For more than four decades, Bernhard Lederer has been more than a watchmaker; he is an inventor, a researcher, and a revolutionary in his field. His name is synonymous with tangible achievements, from remarkable timepieces and original escapements to chronometric innovations. But the watches, magnificent as they are, convey just part of the story. Behind each creation is a thought process that has been cultivated over a lifetime devoted to independent watchmaking.
Lederer’s is a philosophy born out of a noble ambition. His driving force is the invention of concepts that render each watch unique, fulfilling a purpose that transcends mere functionality. This guiding principle has directed his work for over forty years, as he maintains that true innovation can never be achieved in isolation; it emerges from a profound understanding of previous watchmakers and thinkers.
A profound conversation with Mitchell Wein, the third-generation President of the Canada-based Marathon Watch Co., ensues an enthralling journey down the timeline of this esteemed watchmaking brand. Mitchell’s intimate knowledge of the brand’s long-standing tradition brings the hidden narratives of Marathon’s past, carved by six of its historic timepieces, into the spotlight.
Wein’s relationship Marathon transcends beyond the usual executive-role equation; from his early days of involvement as a keen youth to taking over the reins from his father, Leon, his bond runs deeply personal. Mitchell’s journey with Marathon is synthesized with the brand’s evolution as narrated through the lens of six very special timepieces, albeit just a sampling of a distinguished lineage.