MICHEL NYDEGGER
CEO, GREUBEL FORSEY
When you joined Greubel Forsey, what immediately resonated with you?
What struck me was the honesty. Here, there’s no compromise — not in design, not in execution, not even in how long it takes. The founders built this house with one clear intention: to push watchmaking forward, not through marketing, but through conviction and mastery. That level of authenticity is rare, and it spoke to me deeply.
How do you describe your leadership philosophy at the manufacture?
Greubel Forsey is an atelier built on passion and precision. My job is to balance the founders’ artistic vision with the realities of the world today, without ever losing our soul. I listen a lot: to the team, to the object, to the time we live in.
Since 2004, Greubel Forsey has redefined haute horlogerie. What were the key turning points?
The Double Tourbillon 30° was the first big step, a technical and aesthetic breakthrough. Then came the EWT laboratory, which gave us the freedom to experiment without limits. More recently, the Convexe collection opened a new chapter with a more contemporary feel. But the real turning point was deciding to stay true to ourselves, to remain independent in spirit.
What did full independence change for the brand?
It brought clarity. Independence gives you freedom, but also responsibility. Every decision must reflect who we are. It forces you to be honest, to make choices for the right reasons, not for short-term gain.
How do you balance modern design with traditional craftsmanship?
By understanding that modernity and tradition aren’t opposites. The Convexe collection is a good example: the shape, the ergonomics, the architecture are new, but every detail is still finished by hand. We don’t cut corners. If modern design threatens craftsmanship, then it’s not progress, it’s loss.
How do new inventions start at Greubel Forsey?
Usually with a question. “What if we could…?” With EWT, the teams can explore ideas without worrying. Some experiments lead to breakthroughs, others don’t, but every one of them teaches us something. That’s how we keep moving forward.
Where does the human hand remain irreplaceable?
In everything that requires feeling. Machines can cut with precision, but they can’t feel. When a watchmaker polishes a bevel or adjusts a regulator, it’s not just technique, it’s sensitivity. That human connection gives each watch its soul.
What guides the architecture of your movements?
Every movement is a balance between logic and emotion. It has to work perfectly, of course, but it also has to tell a story of tension, harmony, and proportion. The eye should immediately feel that everything is where it belongs.
The Convexe line changed your design language. What was the biggest challenge?
Completely rethinking how to integrate our level of finishing and precision into a new curved architecture. But it also gave us freedom. Convexe follows the natural curve of the wrist, it feels alive.
The QP à Équation makes complexity feel simple. What does it represent for you?
It shows that true sophistication is clarity. The QP à Équation translates an incredibly complex mechanism into something intuitive. You can read it instantly, and that’s where the beauty lies.
How do materials influence your choices?
Each material has its own language. Titanium brings lightness, sapphire brings transparency, gold brings warmth. But we don’t choose materials because they’re trendy, we use them only if they make sense, technically and emotionally.
How do you nurture young watchmakers?
By giving them time. They don’t come here just to execute, but to understand. We teach them not just how, but why. To listen to the material, to question, to be patient. Passing on savoir-faire isn’t about repeating, it’s about keeping it alive.
What role do independents like Greubel Forsey play in a digital age?
We remind people that not everything can be automated or optimized. In a world of speed, we represent time taken slowly and meaningfully. We’re here to protect the human side of time.
What has been your biggest challenge as CEO?
The hardest and most rewarding part is to lead a house where every creation carries so much emotion and responsibility. You have to protect the artisans, the collectors, and the legacy, all at once.
How would you like to be remembered?
If I could be remembered for one thing, it would be for helping Greubel Forsey evolve without losing its soul. Success here isn’t measured in numbers or years, but in integrity and longevity. What matters is that what we create today still inspires a century from now.
