hristophe Hoppé’s life is one of striking contrasts: cultural, climatic, and horological. The Frenchman grew up in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked in the electricity sector, before returning to his native Alsace. He then decided to leave the Swiss side of the Jura, where he had gained extensive horological experience, to move to Australia, his wife’s homeland.

There, he established one of the country’s few local watch brands, Bausele. But he may soon migrate northward again, having recently announced plans to revive Eberjax, a historic Franche-Comté brand founded in 1947.

©Archives Europa Star

The birth of the Australian brand Bausele reported in Europa Star in 2011.

©Archives Europa Star

When we reached him, Hoppé was in his garden in Sydney following an evening with the Australian Watch Club. Each morning, the tall sportsman, easily recognisable on the horological circuit, swims several kilometres across the famous and picturesque Manly Beach (a routine he maintains in Lake Geneva when in Switzerland, regardless of the season).

Hoppé has made his lifestyle the guiding inspiration for the Bausele models: cheerful dials in vibrant Infinite Sunset, Endless Sunrise, or Oceanmoon colours; the functionality, robustness, accessibility, and water resistance of an everyday diving watch; and even a touch of sand from Manly Beach sealed in the crown.

Christophe Hoppé has made his lifestyle the guiding inspiration for the Bausele models: cheerful dials in vibrant Infinite Sunset, Endless Sunrise, or Oceanmoon colours.

A strong network in Switzerland

During his years in Switzerland, Hoppé started with Technomarine, the brand created by Franck Dubarry which achieved phenomenal success in the 2000s by breaking the codes of watch design and mixing materials, notably pairing rubber straps with diamond-set bezels. He served as financial director: “It was a fantastic era, a different time.” He recalls, “We would secure tens of millions of francs in orders from retailers in just one week at the Basel fair.”

Christophe Hoppé

In 2005, after transitioning to subcontracting by supplying watch cases from Hong Kong, Hoppé joined Universo, a specialist in watch hands within the Swatch Group. “I learned a great deal there,” he explains, “particularly about the constraints of the Swiss watchmaking supply chain, but also about the realities of the market and sales.”

“It was a fantastic era, a different time, we would secure tens of millions of francs in orders from retailers in just one week at the Basel fair.”

Endless Sunrise

After falling in love with an Australian contemporary dancer based in Switzerland, he convinced his wife in 2010 to return down under, where they would raise their two children. “When I arrived in Sydney, I thought that with my qualifications and experience as a financial director, I would have no problem finding a job and that everyone was waiting for me with open arms. Big mistake!” he exclaims.

A plan B... as in Bausele

Faced with these thwarted expectations, he had to create his own job... and naturally turned to watchmaking. At the time, there were very few Australian brands, and Hoppé had a vast network of suppliers in Switzerland and Asia. He tapped into these connections, found an investor, and launched Bausele in 2011.

Oceanmoon V Pacific Blue

The early days were challenging: he was far, very far removed from the watchmaking ecosystem, and e-commerce was still in its infancy. Eventually, he managed to place his products in David Jones, a major national department store chain, thanks to his concept of an Australian-Swiss made watch. While this boosted Bausele’s visibility, the brand was still not in the watchmaking environment to which it aspired. Meanwhile, however, social media was emerging, and the brand began selling directly through Facebook.

Langstone Field

“Back then, it was inconceivable for Australians to spend more than 200 dollars on a watch,” explains Hoppé, retracing the brand’s beginnings. “That’s why I started with very affordable models, equipped with IsaSwiss quartz movements that had the advantage of displaying moon phases and tides, features that are highly appreciated here. It took time to gradually educate Australians on the virtues of mechanical watches because the watchmaking culture here is still relatively recent.”

Bausele’s studio in Sydney

The arrival of major watchmaking houses in Australia over the past decade, along with the post-COVID boom, has changed the landscape, leading this market to mature. Bausele has evolved accordingly, moving up to its current segment between 700 and 1,400 dollars, shifting to exclusively mechanical production while maintaining the sporty and relaxed spirit of its origins.

“When I started, it was inconceivable for Australians to spend more than 200 dollars on a watch.”

Eberjax, the new adventure

For the brand, which produces between 1,500 and 2,000 watches annually, a turning point came with the beginning of collaborations with various Australian military units, particularly for the Air Force’s centenary. Bausele won this bid against venerable names in the watchmaking world, with its national identity giving it an edge. The civilian version of the model has enjoyed considerable success. And the brand continues to equip the secret services and other elite Australian units.

Air Force 5th Generation

Playing the national symbol card to the fullest, Bausele has also partnered with the Sydney Opera House for a limited series and counts more than a dozen ambassadors, including actors and athletes. Additionally, it has given carte blanche to the French artist seconde/seconde for a reinterpretation in his signature style... on the theme of the shark fin, naturally.

Bausele x seconde/seconde

While Bausele has positioned itself with playful Australian flair at relatively moderate prices, Hoppé’s new project, the relaunch of the Franche-Comté brand Eberjax, follows a more classical approach and aims for a price point likely to exceed 10,000 euros. For this venture, he has joined forces with another seasoned industry insider, Guillaume Tetu (formerly of Hautlence and Ralph Lauren), to organise future production.

The first is a swimmer just shy of two metres tall, the second a rugby player of equally imposing build. One thing is certain: in watchmaking circles, this duo will not go unnoticed as they set out to tell the story of this new adventure!