I am writing this editorial during the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie ceremony in Geneva. More precisely, as I was moved by the words spoken by Bernhard Lederer, winner of the innovation prize with his Central Impulse Chronometer. Lifting the trophy in the air, he left the stage exclaiming: "Keep on dreaming!". And not without reason.
Born in 1958, Lederer has dedicated his career to the study of escapement systems. Citing him as one of the most interesting independent watchmakers already competing at the GPHG 2020, a year ago I wrote in L'Orologio: "With the Central Impulse, he has succeeded in the difficult feat of creating a natural escapement, first designed by Abraham-Louis Breguet, equipped with two 10-second constant-force mechanisms, as developed by John Harrison in 1756 and later also developed by George Daniels: a compendium of watchmaking history. I did not have the satisfaction of awarding it as a juror in 2020, but I am very happy that it won over the jury this year.
He accepted the award recalling his parents' astonished question when he told them he wanted to study to become a watchmaker: "But why do you want to learn how to change batteries?". As he reminded the audience at the Théâtre du Léman, there was a time when watchmaking did not enjoy the support of an enthusiastic communiy, made up of enthusiasts and connoisseurs, as it does today. An uncertain time, when being a watchmaker could mean wasting your life studying obsolete mechanisms and ending up casing quartz watches.
I don't like self-celebrations and the GPHG in Geneva is somewhat of a self-celebratory moment for the industry. But thank goodness it exists, when it allows a Bernhard Lederer to exclaim on stage: 'Keep on dreaming'.
Dody Giussani
