Future of Greubel Forsey Explored in In-Depth Podcast with CEO Michel Nydegger

The Business of Watches Podcast recently hosted an enlightening conversation with Michel Nydegger, the CEO at Greubel Forsey—an esteemed name in the realm of independent watchmaking. This comes in light of the brand riding high, having seen Mark Zuckerberg sporting their luxurious timepieces and their ‘Nano Foudroyante’ achieving the ‘Mechanical Exception’ win at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie Genève. However, the celebrations were dampened slightly with news of Stephen Forsey, one of the brand’s founders, stepping down from the board. Nydegger sheds light on this development, sharing some backstory and underlining the company’s plans moving forward under stable ownership. As per him, Greubel Forsey isn’t seeking investors and if Stephen Forsey decided to sell his minority stake, Robert Greubel, the co-founder and majority owner, holds a right of first refusal on these shares. Elaborating on the brand’s future direction, Nydegger signaled a downsizing—not in aspiration, but in the physical dimensions of their watches. This strategy aims at designing more wearable timepieces, possibly at more accessible prices, with an estimated entry-level watch priced around CHF 120,000. The conversation on the podcast also spilled over to the auction house scene, with Arthur Touchot, co-founder of Marteau & Co., shedding light on new auction strategies like sharing the sale proceeds with the independent watchmakers. The sophomore edition of their auction, ‘The Echo’, featured watches from independent creators, taking the industry’s collective ethos of original, artistic expression to another level. This riveting discussion demystified multiple aspects of the watchmaking business and paved the way for insightful audience interaction.