A few minutes with Felix Baumgartner

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 -

Courtesy of URWERK

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.

(editorial note – I believe that this is  Eva Leube)

http://www.tempusfugitwatch.com/2011/07/introducing-eva-leube-and-ari.html

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.

Courtesy of URWERK

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!

Courtesy of URWERK

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.