orn in 2013 from a technological innovation, Mauron Musy made its name with a mechanical watch guaranteed water-resistant to 300 metres… without a gasket. A radical breakthrough that gave rise to a distinctive aesthetic.

Today, with annual production of around 300 pieces, the St-Aubin-based brand is entering a new phase in its newly inaugurated facilities. Christophe Musy reflects for Europa Star on the brand’s evolution.

Christophe Musy

Europa Star: Where does Mauron Musy stand today, commercially and in terms of overall development?

Christophe Musy: We work with around fifteen retailers worldwide – no more than that. We are committed to maintaining this exclusive dimension, with genuine allocations and mutual engagement. Our most dynamic markets are Japan, the Middle East and Switzerland. Mexico is also performing very well.

We also do a great deal of direct business. Many collectors come to see us here in St-Aubin. That is part of our DNA: opening our doors, explaining, sharing. We are an independent brand with a family spirit. Many of our clients already own creations from major houses. What they are looking for here is something different: a direct relationship with the founder, not being “snubbed,” and understanding what they are wearing.

Inspired by the blueprint drawings used by engineers for their technical definition sketches, the MU05-103, crafted in Grade 5 titanium and powered by the MM01-SK calibre, embodies the fusion of industrial design and cutting-edge mechanics.

Do distinct customer profiles emerge?

Yes, very clearly. There is a clientele that is extremely sensitive to technical innovation, movement architecture and mechanical singularity. They come for the pure engineering dimension. Then there are those seeking exclusivity: 300 pieces a year, a design driven by technology, a strong signature. They want a different piece, one that very few people own.

Our challenge today is to give greater space to emotion. For a long time, we focused heavily on technology – the gasket-free watch – but we must also tell the story: that of a family, a place, 100% Swiss expertise, and watches developed with partners and components manufactured within a 60-kilometre radius. Storytelling is essential.

The “nO-Ring” technology remains your signature. How did the idea come about?

At the outset, there was no business plan. We asked ourselves a simple question: how can you claim to produce an “eternal” watch if its gasket has to be replaced regularly?

That question gave birth to the nO-Ring technology. The secret lies in a spring exerting around 20 kilos of pressure on the crystal to ensure water resistance. The case middle is composed of four segments that clip together, creating both the pressure and that distinctive design. Water resistance is tested even before the pins and hinges are fitted.

The St-Aubin Manufacture

And yet, you did not design a diver’s watch…

That’s right. We guarantee water resistance to 300 metres, but we did not choose the dive watch segment. Instead, we developed an engineer’s watch. The positioning could have been different. Perhaps one day we will move towards a true diver… Sometimes we feel as though we are still at the beginning.

The MU06 UniX features more compact proportions with its 41 mm case. It is powered by the MM02 calibre, Mauron Musy’s first in-house micro-rotor movement. Its dial is composed of a double layer of aventurine and mother-of-pearl.

Today, you speak more about the movement than about water resistance.

Absolutely. The brand was born from a case complication. Now, we are refocusing the narrative on watchmaking. We speak first about the movement, then about water resistance and the singular design. This year marks a strong momentum with the new manufacture. Our watchmakers work on the movements from A to Z. We currently have three watchmakers, two of them on site. Overall, we are a small but integrated team – watchmaking, logistics, sales, marketing. At Watches and Wonders, we will present our third in-house calibre. We are currently using the last movements supplied by La Joux-Perret; in the future, we will move exclusively to our own calibre.

Eric Mauron in the workshop.

You claim “Swiss Craft” rather than “Swiss Made.” What does this nuance mean?

We produce 100% in Switzerland, within a 60-kilometre radius of Saint-Aubin, with around 60% of the added value created directly here. But beyond the label, it is a mindset: questioning fundamentals, rethinking what is no longer questioned. Breaking codes is part of our DNA. We were founded in 2013, the first watch was launched in 2016 – in 2026, we will celebrate 13 years, as well as ten years of the nO-Ring system. We move forward cautiously, following a policy of small steps. Doing things properly takes time.

The new MU05-109 Architect of Golden Oasis edition is the result of a collaboration between Mauron Musy and Arturo Tedeschi, a pioneer of algorithmic design.

Your price positioning has also evolved.

Yes. Our average price today stands at around CHF 28,000. It has doubled with the growing integration of our manufacture. We will retain entry-level pieces at around CHF 15,000, which will increase slightly. Our priority is not volume. We have a capacity of around 500 watches per year, but we currently produce 300 pieces. What matters is desirability, recognition among collectors, image and singularity. If those elements are aligned, the rest follows.

The innovative coating of the limited-edition MU06 Mayura is based on a carbon structure. The arc evaporation process (Advanced Arc Technology) achieves extreme fineness, preserving the watch’s most subtle details, while its particularly smooth surface significantly reduces friction and minimizes particle adhesion. When the metal comes into contact with the treatment elements, it reacts, revealing a palette of unpredictable iridescent reflections.

How do you see the future?

We want to maintain around fifteen retailers, but with coherent geographical distribution. In the United States, for example, communication and distribution need to be better aligned. We want to be available, to engage in dialogue, and to build the brand alongside our partners and clients. The next steps include the gradual integration of complications – even if the main complication remains quality! We have also launched our first titanium bracelet, are exploring cases in titanium, gold and bronze, and offer an “easy change” system. We collaborate with artists, most recently Arturo Tedeschi.

Finally, our water-resistance technology could find applications beyond watchmaking, notably in medtech or the automotive sector. But if that were to grow significantly, it would require a different structure. For now, all our energy is devoted to the brand.