Didier Bévillon, the living memory of French watchmaking

Didier Bévillon is a discreet figure of great worth in the French watchmaking landscape. The true living memory of watchmaking in France, this dapper young man of 80 springs, a caring father, grandfather and great-grandfather of 6 children, has watched entire generations of watchmakers and entrepreneurs come through, advising and supporting them throughout a career that began in 1961. Very close to Fred Lip in the golden age of French watchmaking, he is one of the few people today who can tell what really happened in Besançon in the 1970s, having been an actor in the « events ». The famous « Lip » workers, the spontaneous labour movement that left its mark on French working class and trade union history, were people he rubbed shoulders with every day. At a time of spontaneous popular unrest known as the « Gilets Jaunes » (Yellow Vests) movement, it is always worth hearing from those who lived through movements that shaped the country’s social history in their own day. French watchmaking history may well hold some valuable lessons…

Having headed the French branch of Longines from 1973 to 1989, then that of Raymond Weil from 1990 to 1997, Didier Bévillon chaired the Fédération de l’Horlogerie from 1988 to 2017. He still sits on its board, and brings his presence to the Francéclat committee, of which he has been a member since 1965, back when it was called Promonthor. Today, and since 2014, he has been a member of the jury of the Bucherer Watch Award, which grants the Watch of the Year prize based on public votes. A piece of French watch news that gives us the chance to meet a man whose intelligence is matched only by the affection he inspires.

Which watch are you wearing as we speak?

I am lucky enough to own a few lovely watches that I really enjoy wearing. I switch every day depending on what I am doing or what I am wearing. One day my Raymond Weil, another day my Carl F. Bucherer Manero, and today, as I speak to you, I am wearing a Longines Heritage Chronograph 1940, a model created for the brand’s 180th anniversary.

In your view, what is the greatest achievement in watchmaking?

Of course, thanks to the progress and mastery of advanced watchmaking technology by the vast majority of brands, the global market offers some magnificent watchmaking achievements.

But if we look back through the history of watchmaking, I think the creation of the self-winding mechanism in the early 1930s, and therefore of the automatic watch, was for me a first and major achievement.

What is your favourite watch complication?

We can see that many brands now sell watches with complications.

I think Richard Mille with its Flyback Chronograph, and Roger Dubuis with its Excalibur Quatuor, are among the front runners…

Besides watchmaking, what are your other passions?

I have many passions. I am very fond of the Art Nouveau of Gallé or Majorelle: their work in pâte de verre glass, in furniture, or in buildings, as in Nancy.

But I also have a passion for sport in general, and rugby in particular. I played it and went through a few clubs, such as PUC, Arras, Rouen and Versailles. I have the honour of holding the gold medal for Youth and Sports.

What is your dream car?

Here I won’t be very original, because I love Ferrari, for the image the brand projects, with its strong connotations of sport and distinction.

What is your favourite wine?

My favourite wines are Châteauneuf-du-Pape for its power, and Sauternes for the image of late harvests.

How would you define luxury?

Luxury… Should it be placed only at the high, or very high, end of the market?

Consumers have to define their buying motivations and their desires, but also take « impulse » purchases into account. The consumer’s purchasing power must be considered too. Luxury means acquiring a product positioned above one’s financial means, or at least at the top of them.

Which brands best embody luxury in your opinion?

In my opinion, the brands that best embody luxury are Breguet, Piaget and, of course, Ferrari.

Which historical or contemporary figure inspires you?

General de Gaulle, for his love of France.

Which quality do you most admire in others, and which flaw do you regret having?

The qualities I particularly value are sincerity and frankness.

Which flaw do I regret having? Heavens, if only I had just one…? I am impatient and « too » punctual, which can irritate the people around me.

Is there a quotation you are particularly fond of?

Each day a little more, “today more than yesterday, and much less than tomorrow”.

What time is it?

It is 6:09 pm.

You can vote for the watch of your choice in the Bucherer Watch Award directly in store or online until 25 November 2018.