Questions / answers with our designer Charlie

Today, we introduce you to Charlie, artistic director at Charlie Paris.
Since 2017, Charlie has been shaping the visual identity of the collections, designing our watches with passion and rigor.

Tell us a little about yourself and your career in watchmaking.

I studied art direction and visual communication. It was in my second year of my degree that watchmaking began to attract me. I chose a watchmaking topic for my final dissertation, and this passion has continued to grow ever since.

Then, I had the chance to do my final master's degree internship in a company where I was able to combine my profession (artistic direction), my passion (watchmaking) and my first name (Charlie). That was in 2017, and since then, I have never left this world.

What are your sources of inspiration for design?

I draw a lot of inspiration from everyday objects, the world of sport, and of course, the great classics of watchmaking. The idea isn't to reinvent the wheel, but to reinterpret certain codes in our own way. We try to offer a contemporary interpretation, with our own sensibility. Sometimes, it's a tiny detail on an innocuous object that triggers an idea.

What project has particularly impressed you since your arrival at Charlie Paris?

The Concordia project, without hesitation. It was the very first product project that I led from A to Z: choosing the case, the hands, the dial… It was a real turning point for me. Before that, I was mainly doing artistic direction in the broadest sense. This project allowed me to fully immerse myself in product design, with a global, 360-degree vision. It also marked a turning point for the brand, laying solid foundations for what came next.

Do you have a habit or ritual when you start a new project?

Yes, we always start with a long discussion among ourselves, with Ambroise and Adrien. We discuss each other's desires, the ideas that emerge, and the constraints as well. From there, we build together a sort of specifications book, homemade, informal, but essential. It's a real creative ping-pong, which allows us to lay out the outlines of the project before moving on to the drawing. This moment of collective reflection is essential; it sets the tone.

What do you like about working for a French watchmaking company?

It's both frustrating and stimulating. Frustrating because a large part of watchmaking expertise has been relocated to Switzerland or Asia, even though France trains a huge number of watchmakers each year. But that's also what makes the challenge exciting.

For the past ten years or so, we've been feeling a new lease of life in French watchmaking, with the emergence of numerous young brands. Being part of this movement, actively participating in the gradual reintegration of watchmaking in France, is very motivating. We're trying, at our level, to recreate a local, sustainable, and meaningful dynamic.

Do you have a favorite Charlie Paris model?

Yes, theAlliance Phase de Lune . It's our most complex watch to date, the one that required the most development. It forced us to push our limits, to refine every step of the process. This project taught us a lot, and all the watches that followed have benefited from it, in one way or another.

And I particularly like the sage dial version. It's a color you rarely see in watchmaking, and it allows you to think outside the box while maintaining a sense of understatement. With its play on textures and reliefs, it catches the eye without ever being over the top. It's unique enough to be remembered.