I am very happy to share with you my recent exchange with one of Elizabeth Doerr’s “Twelve Faces of Time.”
And now, a few minutes with Felix Baumgartner.
James Henderson: What was your first watch? Was it a gift? Is there a story behind it?
Felix Baumgartner: My very first watch was an IWC of course! I say of course because my family comes from Schaffhausen. It was a gift from my father. It was a must to have a watch made not only in Switzerland but in our region.
JH – When you were a boy – what did you want to be when you “grew up”?
FB – I wanted to be captain Nemo from 20’000 lieux sous les mers (20000 Leagues Under the Sea). An adventurous captain in a futuristic submarine. I wanted to live a life with no boundaries.
JH – Where did you go to school – what did you study exactly?
FB – Watchmaking of course! I studied in Solothurn. When I realized that captain Nemo was not an option, I chose what I thought was my second best option – being a watchmaker ; )
JH – You come from a long line of watch makers, ever any thoughts of doing something different?
FB – You are right! My father is a watchmaker, and my grandfather was one too. I grew up in a house full of antiques. My world always turned around clocks and timekeepers. It was clear that I was to be a watchmaker.
JH – Who else out there is making watches that interest you?
FB – Lately I was really impressed by the work of an Australian woman who has joined the AHCI. She made a curved watch. It sounds simple when said like that but believe me this is a real performance. [Editor’s note: We think this is Eva Leuba]
JH – What is it that makes URWERK special?
FB – The URWERK team makes URWERK special. Our different personalities, our distinctive know how have made URWERK.
JH – Had you always wanted to have your own watch company?
FB – Before URWERK I used to work as an independent. No boss, no constraints. Sometimes it was no money either but I loved that way to live.
JH – How did you and Martin Frei first get together?
FB – Martin and I met via a common friend. We spent a New Year’s Eve together, and started to speak about our passions. Art was one. Watches another.
JH – What is the strongest market for URWERK?
FB – Our strongest are Asia and the US. This is not the result of a marketing effort but it seems that we are appreciated and our work is respected as far as the other side of the world!
JH – I know that it might be hard to choose, but what is your favorite creation so far?
FB – Well I have a sentimental thing for the late UR-103 collection. The 103 is the collection that made URWERK. I am not a nostalgic person but, our 103 was our very first big challenge, an audacious one as the piece was really provocative then. Now it looks more like a classic! It’s funny how things change!
JH – What do you like to do in your down time?
FB – When I am not at work I am with my family. I am the happy father of 2 beautiful girls.
JH – What advice do you have for future watch maker/entrepreneurs?
FB – Well my advice will not be very original. I believe in the power of work, hard work. So I would say train and train again. If you have the opportunity work on antiques, restoring old pieces is probably the best way to learn.
