Robert Greubel

Robert Greubel, born in Alsace, France, is a master watchmaker and visionary engineer whose work has reshaped the landscape of contemporary horology. After honing his skills in his father’s workshop, he joined IWC in 1987, contributing to the development of the Grand Complication. His passion for mechanical innovation deepened at Renaud & Papi, where he led complex movement development and met Stephen Forsey. In 2001, the two founded Complitime, a movement think tank, and in 2004 launched Greubel Forsey to pursue uncompromising excellence in watchmaking.
 

Greubel’s engineering genius has driven the creation of some of the most technically advanced complications in modern watchmaking, including the Double Tourbillon 30°, Quadruple Tourbillon, and Tourbillon 24 Secondes. His commitment to chronometric performance, artisanal finishing, and horological research has elevated Greubel Forsey to icon status among collectors. Through initiatives like Experimental Watch Technology and the Time Æon Foundation, Greubel continues to champion both innovation and the preservation of traditional watchmaking skills.

Stephen Forsey

Stephen Forsey, born in 1967 in St. Albans, England, is a leading figure in modern watchmaking whose work has profoundly influenced the landscape of haute horlogerie. He began his career restoring antique timepieces, which instilled in him a deep respect for traditional craftsmanship. After formal training at WOSTEP in Switzerland, he joined Renaud & Papi, where he met Robert Greubel. Their shared vision of pushing mechanical boundaries led to the founding of Greubel Forsey in 2004.
 

At Greubel Forsey, Forsey helped pioneer some of the most technically ambitious complications in contemporary watchmaking, including the Double Tourbillon 30°, Quadruple Tourbillon, and inclined balance systems. His dedication to precision, innovation, and hand-finishing has set new benchmarks for artisanal excellence. Beyond engineering, Forsey is a passionate advocate for preserving horological heritage, drawing inspiration from historical masters like John Harrison and George Daniels. Through his work, he has elevated independent watchmaking to global prominence, influencing both the craft and culture of fine timekeeping.

Andrea Strehler

Andreas Strehler is a renowned independent Swiss watchmaker based in Sirnach. He meticulously designs, develops, and assembles all his watches by hand, embodying a philosophy of mechanical minimalism. Since establishing his manufacture in 1995, he has patented several groundbreaking complications, including the “Remontoir d’égalité” constant-force mechanism. Strehler collaborates with prestigious brands like H. Moser, Harry Winston, and Maurice Lacroix, developing award-winning calibers. In 2005, he founded UhrTeil AG, an integrated facility for engineering, prototyping, and production. His models, such as the Papillon and Cocon, balance tradition and innovation, resulting in limited edition pieces that exemplify fine watchmaking.

Christine Hutter

Christine Hutter, born in 1964 in Eichstätt, Bavaria, began her watchmaking apprenticeship in 1986 under master watchmaker Wilhelm Glöggler in Munich, where she discovered classic pocket watches and clocks from the 19th-20th centuries and learned restoration techniques, crafting parts by hand. In 1989, she completed her apprenticeship with highest honors in Bavaria and was recruited by Wempe, Germany's largest luxury watch retailer, gaining experience in watch marketing. She later worked for Swiss brand Maurice Lacroix and German brand A. Lange & Söhne, acquiring expertise in marketing, communications, and distribution channel development. Over time, she nurtured a desire to establish her own watch manufacture, discovered the historic Moritz Grossmann brand, and acquired the rights. As Managing Director of a Swiss watch company, she networked with fellow watch enthusiasts, and on November 11, 2008, she founded Grossmann Uhren GmbH in Glashütte to revive the heritage and vision of Moritz Grossmann.

Romain Gauthier

Romain Gauthier, an independent Swiss watchmaker, is renowned for his innovative and technically advanced creations. Based in the Vallée de Joux region, he founded his luxury brand in 2005 with the goal of pushing boundaries in haute horlogerie. With over 20 years of experience crafting components for prestigious brands, he applies a perfectionist mindset and engineering expertise to designing exceptional timepieces. Each piece is assembled by skilled artisans at the Manufacture Romain Gauthier in small production runs following extensive development. Combining new technical feats with exquisite finishing, the brand marries aesthetic beauty and mechanical performance. Drawing from the valley's rich horological heritage, Romain Gauthier imagines bold horizons for watchmaking. This independent spirit allows creative autonomy to realize the founder's distinctive visions, produced to the highest standards for discerning collectors worldwide.

Serge Michel

Serge Michel is the scion of one of the most prominent families in Switzerland. His unwavering passion and commitment to the business of the Armin Strom Manufacture have made him both the sponsor and the driving business force behind the brand. Serge Michel is the scion of one of the most prominent families in Switzerland. His unwavering passion and commitment to the business of the Armin Strom Manufacture have made him both the sponsor and the driving business force behind the brand. Beyond his life in the Manufacture, Serge is a husband and proud father of two girls. His other passions include global travel and wine collecting. Nothing brings a bigger smile to Serge’s face than introducing the latest Armin Strom creation to good friends over a dinner paired with several bottles of fine wine.

Claude Greisler

Claude Greisler is “a watchmaker’s watchmaker,” with a deep passion for watches and complicated watchmaking, a profession that has been in the Greisler family for generations. His training began in his grandfather’s workshop and continued with formal education, starting with a four-year program at the “School for Watchmakers and Rhabilleurs” in Solothurn, Switzerland. He then completed a two-year program in movement restoration at Centre Interrégional de Formation des Montagnes (CIFOM) in Le Locle, followed by another two-year program at CIFOM focused on the development and construction of complicated timepieces. After eight years of watchmaking education, Claude honed his craft at Christophe Claret, a brand known for its ultra-complicated timepieces, as part of his ambition to design and produce horologically significant timepieces. Beyond watchmaking, Claude is a passionate skier and outdoorsman, exploring the Swiss backcountry with his wife, Gaby, whenever his responsibilities at the manufacture allow.

Cyrano Devanthey, Dominique Buser

Dominique Buser and Cyrano Devanthey are two Swiss watchmakers whose dedication to traditional horology has made a profound impact on independent watchmaking. They met as apprentices at the Solothurn watchmaking school and graduated in 1994. After gaining experience in the industry—Buser with a background in physics and Devanthey leading Omega’s luxury watch division—they reunited in 2009 to build a movement workshop in Buchs, Switzerland, working exclusively for Urwerk.
 

In 2016, they founded Oscillon in Geneva, a brand devoted to crafting watches entirely by hand using restored antique tools and 19th-century techniques. Their creations, such as L’instant de Vérité and Fundamentum, reflect a philosophy rooted in precision, individuality, and the preservation of endangered artisanal skills. Through Oscillon and their involvement in the Time Æon Foundation’s Naissance d’une Montre 2 project, Buser and Devanthey continue to champion the future of handmade horology while honoring its past.