Sure, a watch is a product. And us watch lovers alike love to know what makes up its parts. But ask yourself, what makes a watch really tick? When newness comes around each year in the watch industry, the noise is often about the updates to the inner mechanism, the look or the brand mission. We congregate around these objects like hungry paparazzi, posing questions to their owners in a bid to understand them. But what do the watches actually think of it all? In honour of some of this year’s most iconic launches, we met with each watch, in a bid to amplify their voices beyond their dutiful tick-tock sounds. It’s time the watches did the talking.

Is there a Chanel memory that lives rent free in your head?
In 1987, the birth of the PREMIÈRE Edition Originale, and the first page in our watchmaking history, initiating the vision of Chanel on time.

What’s in your system currently?
I am equipped with a high precision quartz movement.

Tell me about your strap and why you decided to choose a tape measure to fasten to people’s wrists.
It’s an essential tool of the daily work in the rue Cambon ateliers and a tool that Gabrielle Chanel used throughout her life. Here transformed into an exceptional piece, blending watchmaking, jewellery and the finest craftsmanship. A tape measure can be so elegant. I was born out of an absolute freedom of creation, envisioned by Arnaud Chastaingt and the living legacy of Gabrielle Chanel, an infinite modern and timeless idea, brought to life source of inspiration. I am a resolutely by our fine watchmaking savoir-faire and exceptional craftsmen.

What makes you feel excited?

I retain the audacious spirit of the PREMIÈRE watch, a watchmaking icon, while offering a new way of wearing.

When do you feel most confident?
Worn, on the wrist of a woman, expressing the allure of women and that of time.

When you look at yourself in the mirror and catch your reflection, what do you see?
My fiery new tie-dye of rubies and pink sapphires. It took a year to find the perfect pairing, but it was worth it.

What’s your secret to looking so good? Your self-care routine looks impressive.
Every single one of my stones has been cut on measure to create this seamless illusion of an invisible setting. I’m 35-years-old, but never looked so radiant. It might be due to my diamond dial, I always protect it from the sun damage.

What’s a lasting memory that stays in your head?
You know, my setting is so complicated that if one stone is not perfectly calibrated, they have to take it down and start all over. Something you never forget.

Your face is very striking. How long does it take to look this good?
Thank you! I have been 10 years in the making, after all. My casing is based on Louis Vuitton’s historic trunkmaking, so you could say that I have actually been in development since 1854, when Louis Vuitton made his first trunk.

In the process of getting dressed to go out into the world, what’s your go-to song when getting ready?
Anything by Pharrell, Louis Vuittons Men’s Creative Director. “Good People” by Mumford & Sons x Pharrell has been on repeat in my Trunk lately. It was played during our FW24 show at Men’s Paris Fashion Week. An iconic moment for Pharrell and Louis Vuitton.

You don’t get tired too easily, going for 50 hours straight. What keeps you going?
Well, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have an amazing movement that comes from a rich terrain of traditional Swiss haute horlogerie. When viewed from an angle, you will see that my 10mm profile actually arcs outwards, an aesthetic analogue of the minutely calibrated and regulated power that comes from the calibre. LFT023 beating within my chest.

What’s a thought you had recently?
Funnily enough, I have been pondering on the panorama of timekeeping, with the view that the simplest moments in life can also be the most precious.

You were born in Le Brassus. How would you describe the place to someone who’s never been there?
Le Brassus is more than a place, it’s the beating heart of Audemars Piguet and one of the cradles of complicated watchmaking. Nestled in the serene Vallée de Joux, Switzerland, Le Brassus is where time seems to stand still, allowing the magic of watchmaking to unfold. In the winter, the landscape transforms into a white wonderland, while in the summer, the lush meadows come to life, bursting with vibrant greens and colourful flowers. It’s in this peaceful place that generations of dedicated and skilled artisans have breathed life into feats of horological mastery and design.

Does miniature mean mighty?
Power and elegance often come in small packages. In the field of watchmaking, miniature means mighty skills and an unquenchable thirst to push the boundaries of what is possible. The quest for the smallest and thinnest has guided horological innovation for centuries. My petite size not only builds on this powerful legacy. It also makes a strong statement of sophistication and style.

