Some of the rarest timepieces in horological history have passed through his hands. He has restored centuries-old automata, clocks and wristwatches, while designing and creating complicated movements throughout a career spanning nearly half a century. Michel Parmigiani is one of the watch world’s greatest watchmakers and restoration masters. His craftsmanship and knowledge live on through Parmigiani Fleurier, the manufacture he founded nearly three decades ago.
You have been part of the watchmaking world since the 1970s and are regarded as one of its greatest masters today. How do you see the place of watches in human history?
To me, watches represent one of humanity’s most beautiful paradoxes: they attempt to capture something that cannot be contained—time. From sundials to tourbillons, watchmaking has for centuries served as a bridge between science, art and philosophy. Watches are a reflection of our endless quest to reconcile humanity with the universe, beauty with precision.
You have worked on hundreds of timepieces and restored some of the most precious antique watches in horological history. After decades of experience, what is it about watches that continues to fascinate you?
What fascinates me about watches is the dialogue they create between the visible and the invisible. The beauty of the movement, hidden from view yet bringing the dial to life—is like a secret heartbeat. A watch possesses a mechanical soul, a miniature universe in which every oscillation reminds us that time is alive.
Thousands of watch components have passed through your hands, along with antique timepieces that may date back hundreds of years. What have watches taught you over the course of your life?
Watchmaking is a school of humility. Every component teaches patience and respect. You do not control time; you serve it. Restoration has taught me that creation begins with understanding the past. By bringing the past back to life, you learn to build the future with coherence and gratitude. Perfection is not a final destination, but a way of being.
As a master watchmaker, what advice would you give to watch enthusiasts?
Listen to what a watch makes you feel. Do not look only at its prestige or aesthetics. Choose a watch that speaks to your inner rhythm. The best watch is one that encourages you to form a relationship with time—one that reminds you not to seek mastery over it, but to experience it.
