Comments:
DeLaneau
Hi Purists,
Hope all is well. I've been hearing about the extensive knowledgeable individual on this forum, so I thought to give myself an introduction.
I have a watch that has been passed down to me from my father as a gift either for me or my future husband. I wonder if any of you here can help me with this model and brand DeLaneau as I've searched around and it seems that not many people are knowledgeable regarding this watch.
Thank you so much in advance.
Belle
Hope all is well. I've been hearing about the extensive knowledgeable individual on this forum, so I thought to give myself an introduction.
I have a watch that has been passed down to me from my father as a gift either for me or my future husband. I wonder if any of you here can help me with this model and brand DeLaneau as I've searched around and it seems that not many people are knowledgeable regarding this watch.
Thank you so much in advance.
Belle
history & info about DeLaneau watches
Delaneau History
How it all Started...
Bienne, Switzerland,1949, a period prone to creation & modernity, sees the birth of DeLaneau Watches. A few years later, in 1965, Swiss couple Rolf and Yolanda Tschudin become the new owners. Yolanda, the daughter of a sculptor, becomes one of the very few women active in the watch industry. She embraces the new codes of modern society and transcends them into her timepieces. Be it the growing importance of movies – many world renowned actress from Cinecitta and Hollywood - or other leading aristocratic ladies were all faithful to the brands ultra feminine wrist watches. From then on to this day, it was not just a watch but rather a «unique luxury jewellery timepiece by DeLaneau».
Several decades later, in 1997, fate had another charismatic woman embrace DeLaneau’s destiny: Cristina Wendt-Thévenaz, the brands Creative Director and CEO. Coming from the world of interior architecture and design, she was introduced to watchmaking by a fortunate coincidence and immediately nurtured a true passion for this field. Discovering the beauty of century old techniques such as stone setting, engraving, enamelling or even miniature painting, Cristina empowered DeLaneau with ultra feminine aesthetics.
Beyond design, she also wanted to instill the art of mechanical watchmaking into her refined pieces. The very first Tourbillon specifically crafted for women was proposed by DeLaneau in 2002, followed by the truly original Angel Heart in 2008, a model which bears a dial with two wings that open to reveal a small second in the center....poetry at its best!
Being an active woman herself, Cristina then thought of developing wrist watches with a mechanical movement that would reveal a function useful in every day life. Thus came along the 1608, a DeLaneau caliber featuring jumping hours and minutes - without hands - that allow a vast dial surface to be decorated by delicate motifs. Combining a simple display of time with amazingly original patterns crafted thanks to the Métiers d’Art the 1608 models - launched in 2009 - have immediately been greeted with success.
Mr. David Gouten, formerly with Harry Winston, was appointed CEO of DeLaneau in 2011. In an interview about the brand, he said the following: Enamel is one thing DeLaneau can do like no other. Delaneau is about stunning creativity.
Hope this info helps.
Regards,
Jack Freedman
How it all Started...
Bienne, Switzerland,1949, a period prone to creation & modernity, sees the birth of DeLaneau Watches. A few years later, in 1965, Swiss couple Rolf and Yolanda Tschudin become the new owners. Yolanda, the daughter of a sculptor, becomes one of the very few women active in the watch industry. She embraces the new codes of modern society and transcends them into her timepieces. Be it the growing importance of movies – many world renowned actress from Cinecitta and Hollywood - or other leading aristocratic ladies were all faithful to the brands ultra feminine wrist watches. From then on to this day, it was not just a watch but rather a «unique luxury jewellery timepiece by DeLaneau».
Several decades later, in 1997, fate had another charismatic woman embrace DeLaneau’s destiny: Cristina Wendt-Thévenaz, the brands Creative Director and CEO. Coming from the world of interior architecture and design, she was introduced to watchmaking by a fortunate coincidence and immediately nurtured a true passion for this field. Discovering the beauty of century old techniques such as stone setting, engraving, enamelling or even miniature painting, Cristina empowered DeLaneau with ultra feminine aesthetics.
Beyond design, she also wanted to instill the art of mechanical watchmaking into her refined pieces. The very first Tourbillon specifically crafted for women was proposed by DeLaneau in 2002, followed by the truly original Angel Heart in 2008, a model which bears a dial with two wings that open to reveal a small second in the center....poetry at its best!
Being an active woman herself, Cristina then thought of developing wrist watches with a mechanical movement that would reveal a function useful in every day life. Thus came along the 1608, a DeLaneau caliber featuring jumping hours and minutes - without hands - that allow a vast dial surface to be decorated by delicate motifs. Combining a simple display of time with amazingly original patterns crafted thanks to the Métiers d’Art the 1608 models - launched in 2009 - have immediately been greeted with success.
Mr. David Gouten, formerly with Harry Winston, was appointed CEO of DeLaneau in 2011. In an interview about the brand, he said the following: Enamel is one thing DeLaneau can do like no other. Delaneau is about stunning creativity.
Hope this info helps.
Regards,
Jack Freedman
DeLaneau Watch
Hi, Don't know if any one responded with more info, but here is what I know about your watch and the company. I worked for Delaneau for 2 years. It is aprivatley held Swiss brand that has seen many transformations. The original owners were a married couple who started the company in the 1940's, and produced exceptional timepieces both under the DeLaneau brand and also manufactured for the bigger watch houses, ie: Chopard, etc...
The company had a good presence in the US in the 1980's/90's and it was carried in Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Barney's New York, and other fine Independent jewelers. Your watch dates back to this time and I beleive it to be a men's evening watch.
The Delaneau watches under the original owners were very fine both inside and out and dressy & formal. They only used the best movements and the designs were like fine jewelry. Many one of a kind pieces were created and the designs were very feminine and jewelry like. The company has since been sold and is still carrying on a tradition of ultra exclusivity and limited productions of fine watches utilising the best gemstones and enamelling techniques in the industry, and now they only produce womens watches. They do have a store in Geneva and a boutique in Harrods in London. Your watch is beautiful and very special as all of the Delaneau watches that I have ever seen always are!
I hope this gives you some insight into you timepiece!