The Road to The Escapement

What does it take to bring one of watchmaking’s most historic names into a new era? For the latest episode of The Road to The Escapement, we travel to Biel/Bienne, Switzerland, to visit L.Leroy and sit down with Hugo Lesizza, Brand Director, to explore the brand’s remarkable history, its ongoing revival, and the vision behind its next chapter. From its historic pocket watches to some of the most c...

How did a fascination with watches turn into a mission to showcase the very best of Chinese watchmaking? For the latest episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Robin Tallendier, Founder of Atelier Wen, to trace the journey from an early fascination with watches to building one of the most distinctive names in independent watchmaking. Robin takes us back to where it all started, fro...

What happens when two watch collectors decide to build a watch brand of their own? For the latest episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Thomas Fleming, Founder & Designer, and James Kong, COO & Art Director at Fleming, a young independent watch brand bringing a collector-led perspective to contemporary haute horlogerie. Thomas and James take us back to where their journey...

Ever wondered how top collectors decide what to buy? For the latest episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Christopher Daaboul, Founder of EsperLuxe, and Vasu (@nycwatchguy) for a conversation that goes straight to the heart of The Escapement: collecting, and the people behind it. From how they decide which watches deserve a place in their collections to the advice they’d give som...

What does it take to build a watch brand known for pushing complications to their limits? For the latest episode of The Road to The Escapement, we travel to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, to meet Vahé Vartzbed, CEO of Kerbedanz, and uncover the story, philosophy and watchmaking behind the brand. Vahé takes us back to the beginnings of Kerbedanz 15 years ago, revealing the meaning behind the name, the phi...

What happens when you refuse to take shortcuts in independent watchmaking? In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, we travel to Saint-Imier, Switzerland, to visit Zeitwinkel and sit down with co-founder Albert Edelmann to discover the story, philosophy, and watchmaking behind the independent brand. The story of Zeitwinkel began in 2006, when three friends set out with an ambitious idea: to...

Today, we're trading watches for pens. In this special episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Samuel Naldi, CEO of Writing Culture, one of the world's leading destinations for high-end writing instruments. Samuel deep dives into the philosophy behind Writing Culture and why a luxury product is about so much more than the object itself. From the emotional connection we buil...

What does it take to reinvent a watch brand while staying true to its identity? In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, we spend the day with Manuel Emch, CEO and Co-Owner of Louis Erard, at the beautiful Golf & Country Club Neuchâtel. From his early ambition to become an automotive designer to leading some of the most distinctive names in independent watchmaking, Manuel reflects on the...

What does it take to transform a small workshop into one of Switzerland's most respected independent manufactures? In this episode of The Escapement, we sit down with Claude Greisler, Co-founder and Master Watchmaker of Armin Strom, to explore the remarkable journey behind the brand. From its early days under legendary hand skeletonizer Armin Strom to becoming a fully integrated movement manuf...

Who is Pierre Biver beyond the watches? In this episode of Road to The Escapement, we visit Biver's manufacture in Givrins, Switzerland, where Pierre Biver, CEO and Co-Founder of Biver, takes us behind the scenes of one of modern watchmaking's most exciting young maisons. From building the company alongside his father, legendary watchmaker Jean-Claude Biver, to leading a growing team and s...

What does it take to create a truly timeless watch? In this episode of Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Jens Schneider, Director of Development at Lang & Heyne, for a behind-the-scenes look at one of Germany's most respected independent watch manufactures. From the workshops in Dresden to the meticulous handcrafting behind every timepiece, Jens shares what defines Lang & Heyne&...

In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Xavier de Roquemaurel, CEO of Czapek & Cie, for an open conversation about entrepreneurship, watchmaking, and the journey behind one of today's most respected independent brands. Xavier shares the story of Czapek's early days, the challenges of bringing a new brand to the market, and why they ultimately chose to build dire...

Who is Romain Gauthier beyond the workshop? In this episode of The Road To The Escapement, we sit down with Romain Gauthier for an honest conversation about craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and the mindset behind creating exceptional timepieces. Romain Gauthier shares the story behind his brand, the importance of believing in your own vision, and why precision and patience are at the heart of ever...

What does it take to lead one of the most respected brands in modern watchmaking? In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with Michel Nydegger, the youngest CEO in the history of Greubel Forsey, to discuss leadership, responsibility, and the pursuit of perfection. Known for its uncompromising approach to craftsmanship, Greubel Forsey has built a reputation for creating some of t...

What happens when you take watchmaking out of the workshop and into the forest? In this episode of The Road To The Escapement, we join Marko Koncina and Amr Sindi, one of the co-founders of Kollokium for a walk through a Vitaparcours sports track in Zurich, Switzerland, combining physical challenges with an open and honest conversation about watchmaking, design, and the philosophy behind the brand...

What does it take to preserve a centuries-old craft while pushing it into the future? In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, we sit down with master watchmaker Luca Soprana to explore the journey that shaped one of the most respected figures in contemporary horology. From his early fascination with mechanics and timepieces to training under some of the industry's most renowned watchma...

For Rexhep Rexhepi, the search for the perfect sound became a journey of its own. In this episode of The Road to The Escapement, master watchmaker Rexhep Rexhepi takes us inside one of the most fascinating and challenging aspects of modern watchmaking: the pursuit of the perfect gong. From years of experimentation and countless setbacks to breakthrough moments and meticulous craftsmanship, Rexhep...

A new global watch event is redefining luxury, collectors, and modern horology. In this first episode, we sat down with founders Anish Bhatt, Ezzat Eid, and Ales Pohl to explore the vision behind The Escapement. From the rise of Abu Dhabi as a new hub for luxury watches to the importance of community in today’s watch world, this conversation offers an inside look at a new kind of watch event bring...