my feeling, even if I’m not supposed to! And I must admit that most of the time, considering the final result, they should have listened to me!
TWL: What challenges did you face in perfecting the use of the belts to display the time?
CC: They are in rubber, on which we all have a good knowledge. The challenge was to guarantee that it would last decades. We tested if for a simulated 60 year period, without any problem.
TWL: What were the greatest technical challenges you faced in making this movement a reality?
CC: Clearly the differential chronograph – 12-hour, 60-minute and 60-second chronograph counters with operating mode indicators of the chronograph.
TWL: Does the final design resemble what you first imagined in your mind or has it changed dramatically from concept to reality?
CC: Yes, completely. We have issued a book on the genesis of the Dual Tow. If you look at the first sketches you will see that they are very similar to the final piece.
Original copy of one the very first sketches of the DualTow – Amazing!
TWL: What is next for Claret?
CC: First, our objective is to sell all the Dual Tow.
TWL: How many have you sold so far amongst the 68 units scheduled?
CC: 17. We plan to produce 22 units per year, which implies a complete production process for this model of around 3 years.
Then our second objective is to produce one novelty per year. Not sure if we’ll begin right from 2011, but we should be able to stick to the plan once the crisis is behind us.
On a day to day basis, I am trying to run the business whilst keeping all my staff of experts. I decided to introduce a reduced working week at the beginning of May so now my staff do not come into work on Fridays. Orders decreased this year, so I had to reduce our production pace and draw cash from our reserves, but so far, we’re safe! I’m reasonably confident we will achieve our goals.
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