The Devil is in the Details

One of the rare watchmaker-turned-CEOs, Breguet's Lionel a Marca has a sharp eye for details

- SOPHIE FURLEY

"It was my mother who suggested I become a watchmaker," says Breguet's CEO Lionel a Marca, who is now at the helm of the prestigious Swiss watch brand. "It wasn't like now, where there are 30 students in a class. In my first year, we were only three, up from two the previous year. Everyone asked me why I chose to be a watchmaker, but I trusted my mother, who was a watchmaker specialised in timing."

As he runs through all the exciting watch releases this year-a newly unveiled Reine de Naples, Marine models with gem-set bezels, a Marine edition for women, and a new Type XX-his eyes light up.

But he is also eager to talk about a timepiece that has been causing him some grief: "We have another watch that we want to launch soon, but we have several choices for the finish of the dial, and we are testing different ideas to find the one that stands out for its excellence, and this has been going on for several months," he shares. "This is Breguet. When there is even the tiniest imperfection, we keep going, and this is what I love about the brand. The devil is in the details, but Breguet seeks out these details to reach perfection."