About Michel Nydegger

Michel Nydegger is the Chief Executive Officer of Greubel Forsey, one of the most respected and uncompromising names in contemporary haute horlogerie. Appointed during a pivotal period in the company's history, he oversees the transition from founder-led leadership toward long-term institutional stewardship, ensuring that the philosophy established by Robert Greubel and Stephen Forsey continues to thrive beyond its founding generation.

Before joining Greubel Forsey, Michel built a distinguished career in Swiss luxury watchmaking, holding senior executive positions including leadership roles at Harry Winston Timepieces. Over decades in the industry, he developed extensive expertise in brand management, governance, international markets, and ultra-high-end watchmaking.

His position at Greubel Forsey extends far beyond traditional management. The brand occupies a unique place within modern horology, producing exceptionally small numbers of watches each year while pursuing technical innovation and finishing standards that many consider among the highest in contemporary watchmaking. In an industry increasingly driven by scale, visibility, and commercial expansion, Greubel Forsey represents an alternative model—one built around restraint, rarity, and absolute commitment to craftsmanship.

As CEO, Michel is responsible for preserving that philosophy while navigating the realities of a global luxury market. His perspective provides a rare window into how excellence is institutionalized, how founder legacies are protected, and how governance functions within a company whose authority derives not from size but from reputation.

In this conversation for Watches & Politics, we explore independent watchmaking as a cultural and philosophical position, the challenges of succession, the pressures of globalization, the role of collectors in sustaining legitimacy, and the ways in which scarcity and restraint create their own form of influence. The discussion reveals how power can emerge not from expansion, but from maintaining standards that refuse compromise.

Topics Discussed

1. What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “Watches & Politics”?

2. What is Greubel Forsey today? Is independent watchmaking, in itself, a political position in the modern luxury landscape?

3. How do you balance institutionalization and scale with creativity, innovation, and uncompromising excellence?

4. In a global luxury market largely driven by growth, how do you defend restraint and maintain deliberate scarcity?

5. How does succession in independent watchmaking resemble political succession, and what lessons can be learned from that comparison?

6. What pressures does globalization place on ultra-exclusive watchmaking institutions?

7. How important is the collector community in shaping legitimacy, continuity, and long-term relevance at this level of horology?

8. Do you believe the most important watch stories of the future will be written in boardrooms, ateliers, families, or digital communities?

9. What does power look like in a brand that intentionally limits access and production?

10. If a future historian wrote a chapter titled “Greubel Forsey After the Founders,” what would you hope that chapter captures?

11. What defines a collector, and what role do collectors play in preserving and advancing horological culture?

Key quotes from the conversation

"We want to focus on value—human values and the value of the objects we create."

"My vision doesn't matter. My role is to support Robert and Stephen's vision."

"The power is in preserving culture, not in controlling access."

"Collectors groups are becoming increasingly important."

"The most important stories are usually written where nobody expects them."

"A collector is someone who continuously refines his or her taste."

Further Reading & References

Greubel Forsey — Official source for the company's philosophy, collections, and technical innovations.

Robert Greubel — Co-founder whose philosophy and technical vision remain central to the brand.

Stephen Forsey — Co-founder and master watchmaker whose influence continues to shape the company.

About Time — A book by Dvaid Rooney, referenced at the beginning of the conversation as one of the books connecting timekeeping and society.

Nano Foudroyante — Discussed extensively as an example of the company's approach to fundamental research.

Greubel Forsey Hand Made 1 — Referenced during discussion of craftsmanship, preservation of skills, and collector interest.

Mark Zuckerberg’s Hand Made 1 — Mentioned in relation to his ownership of Greubel Forsey pieces and the reaction within the collector community.

Harry Winston Timepieces — Michel Nydegger's previous leadership experience before joining Greubel Forsey.