There’s a particular kind of calm in Geneva that surfaces early in the morning, before the boutiques open and the lakeside walkways fill. That’s when the city feels personal. Last week, during Watches & Wonders, we stayed just steps from the water, near the Beau-Rivage, a grand old hotel that carries its age well. From that base, we spent our days immersed in the noise of the fair, and our evenings seeking out the quieter stories just beyond it.
In private suites at the Beau-Rivage, tucked away from the main crowd, we met with a handful of niche brands that aren’t always in the spotlight. But that’s the point. These were quiet conversations. The kind that happen when you’re not rushing from one appointment to the next. Among them: Mauron Musy, Tutima, and Wolf.
Mauron Musy: The Absence of a Gasket
Mauron Musy doesn’t come from traditional watchmaking. The founders are engineers first, and it shows. Their mission is simple: rethink the fundamentals. Most mechanical watches rely on rubber gaskets to achieve water resistance. Mauron Musy decided to remove them entirely.
The result is their patented nO-Ring technology, a mechanical sealing system that uses pure machining, rather than synthetic materials, to keep water and dust out. It’s a solution that feels almost counterintuitive at first, until you see how tightly their watches are assembled. Every component is Swiss made, every screw precise. It’s not about minimalism; it’s about control.
The watches themselves are unapologetically modern, with strong case architecture and industrial finishes. They feel purpose-built, less about nostalgia and more about technical integrity.
Tutima: Looking Ahead, Quietly
Tutima’s German roots go deep, and their work reflects that heritage, clean design, chronograph expertise, and a certain understatement that doesn’t ask for attention. At Beau-Rivage, we were given a private look at what’s next for the brand. It’s still under embargo, so we won’t spoil the surprise, but the upcoming piece has presence while staying traditionally classy.
What stood out was the breadth of the collection. Tutima isn’t fixed to a single tier. They offer accessible pieces with solid build quality and clarity, but also develop high-end movements in-house. For collectors who want options without compromise, that range matters.
Wolf: A Century in the Details
Wolf has been in the game since 1834, though their story often flies under the radar. They don’t make watches, they make what watches live in: winders, boxes, and safes. And they do it with a level of adjustability and finish that puts them in a class of their own.
What we appreciated most was the individual customization in their winders and safes. You can fine-tune the rotation settings for each watch, based on its caliber. That’s more than convenience, it’s care. Especially for anyone with a mix of vintage and modern movements in rotation. After 190 years in operation, Wolf’s continued relevance comes from small touches like that. Quiet craftsmanship. The kind you only notice if you’re paying attention.
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