Confrérie Horlogère-Brand Profile, History and Products

For some time now Mathias Buttet, founder and president of BNB CONCEPT S.A. has wrestled with a problem: what can be done to give young watchmakers the opportunity to surpass themselves in the freedom to indulge their enthusiasm for their exceptional craft? How can one help them make their wildest dreams come true? Then he had the idea of giving the new generation of qualified watchmakers the opportunity to think up, create and sign original movements, born of their imaginations and reflecting their personalities. This is the idea behind the Confrérie Horlogère, a companionship of watchmakers under the aegis of BNB CONCEPT.



This company, which is a world leader in manufacturing the most sought-after horological complications, has made its logistical and production resources available to the Confrérie Horlogère to foster its development. Every year, seven Companion Watchmakers will be selected from the most capable of BNB CONCEPT’S 200 employees. They will be free to produce a watch and a movement of their own according the manifesto of the Confrérie Horlogère



The average age of the people who work at BNB CONCEPT is 27. This young workforce is the company’s strength. It means energy, fresh thinking and determination — qualities that BNB recognises and its clients appreciate. If there is one thing that all at BNB CONCEPT agree on, it’s consideration in every sphere: for people, whether clients or employees, for the watchmaking crafts, and for both tradition and for the technology of today that extends the creative possibilities. There’s no production line here — the fitters and watchmakers each complete an entire task, which gives them a legitimate pride in their movement when it’s delivered to the client.

Times are changing in watchmaking and it’s nice to see new brands appearing which bear the names of those who really make the movements of their watches. Today’s young watchmakers can’t get enough of new technology and are always looking ahead, yet they share a deep respect for their seniors, whose enthusiasm and open-mindedness they perpetuate.

Watchmakers of the 21st century.
The Confrérie Horlogère works as a team. If the genesis and assembly of each watch is the work of a Companion, its production necessarily involves a technician to draw up the blueprints, a machine operator to make the components, an electroplating specialist for the colours or an engraver who does the decorations. In short, all the craftsmen in the company are involved in the product. Through the Confrérie Horlogère, a tribute can be paid to those of BNB’s clients who put their trust in one of its watchmakers. One example is Yvan Arpa, managing director of the Romain Jérôme brand, who liked the style of David Rodriguez and invited him to fit his movement into a « Titanic DNA » model, which will be signed « By David Rodriguez ». As the Confrérie Horlogère is a new idea, its communications have to be likewise. To introduce the Confrérie’s first seven Companions, Elfe’s Productions have made a seven-minute movie. The aim was not to present their work but to put the various actors of the Confrérie on stage, not only as watchmakers but also as people who enjoy life to the full.

Women find their place in complicated watchmaking. Despite intense research, it has been impossible to find a 20th-century brand specialising in top complications that has a woman’s name. Throughout the centuries, horology has never exactly been a woman’s field and watchmakers have always assumed that mechanics is man’s work! Social change has seen women become more active in public life, and the modern woman often combines professional and family duties, while being enthusiastic about the latest technology.

Take the automobile sector for example: car manufacturers have always believed in a small runabout for her and a powerful car for him, before realising that most of the big SUVs were driven by women concerned with space and safety on the school run. Some watchmaking companies had an inkling of this phenomenon and produced women’s watches with minor mechanical complications, generally by making a smaller or diamond-studded version of the man’s model. Nobody, let alone a female watchmaker, had thought of creating a movement entirely for a woman’s needs.

The Confrérie includes three women who are watchmakers working to make up for this deficiency. They will establish eponymous brands, which will focus on complicated watches that have been truly designed for women! Brigitte, Clara and Sabitry could be the suffragettes of luxury watchmaking ?

Official website:www.chbnb.com

Related Links:
Official presentation of Confrérie Horlogère (2008)

Watchmakers:
David Rodrigueuz
Ken Koshiyama
Brigitte Carneiro
Ranieri Illicher
Clara Bise
Gabriel Salgado-de Arce
Sabitry Montandon.