Christophe Claret

Christophe Claret is a Swiss luxury watch brand. Christophe Claret himself was born in Lyon in 1962. He entered the Geneva Watchmaking School in 1978 and went on to train with cabinotier Roger Dubuis. That same year, he opened his first workshop for restoring old watches in his family home, where he also devoted himself to another mechanical passion – that of restoring motorbikes. In 1982, he graduated as a watchmaker. At the 1987 Basel fair, Rolf Schnyder – the new owner of the Ulysse Nardin brand – ordered twenty minute-repeater calibers with San Marco jacks from Claret. Two years later, Christophe Claret founded the eponymous Manufacture, and it soon became a benchmark in the field of grand complication calibers. By 2009, he was known as a watchmaker specialising in grand complications, and decided to present his first watch in his own name – the DualTow. The Christophe Claret brand now belongs to a circle of independent Haute Horlogerie brands that design, develop and produce their watches entirely in-house.

16 Prize-Winning Watches from the 2014 Geneva Grand Prix

On October 31st, the 14th annual Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève — the watch world’s equivalent of the Oscars — was held at Geneva’s Grande Theatre. The international jury of watch experts handed out prizes in 16 categories, including the prestigious “Aiguille d’Or” grand prize, awarded to Breguet for its Classiqu Chronometrie. Scroll down for...

Read the article

Nov 3, 2014 by Mark Bernardo

Baselworld 2014: Christophe Claret Maestoso with Live Images

Christophe Claret’s latest superwatch features a unique traditional pivoted detent escapement with constant force and a cylindrical balance spring. The movement incorporates three patented developments. The entire watch – case, hands and all the parts of the movement, including the balance spring – was designed, manufactured and assembled in Claret’s workshops. This is the ultimate in...

Read the article

Mar 27, 2014 by WatchTime

Video: Christophe Claret Teases Kantharos

Christophe Claret, a brand known for creating complicated timepieces (like the Soprano, seen at SIHH), has posted a teaser video for its Baselworld 2013 novelty, the Kantharos. The video provides a sneak peek of the movement of the watch, which is a mono-pusher chronograph with constant force mechanism. The watch will be formally unveiled at Baselworld...

Read the article

Apr 1, 2013 by WatchTime

More from Geneva: Christophe Claret, De Bethune, Urwerk, and Moser

The SIHH takes place at the massive Palexpo convention center near the Geneva airport, but during that week in January, the whole city becomes a new-watch paradise. My final day in Geneva took me away from the halls of the SIHH to take a look at a number of other new watches, from brands that...

Read the article

Jan 28, 2013 by Mark Bernardo

Christophe Claret’s Soprano Tourbillon Minute Repeater Takes the Stage

Christophe Claret, known for creating complicated timepieces with tourbillons and repeater mechanisms, has released his most ambitious such model yet, called the Soprano. The watch’s signature features are its 60-second tourbillon, stepped “Charles X” bridges made of sapphire, and a musically accurate four-note minute repeater striking Westminster chimes on cathedral gongs.

Read the article

Oct 12, 2012 by Mark Bernardo

Christophe Claret Releases 21 Blackjack Video

Christophe Claret’s February press release only hinted at the aesthetics and complications of his newest creation, the 21 Blackjack. Now the maestro reveals more about the new piece in a high-energy video. Find a link to the show inside. Shuffle up and deal.

Read the article

Mar 16, 2011 by WatchTime

Christophe Claret 21 Blackjack

Christophe Claret has released teaser images of his next new creation, called 21 Blackjack, which will officially debut next month during Baselworld. Coming on the heels of the Adagio’s launch last month in Geneva, 2011 is shaping up to be an annus mirabilis for the master from Le Soleil D’Or. Find wallpaper and pricing inside.

Read the article

Feb 18, 2011 by WatchTime

Christophe Claret Adagio

For years Christophe Claret labored in relative obscurity creating horological masterpieces sold under the names of others. To date he has devised and executed 68 unique complicated movements. In 2009, the man behind the curtain released the first timepiece widely marketed under his own name. Following the “bravos”, Claret is launching a second piece bearing...

Read the article

Jan 28, 2011 by WatchTime

An Afternoon with Christophe Claret

In many ways, the story of Christophe Claret is the story of the Swiss watch industry. He is independent and innovative. Much of his work is done in secrecy. He designed and created many of the most complicated movements introduced during the past 20 years. Now, Claret emerges from behind the curtain to produce timepieces...

Read the article

Nov 28, 2010 by WatchTime

Christophe Claret DualTow NightEagle – Stealth That Gets Noticed

Last year Christophe Claret generated the biggest buzz at Baselworld with the DualTow, a wonder of the horological world created to mark the Manufacture’s 20th anniversary. For 2010, a new, black DualTow appears with the intriguing name NightEagle. If you look closely at the movement and squint, you can see a tiny, polished sign that...

Read the article

Oct 6, 2010 by WatchTime

PALACE COUP: Jean Dunand’s Newest Watch is a Tribute to the Industrial Revolution

What sets Jean Dunand apart from other luxury watch brands — aside from its extremely limited production and lofty price points — is the fact that each collection has a totally different look, with no “house style” and very few unifying brand characteristics. The only common principle behind each Jean Dunand model, as voiced by...

Read the article

Apr 4, 2010 by Mark Bernardo

DeWitt’s Wild Antipode

Jerome DeWitt is a charming man who knows how to create suspense, and how to create watches. We entered his elegant booth at Basel and were seated in comfortable chairs around a low table. As the presentation began, Mr. DeWitt produced what looked like a substantial watch on a small stand, covered with a cloth,...

Read the article

Apr 15, 2009 by WatchTime

Christophe Claret’s Amazing DualTow

The biggest buzz in Basel surrounded Christophe Claret’s DualTow, an amazing timepiece created to celebrate the eponymous manufacture’s 20th anniversary. The hand-winding caliber CC20A has 582 parts including 73 jewels and features a one-minute tourbillon and a patented single-pusher planetary-gear chronograph with a striking mechanism that chimes when the chronograph pusher is activated. All parts...

Read the article

Apr 7, 2009 by WatchTime

«
1
2