Le Cœur et l’Esprit of Haute Horlogerie
The art of time as seen by David Candaux
In the Vallée de Joux, cradle of Swiss watchmaking, David Candaux follows a family legacy while forging his own path as a free watchmaker. Each creation is imagined, developed, and hand-finished in his atelier at Le Solliat. His philosophy is simple yet profound: every timepiece must speak to both the Heart and the Mind.
Le Cœur et l’Esprit of Haute Horlogerie
The art of time as seen by David Candaux
In the Vallée de Joux, cradle of Swiss watchmaking, David Candaux follows a family legacy while forging his own path as a free watchmaker. Each creation is imagined, developed, and hand-finished in his atelier at Le Solliat. His philosophy is simple yet profound: every timepiece must speak to both the Heart and the Mind.
Rooted in the Vallée de Joux
Born in 1979, David Candaux grew up surrounded by watchmakers. His father specialized in pocket watches with grand complications, his grandfather controlled quality at major manufactures, and his mother assembled chronographs from home. This early immersion shaped his fascination for mechanisms and his respect for tradition. The landscapes of the Vallée — its forests, mountains, and lakes — remain an endless source of inspiration in his work.
A Watchmaker’s Path
David trained as a restorer, engineer, designer, and constructor, learning from master craftsmen and prestigious maisons. For over 20 years, he deepened his expertise while also pursuing evening studies in mechanical engineering. In 2017, he founded his eponymous brand, determined to create timepieces entirely conceived, constructed, and hand-finished in-house. Few independent watchmakers today master every stage of the process as he does.
The Heart and the Mind
For David, a timepiece is never just a technical object. It must embody harmony and stir emotion. His signature lies in paradox: symmetry balanced with asymmetry, purity infused with complexity, strength softened by subtlety. This duality — between heart and mind — defines his approach and guides every creation.
Patents and Ingenuity
With more than 36 patents, David Candaux continually reinvents the language of watchmaking. His 30° inclined flying tourbillon improves chronometric performance by moving through more positions in less time. His patented retractable “magic crown” integrates seamlessly into the case, improving ergonomics and preserving aesthetics. Each invention responds to a clear idea: to solve, to refine, to elevate.
Craftsmanship and Materials
Every calibre in the collection is crafted entirely from titanium, a demanding and unconventional choice. Resistant, lightweight, and biocompatible, it requires extreme skill to machine and finish. Each bridge and angle is shaped by hand: beveled, polished, grained, or engraved. Signature decorations — such as the Côtes du Solliat, inspired by the village of his atelier, and the Pointes du Risoux guilloché, echoing the surrounding forest — root each creation in its place of origin.
Between Science and Nature
David draws equally from natural forms and scientific rigor. The architecture of CERN’s ATLAS collider inspires his dial compositions, just as Leonardo da Vinci’s pursuit of harmony between form and function influences his design philosophy. At the same time, the forests, rivers, and ridges of the Vallée de Joux breathe through his watches — turning each piece into a dialogue between art, science, and nature.
Today and Tomorrow
Producing only a handful of pieces each year, David Candaux remains one of the most confidential names in contemporary watchmaking. Each timepiece is intensely personal, crafted to endure and transmit. His goal is not to follow trends, but to chart his own course — writing a new chapter of haute horlogerie, faithful to the past yet free in its expression.
Rooted in the Vallée de Joux
Born in 1979, David Candaux grew up surrounded by watchmakers. His father specialized in pocket watches with grand complications, his grandfather controlled quality at major manufactures, and his mother assembled chronographs from home. This early immersion shaped his fascination for mechanisms and his respect for tradition. The landscapes of the Vallée — its forests, mountains, and lakes — remain an endless source of inspiration in his work.
A Watchmaker’s Path
David trained as a restorer, engineer, designer, and constructor, learning from master craftsmen and prestigious maisons. For over 20 years, he deepened his expertise while also pursuing evening studies in mechanical engineering. In 2017, he founded his eponymous brand, determined to create timepieces entirely conceived, constructed, and hand-finished in-house. Few independent watchmakers today master every stage of the process as he does.
The Heart and the Mind
For David, a timepiece is never just a technical object. It must embody harmony and stir emotion. His signature lies in paradox: symmetry balanced with asymmetry, purity infused with complexity, strength softened by subtlety. This duality — between heart and mind — defines his approach and guides every creation.
Patents and Ingenuity
With more than 36 patents, David Candaux continually reinvents the language of watchmaking. His 30° inclined flying tourbillon improves chronometric performance by moving through more positions in less time. His patented retractable “magic crown” integrates seamlessly into the case, improving ergonomics and preserving aesthetics. Each invention responds to a clear idea: to solve, to refine, to elevate.
Craftsmanship and Materials
Every calibre in the collection is crafted entirely from titanium, a demanding and unconventional choice. Resistant, lightweight, and biocompatible, it requires extreme skill to machine and finish. Each bridge and angle is shaped by hand: beveled, polished, grained, or engraved. Signature decorations — such as the Côtes du Solliat, inspired by the village of his atelier, and the Pointes du Risoux guilloché, echoing the surrounding forest — root each creation in its place of origin.
Between Science and Nature
David draws equally from natural forms and scientific rigor. The architecture of CERN’s ATLAS collider inspires his dial compositions, just as Leonardo da Vinci’s pursuit of harmony between form and function influences his design philosophy. At the same time, the forests, rivers, and ridges of the Vallée de Joux breathe through his watches — turning each piece into a dialogue between art, science, and nature.
Today and Tomorrow
Producing only a handful of pieces each year, David Candaux remains one of the most confidential names in contemporary watchmaking. Each timepiece is intensely personal, crafted to endure and transmit. His goal is not to follow trends, but to chart his own course — writing a new chapter of haute horlogerie, faithful to the past yet free in its expression.
COMPANY
CUSTOMER CARE
CONTACT US
COLLECTIONS
LEGAL
© Copyright 2025. David Candaux. All Rights Reserved.
COMPANY
CUSTOMER CARE
CONTACT US
COLLECTIONS
LEGAL
© Copyright 2025. David Candaux. All Rights Reserved.