MAGALI METRAILLER, THE INTERVIEW!
Interview with Magali Metrailler, from the JLC Design Department
How and why did you come to work at JLC ?
I started my career as a home designer, an architect.
I earned my diploma in Interior Design in 1995, and another Diploma in Architecture in 1996.
Then I studied at the European Design Institue in Milano ( Italy ), and I graduated in 1999.
I worked fro some Architects as Bernard HEUTTE, and the Comina and Co Architects Office between 1991 and 1996.
Then, I worked as a Free Lance for various Swiss Companies, so I had man,y different artistic experiences.
Then, in 2002, I joined the Manufacture JAEGER LECOULTRE...
However, I found a more pronounced passion for the objects than for the space.
I must confess I have a relative who is a watchmaker and thus, I had a permanent contact with the watch technology.
The experience with Jaeger Lecoultre was becoming to constitute a true challenge for me.
The integration within JLC seduced me a lot.
Let me explain :
Generally, the engineers and the designers often come into conflict, the will of the ones are not very compatible with the necessities of the other ones.
When I first visited the manufacture, I felt the passion, the energy from the staff et a true love for the brand.
Here, the relationships between designers and enginers are special, as far as we all work in perfect symbiosis.
How was built the designers team at JLC and how does it work ?
In 2003, we were two persons then 2 other persons joined us in 2006 and now we are 6 :
Janek, Emmanuele, Coralie, Anna, Claire and myself.
Each team member works alone on his project, the other ones working on their own projects and tasks.
For all that, we test the result of our work betwwen ourselves, we talk about it all together.
There is a key point to know to understand well how we work.
On each project, we work in collaboration with the technical office, the engineers and the watchmakers.
As I told you before, we all work in a full symbiosis.
Creating, for me, is about going beyond appearances, seeing elsewhere, seeing beyond, trying to imagine things differently.
Which watches did you design ?
The compressor, the Amvox, the Gyro I and II, several Atmos and some Reverso Jewellery.
Which one is your favourite ?
(she laughs) You ask me to choose within my children but as you asked me, I would say the Master Compressor Chronograph for men and the Reverso Gyro II.
What are your thoughts in relation to the Amvox line ?
The Amvox line, it's the best !
For me, I feel this line as an escape, a big breath of fresh air !
Each time, we dare more.
The Amvox I was un bit timorous, the Amvox II is sharper and a super technical watch.
The Amvox III is even more refined.
With this latest Amvox, we played the refinement card, in comparison with the Amvox I and II, but also with the Extrem Lab which is found to be a brutal conceptual watch.
What's the role of Aston Martin the the conception of the Amvox watch ?
The Amvox, it's a JLC watch with the soul of Aston Martin...
We show the conception of the watch to Aston Martin and we haven't had any trouble, on the contrary. Each part respects and admires the work done by the other one.
The Aston Martin logo is not hidden. It's discreetly affixed on the dial (note : Amvox II and III) and on the case back ( note: Amvox I ).
Aston Martin didn't ask us to affix the Aston Martin Logo, it's an idea from Jerome Lambert.
The Amvox clearly remind us the automotive world. The central counter with its 270 degrees graduation illustrates it so perfectly that it can be found in each Amvox.
For all that, some were surprised by the different sizes of the figures. It is so in accordance with the tradition and with the aesthetic of the old motor counters ?
Yes, it's in accordance with them. I realized that some counters from old cars had this particular and non constant display of the figures.
I liked this aesthetic and we had the idea to use it for the dials of the Amvox watches.
What would be your ideal watch ?
The one whose beautiful hours drag out and whose sad hours run out.
And your favourite watch from JLC and if I may ask you, from your competitors ?
From JLC, my favourite watch is the Master Compressor Chronograph for men.( Credit: Antiquorum )
Outside JLC, personnaly, it would be the IWC Portuguese Jubilee, magnificent of purity. ( Credit: Harry )
We thank you a lot Magali for the time you dedicated to us during this interview which took place right during the SIHH and we wish you, on behalf of everyone, an as inspired as joyful future !
I'd like to thank Foversta for the Traslation, and Our Jerome Berder for the pics of the interview.
Best.
Nicolas
This message has been edited by SJX on 2008-05-10 20:33:43 This message has been edited by amanico on 2008-05-14 04:45:51
Yep, Magali is to thank
Because her planning was awfully busy, with all these new presentations at the SIHH, and she really took the time to make this interview, so I really have to thank her a lot for that.
Best.
Nicolas
Thanks you
BTW, it would be great if you get a simpler nickname...LOLOL
Best.
Nicolas
I know, sorry! ;-)
This message has been edited by KCLQMULKU on 2008-05-12 07:58:20
Thanx
series
Now that's interesting, Monochrome
What to think about the Master Compressor?
I will make a whole post on this question.
Thanks, my friend.
Nicolas
Thanks Nicolas. An interesting read.
I have to admit most of Ms Metrailler's designs are not my cup of tea but I have to admit she is certainly one of the most successful and prominent contemporary watch designers.
- SJX
It's hard to please to everybody, SJX
Magali has quite a lot of courage, I think..when she began with the Compressor Line, of course there is something of the Polaris, but hey, the style wasn't what people used to see, love and admire on a JLC watch.
She did it, in a successful way.
As she did a great job with the Amvox Line, and what to say about the Gyro I and II???
Yep, indeed, a great designer, and a young one, what promises other marvellous watches to come, no doubt about it!!!
Best, my friend.
Nicolas
Enlightening, thank you for the interview.
Nice turn of phrase, too - though credit may have to go to the translator - for the magnificient purity of the 1993 Portugieser design, with which many will wholeheartedly agree.
Ciao, Dirk
Yes, Dirk, the A II is one of my favourite watches among all the watches she designed
I'm completely crazy about my A II platinum...Crazy, innovative, and original watch, not to say...just beautiful...
And I forgot to bring the papers of my A II for a special dedicace...
Best.
Nicolas
Now I know....what I did not know that I wanted to know
Thanks Nicholas and Magali for the inisight behind the scenes of how JLC designers work.
Regards,
MTF
And I forgot in Paris all the questions I wanted to ask her...LOL
Magali is not alone, as she said, and I met other talentuous designers in the JLC team...
This is just a stunning team.
Best, my friend.
Nicolas
Thanks for the kind words, Allen
What is truely amazing is the whole JLC team, not only the design team, but all the teams...
They take their time, they listen , they want to share, to explain...This is amazing, and I didn't see that with any other brand...
Best.
nicolas
Thanks Nicolas for this fascinating interview.
I'm amazed you were able to stick to the script. Confronted with the ridiculously pulchritudinous Ms Metrailler, I would have probably thrown my notebook out the window and stuttered, "...um....ah.....will you marry me?"
It's particularly interesting to find out that Magali designed the Gyrotourbillon II. I had always assumed that the Reverso range was the sole domain of Janek - no trespassers allowed. When I saw the Gyro II in the flesh, my first thought was "classic Janek". (Actually, that was my second thought. My first thought was, "If I sold everything I own, how much money would I have? Enough?")
Now it turns out that the Gyro II is a Magali creation. Well, who woulda thunk it...It's actually fascinating to try and imagine the creative paths Magali trod to arrive at this design. Firstly, there are so many Janek elements in it - the classical precision of the dial, the discreetly shaped and proportioned blued hands, the gorgeous 90 degree sweep of the power reserve register on the obverse face...
Secondly, there is a reference to tradition in the Gyro II"s deployment of classic finishing techniques (such as the Clous de Paris decoration) which we have not previously seen in Magali's work. It's as if she has quite consciously decided to efface herself from the watch altogether in order to allow a greater purity to the design.
If this is the case, then it shows a new maturity to Magali's work which I wholeheartedly applaud. The singularity of her vision, so clearly seen in the Compressor range, the Amvox, and the Extreme Lab, has established Magali unassailably as an important watch designer. Now she is in a position to sit back and design a watch - an important watch, JLC's most significant offering for 2008 - and instead of striving to make her own inimitable stamp upon its appearance, Ms Metrailler is astute and big-hearted enough to pay quiet homage to the Swiss tradition as well as a few of the visual signatures of her senior design partner at JLC.
By the way, I agree with Magali on another point: the Compressor Chrono is really one of her most successful designs.
Cheers
Tony P
LOL, Tony P, funny and very interesting input
No I didn't ask her to marry me, as I know her situation...LOLOL
I completely agree with you on the Gyro II, even if I'm not that surprised as she designed the Gyro I...
But this Gyro II is a very important watch, not only in terms of horological complexity, but also in terms of finish, and design...
The finish in this marvel and the design are bot awesome, simply and just ..awesome...
JLC put the level very high on these 2 criteria, at a point that when I saw the watch some months ago, I saw it first at 3 or 4 meters...
And I knew that I'll amdire a very important piece...
I looked at this Gyro II maybe 100 times, and each time, I love it more and more....
We are on the top of Horology, with this one, and not only within the watches of this year, but also for the past years...
This is just an iconic watch, IMHO.
As for Magali's style, I find it very interesting, as it is diverse..A Compressor is something, a Amvox is another thing, and so is the Gyro I and the II...
As I said to someone else previously, can't wait to see her next creation, but indeed, Magali and the other members ( we can't forget them) are true great people.
Best, and thanks again for your very valuable input!
Nicolas