5 minute read
Carl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache
These two century-old, family-led brands, which share the same long-held expertise and vision of a sustainable future, have come together to celebrate life’s signature moments, creating two exceptional pieces, a luxury timepiece paired with a finest-quality writing instrument: the Carl F. Bucherer Manero Flyback Signature and the Caran D'Ache Signature rollerball pen.
TEXT SOPHIE COLIN
Because the exceptional wristwatches manufactured by Carl F. Bucherer and the superior writing and drawing instruments crafted by Caran d’Ache are there to witness the key moments in life, and because they accompany and mark – with an inimitable elegance, emotional appeal, and craftsmanship – the passing of time, distant memories, and our dreams of what the future may hold, these two brands have come together to pay tribute to life’s signature moments. This common approach of two pioneers of Swiss industry with a worldwide reputation and a centuries-old tradition of family leadership and technical excellence is only natural: they are both intimately bound up with a sense of timelessness, heritage, and legacy. Add to that an enduring presence that gives them a heightened awareness of their own era, stimulating their urge to be creative and innovative. Because these two brands create analog products in our digital era, they are committed to pursuing a more sustainable path to the future.
This meeting of minds from two different worlds has given rise to this special edition – limited to just 188 pieces – Manero Flyback Signature by Carl F. Bucherer paired with the Signature rollerball pen from Caran d’Ache. The two are presented in a luxurious (and innovative) travel pouch made from ecofriendly material and delivered in a beautifully crafted wooden box. These two pieces featuring sophisticated, contemporary styling are exemplars of the demand for quality championed by the two brands.
THE MANERO FLYBACK SIGNATURE BY CARL F. BUCHERER
The Manero Flyback Signature by Carl F. Bucherer is the very embodiment of the technical sophistication, chic, sporty design, and cosmopolitan approach of the Manero collection. A stunning example of the brand’s Made of Lucerne horological craftmanship, it features a magnificent CFB 1970 automatic movement and a power reserve of 42 hours, and includes the flyback function – the ability to reset and restart the chronograph timer with a simple touch. Carl F. Bucherer excels in the art of designing timepieces whose technical accomplishments – so easy and intuitive to operate – appear to be a natural and integral part of their construction. This is the secret of luxury watchmaking.
The stunning Manero Flyback Signature features a 43 mm stainless-steel case plus a double-domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on both sides. The silver-colored dial, with indices in rainbow colors, is a tribute to the different colors of the iconic Caran d’Ache pencils. The same chromatic inspiration has been brought to the NATO strap, featuring beige and graphite gray stripes and red highlights, interchangeable in a flash with the bluestriped alternative to suit the wearer’s mood or style of dress. The two straps are made of a fabric comprising sustainable materials – 100% recycled PET – with a calfskin patch and stainless-steel pin buckle.
“LIKE US, CARL F. BUCHERER KNOWS THAT ‘SWISSNESS’ IS MUCH MORE THAN A MARKETING TERM. IT IS ABOVE ALL A COMMITMENT TO OUTSTANDING EXPERTISE AND UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY STANDARDS, BUT ALSO TO CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, VALUES THAT OUR TWO BRANDS SHARE. SINCE 1888, THE PEOPLE AT CARL F. BUCHERER HAVE BEEN GUIDED BY THE SAME FAMILY ETHOS THAT WE SEE IN OURSELVES. THEY HAVE NEVER LET UP IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REDEFINE AND IMPROVE THE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF MECHANICAL WATCHMAKING. THIS COLLABORATION IS A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR TWO BRANDS.”
CAROLE HUBSCHER, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF CARAN D’ACHE
“WE ALL GREW UP WITH CARAN D’ACHE PENCILS AND PENS AT HOME, NOT JUST IN SWITZERLAND BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND WE RECOGNIZE THEIR UNRIVALED QUALITY. CARAN D’ACHE HAS A LOT IN COMMON WITH CARL F. BUCHERER. LIKE US, AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY IN BUSINESS THEY HAVE REMAINED A FAMILY-LED COMPANY, AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO MAINTAINING EXPERTISE AND CRAFTSMANSHIP OF THE VERY HIGHEST ORDER AND THE MOST EXACTING STANDARDS HAS NEVER WAVERED. THEY CONTINUE TO CREATE EXCEPTIONAL, FIRST-RATE PRODUCTS. WORKING TOGETHER ON THIS FIRST PROJECT HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE.”
UWE LIEBMINGER, CMO OF CARL F. BUCHERER
THE SIGNATURE ROLLERBALL PEN FROM CARAN D’ACHE
THE SIGNATURE MOMENTS OF A LIFE
Caran d’Ache’s Signature rollerball pen combines its creator’s centuries-long expertise with a design that rivals that of the Manero Flyback from Carl F. Bucherer. The pen’s fine craftsmanship brings out the aesthetic appeal of this writing instrument, a piece of timeless elegance with a streamlined silhouette for easy handling, set off by the precious materials from which it is made. Evoking the dial of the accompanying timepiece, the pen’s deep “crown effect” guillochage and 12 hand-lacquered triangles in different colors – in a reference to the Caran d’Ache color wheel – sculpt the pen’s silver- and rhodium-coated body. The thin red line engraved in the clip is reminiscent of the watch’s hands, while a delicately lacquered graphite-gray hexagonal isotype – echoing at once the watch’s counters and the graphite in Caran d’Ache’s pencils – decorates the cap.
This pairing of timepiece and writing instrument celebrates the Signature Moments of a life which, through a glance at the watch and a note in a diary, becomes immortalized forever. These are the exceptional, unforgettable moments that mark not only the accomplishment of an aspiration but those other moments that gave inspiration to the desire to achieve. These moments occur at a precise point in time that remains forever unforgotten: living, moving witnesses of a choice, an ambition, an existence. Talking of moments that stay with you forever, Carole Hubscher clearly remembers the Les Caran d’Ache de Picasso exhibition in Interlaken, where Caran d’Ache products were presented alongside works by Picasso in a living connection between one of the world’s greatest artists and the Caran d’Ache company.
Carl F. Bucherer and Caran d’Ache have joined forces to turn these founding acts into precious moments. Their partnership marks a signature moment in the two brands’ respective histories.