For the uninitiated amongst us, what does Terra Nova mean?
It’s a metaphor, and a guide – the world of tool watches is one of practicality, of durability, of functionality. To go, to see, to explore. It’s keeping the focus on products of substance. Terra Nova also serves as an inspiration to live our life in exploration, to be inspired by those that went there to the edges of possibility. The 1910 British Antarctic Expedition led by the legendary Robert Falcon Scott set sail on his ship ‘Terra Nova’. Fast forward 100 years and the first Bremont sponsorship was of Ben Saunders recreating this epic feat. The words Terra Nova translate as ‘New Lands.’ For Bremont, maybe it has become more familiar.

You’re mere months old, having made your debut to the world this year. How is life on Earth and showcasing your new look?
Inspiring! My ‘new’ look is actually rather time-honoured. I’m inspired by design codes from the early 1900’s – I have a brand new, old world, contemporary vintage charm! Informed by the past, focused on the future – perfectly balanced, inherently capable and named after epic moments driven by intense inquisitiveness – I feel fit and ready, and built for the journey.

A cushion-shaped case sounds like you get a good night’s sleep. How did you pick the perfect cushion? It’s no easy feat.
The perfect cushion is defined by where it is and who you share it with.

You showcase something that a lot of watches hide away: your movement. What drives you to be such an open book?
I’m totally transparent with my siblings, we have nothing to hide. It took a long time to create me, to imagine me, to find the right technicality to design me. It would be a shame not to highlight all that hard work.

There’s a lot of circular watches out there. Are Octagons underrated?
Don’t believe what you hear! Just kidding. I don’t think watches with octagon designs are underrated, I just think it’s not necessarily the most common design. Where I come from, the octagon is directly inspired by Roman architecture.

Creating something so delicate and meticulous requires a lot of patience. How do you stay so focused? Any tips for practising patience?
Determination, without a doubt! Everyone has good ideas and wants to create an innovative piece. But not everyone can go all the way and push the limits. The satisfaction of seeing the finished product for my manufacturers is something majestic. Determination always pays off, and the results are rarely disappointing.

What’s your favourite constellation?
Van Cleef & Arpels has always been enchanted by the spectacle of the celestial bodies and the heavenly vault, and honoured the cosmos and the Zodiac signs through several collections. The Maison cannot choose between all the constellations!

What makes you tick?
The self-winding mechanical movement! With the 24-hour rotating disc, a module developed by Van Cleef & Arpels, the dial is gradually transforming throughout the day, portraying the celestial ballet of the moon and the sun chasing themselves. An ode to the sky and its constellation!

Are you a morning person or an evening person?
Both! With the 24-hour module and the 36 hours power reserve.

Being water-resistant to 10 bars, where in the world would you like to take the plunge and show off your aquatic defiance?
In the lake of Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

You’re built for the everyday. What does an ideal day look like to you?
Ideas don’t spring from an office or a desk. My ideal day would be hiking in the Swiss mountains, close to nature and beautiful landscapes. It is very revitalising and a great source of inspiration to me.

You’re a bit of an outlier, positioning your crown between one and two, instead of your typical three o’clock. How far would you describe yourself as a bold and daring character?
Time is a friend, not a constraint and I think you can feel this spirit in our objects. Also I must admit that my Maison has a certain freedom in our creation, we dare to imagine innovative designs, using new materials and techniques. We don’t compromise on aesthetics; technique is at the service of creation and our teams are doing everything possible to pay tribute to the drawing. Everything is possible in our creations, in as far as we do things seriously, without taking ourselves too seriously.

With all your adventures, how do you stay so cool, calm and collected?
It’s in my DNA. Whether it’s resistance to water, magnetism, or shock, OMEGA has given me ways to cope with any challenge. I also have the highest standard of precision to keep me perfectly steady.

What’s the best compliment you’ve ever been given?
My very first owner was Daniel Craig. It doesn’t get more complimentary than that.

What makes you stand out from the crowd?
The white dial obviously. But it’s also lacquered for extra eye-catchability.

Fill in the blanks. OMEGA is __ because __.
OMEGA is a pioneer because they always keep innovating.

To read the full interview, pre-order the issue now.