On the eve of the death of Nicolas G. Hayek, the 28th June, I found these two photos, side by side on my desk: the latest and most sublime Breguet Tradition, skeletonized to the bone and a fine example of today’s greatest horology, and one of the most recent propositions by Swatch & Art, a plastic momento mori, signed by a Chilean artist, Ivan Navarro.
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‘You Stop You Die’ is the name of this watch, whose hours are indicated by a skull and crossbones. This is exactly what happened to Nicolas Hayek, who passed away at work, as the time came for his heart to ‘stop’. Between these two watches, between these two extreme art forms and watchmaking economies, lies the extraordinary journey of a man who, in his own way, was a genius. We never stop measuring the time that passes us until our time comes. May a tribute be given to this man, who lived life to the full and has left a beautiful chapter in the history of our industry.
Pierre Maillard
