Newsletter da Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

A Newsletter de Julho da Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie já está disponível, aqui. Entre outros temas, trás um editorial do seu Presidente, Franco Cologni, em que fala do desaparecimento de Nicolas Hayek, o fundador do Swatch Group, que passamos a transcrever:

Nicolas G. Hayek had many merits

That of having striven to revive – and to a certain extent save – the Swiss watch industry by enabling many of its professions (manufactures, component-makers, etc) to survive the lean years.

That of having fundamentally contributed to making the Swiss Made watch not just a sign of prestige but a criterion of style and "democratic luxury."

That of having ceaselessly stimulated the highest level of research, technology and craftsmanship with models such as those proposed each year by the prestigious Breguet brand, of which he was justifiably proud.

That of having committed himself to protecting the planet, and to a number of outstanding cultural and humanitarian initiatives.

That of having tirelessly criticised finance's presumptuous filibusters, and called for a more authentic economy based on work, research and ethics.

That of having remained true to his convictions, his word and his principles; to have remained the man whom I called "the pope of fine watchmaking," a title we often joked about together.

The passing of Nicolas Hayek leaves a gaping void in the world of watchmaking and in the worlds of culture, art and craftsmanship. It also leaves a void in the hearts of all those who, over the years, had chance to appreciate his qualities as an entrepreneur and as a man. ■

Franco Cologni,
President of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie