French-designed, Swiss-assembled Klokers relook the way we tell, and play with, time.
French-designed, Swiss-assembled Klokers relook the way we tell, and play with, time.
We wouldn’t call French dudes Richard Piras, 43, and Nicolas Boutherin, 52, disruptors. But like most innovators, they share this similar trait: they look at existing objects or situations, and question what new could come out of them.
When the two met at a conference in 2013, Piras was already in watchmaking, including five years as a managing director at Ladoire Geneve, and Boutherin hailed from 15 years in the media industry, including making cartoons for French cable channel Canal+.
Their similarities, plus three years and 20 prototypes later, have produced Klokers watches – assembled in Les Breuleux, Switzerland, they come in two versions: Klok-01 and Klok-02 – that go beyond being a timepiece.
The key to that ability: a stainless steel “key” at the back of every Klokers that functions as a catch. Unlock it to detach the watch from its strap, then attach other accessories via their “key” catches. For instance: add Desk and Pocket, a leather case with a chain, and the watch becomes a desk clock or a fob; add a metal clip and it’s a brooch.
“We’re not here to impose on an existing watch. We just want to propose new ways of telling time,” says Boutherin.
This is just the start. “You’ll be able to link Klokers to a notebook, a bike and wear it as a jewellery- like accessory.”
