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history & info about DeLaneau watches
Delaneau History
How it all Started...
Bienne, Switzerland,1949, a period prone to creation & modernity, sees the birth of DeLaneau Watches. A few years later, in 1965, Swiss couple Rolf and Yolanda Tschudin become the new owners. Yolanda, the daughter of a sculptor, becomes one of the very few women active in the watch industry. She embraces the new codes of modern society and transcends them into her timepieces. Be it the growing importance of movies – many world renowned actress from Cinecitta and Hollywood - or other leading aristocratic ladies were all faithful to the brands ultra feminine wrist watches. From then on to this day, it was not just a watch but rather a «unique luxury jewellery timepiece by DeLaneau».
Several decades later, in 1997, fate had another charismatic woman embrace DeLaneau’s destiny: Cristina Wendt-Thévenaz, the brands Creative Director and CEO. Coming from the world of interior architecture and design, she was introduced to watchmaking by a fortunate coincidence and immediately nurtured a true passion for this field. Discovering the beauty of century old techniques such as stone setting, engraving, enamelling or even miniature painting, Cristina empowered DeLaneau with ultra feminine aesthetics.
Beyond design, she also wanted to instill the art of mechanical watchmaking into her refined pieces. The very first Tourbillon specifically crafted for women was proposed by DeLaneau in 2002, followed by the truly original Angel Heart in 2008, a model which bears a dial with two wings that open to reveal a small second in the center....poetry at its best!
Being an active woman herself, Cristina then thought of developing wrist watches with a mechanical movement that would reveal a function useful in every day life. Thus came along the 1608, a DeLaneau caliber featuring jumping hours and minutes - without hands - that allow a vast dial surface to be decorated by delicate motifs. Combining a simple display of time with amazingly original patterns crafted thanks to the Métiers d’Art the 1608 models - launched in 2009 - have immediately been greeted with success.
Mr. David Gouten, formerly with Harry Winston, was appointed CEO of DeLaneau in 2011. In an interview about the brand, he said the following: Enamel is one thing DeLaneau can do like no other. Delaneau is about stunning creativity.
Hope this info helps.
Regards,
Jack Freedman
