Visiting Krayon in Neuchâtel

12th April, 2024

What’s good about Switzerland? From its world-renowned watchmaking expertise to its artistry in chocolate and cheese, the country has a unique character. Nestled at the southern foot of the Alps, Switzerland benefits from Mediterranean influences and experiences distinct four seasons. Generally there are 16 hours of sunlight in summer and 16 hours of night-time in winter. The information may not sound relevant to you. Yet in Neuchâtel, home to Switzerland's largest lake, found significance in sunrise and sunset times, which ultimately led to the creation of Krayon.

We took a train from Geneva to Neuchâtel. An hour and a half later, we found ourselves on the second floor of a mansion, overlooking a serene blue lake.

Krayon was born from Rémi Maillat’s passion for life. While watchmaking was his professional pursuit, diving and snorkeling were his avenues for mental rejuvenation. Rémi observed that diving at sunrise offered the best opportunity to encounter both nocturnal and diurnal marine life. The idea of checking sunrise and sunset times directly on his wrist began to take shape. Bucking the trend of smart diving watches, Rémi focused solely on mechanical movements. The seeds of Krayon were sown during his work on complex models at Cartier. The first model, Everywhere, was launched in 2017, followed by the signature Anywhere model 3 years later.

It is uncommon for such a young brand to win two GPHG (Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève) trophies. Krayon’s Everywhere Horizon brought home the Best Watchmaking Innovation of the Year award in 2018. Subsequently, the model Anywhere won the GPHG 2022 Calendar and Astronomy Watch Prize. Upon arriving at the Krayon atelier, we couldn’t help but be impressed by the small but highly disciplined team. Their strict quality control system ensured that every step was executed flawlessly.

From the website and press release of Krayon, we understand the poetic rationale behind Anywhere: the sunrise and sunset times are set to a designated city when delivered to the owner. The truth is, the movement is as fascinating as the dial. The design of the Côtes de Genève on the Anywhere watch is inspired by the path of the sun setting over Neuchâtel throughout the year. The bridge echoes the contours of Lake Neuchâtel. The finish is executed with masterful harmony.

Within its 39mm diameter and 9mm depth, the case houses 432 components, requiring an extremely low error rate. While we were in the workshop, we saw a watchmaker checking the exact sunrise and sunset times for various point of the year. The differences can be as little as 15 minutes.

The calculation of sunrise and sunset times for every day is a new and unique function in the watchmaking industry. Beyond displaying the basic hours and minutes, the Anywhere dial also indicates the month, date, and the sun's position relative to the time. If you've spoken to Rémi, you'd understand that Anywhere is the realization of his dream. We were honoured to meet a team of watchmakers focusing on specific tasks, working quietly, efficiently, and with the utmost precision.

Krayon is strongly committed to both the highest quality and long-term relationships. We maintain open communication with Krayon, and they have consistently been supportive in resolving any issues. They usually visit Hong Kong annually, relishing interactions with customers and enjoying local seafood. Our turn to visit to Krayon in Neuchâtel was exceptional and has deepened our mutual understanding.

Thank you very much Krayon team.