Many years ago I walked into William & Son here in London. They were in fact the first retailer to give me a break - as a young buck with a watch site and a heart full of passion. To this day I still speak regularly to Mark Blundell its old PR Manager - a great man. There were two watches that caught my eye in those early days - one from Laurent Ferrier - its seamlessly elegant case was almost organic in its beauty. The second was the Upside Down, a watch that you really have to see in action to believe. Beautiful in its simplicity and effortlessly cool. As a continuation of my independent watch making series of interviews, the last being from Habing2, It was a real pleasure being able to ask Ludovic Ballouard a few questions about business, design and life. You will feel this in his answers, but Ludovic is universally recognised in the industry as one of the good dudes. So here it is - enjoy!
Ludovic, how did you come to watches?
By chance (as very often in Life). From a very young age, I have always been attracted by the infinitely small, this is why I started very young the practice of aeromodelling, my hands have always had this need to hold in them a screwdriver or any tool. At the age of 16 I therefore wanted to become a dental technician and it was by learning about this job that an adviser asked me, and why not a watchmaker? When I heard this word that I had never thought of before, I never wanted to do anything other than Watchmaking, it was a real revelation for me.
What was the first watch you owned and loved?
I was 8 years old and I dreamed of wearing a mechanical watch when most of my friends dreamed of a soccer ball or a bicycle. My Grandmother offered it to me. I had very small wrists and I remember that this watch had a very small diameter, ideal for a child. It was made of steel and it was a KELTON
How long did it take to bring the LB brand to life?
When I was a child, I always had in mind the idea and the desire to be independent in life. After watchmaking school, I worked in aeronautics for 10 years as an aircraft board instrument technician, then 10 years in watchmaking, including 3 with Frank Muller and 7 with Francois Paul Journe. I had ideas for a new watch concept already at school but I lacked experience… it was at the age of 39 and after working on the biggest existing complications such as the Grande Sonnerie by FPJ that I thought it was now time to take off on my own with my own ideas. My brand has been around for over 10 years now and there is no reason why it should ever stop since I am 100% independent.
What was the greatest obstacle?
I started in 2009 and my biggest obstacle was to have started in the middle of the global financial crisis. It was not certainly the best time to start but I believed it anyway and finally I was right to believe it since I am still here.
How did you approach the business side of watchmaking as the creator and maker yourself?
I carefully watched how my former employers worked, I selected the best to use them for myself and I also retained their errors so as not to reproduce them in my turn. I think the biggest mistakes I have seen and still see is trying to get too big and too fast which is impossible without financial partners. Only here, the day it goes bad, these same financial partners let you go and there it is very often the death of the brand and your dream, so my first lesson and the most important is to remain completely independent. My production will therefore be limited to less than 20 pieces per year, but that to the delight of my collectors
Where do you find inspiration for design?
I find inspiration in everyday life. For the Upside Down, I found inspiration in the 2008 financial crisis, the media around the world was talking about the numbers falling down so I thought if only one kept looking up, then that was enough to continue living. Upside Down is a hymn to optimism and it also reminds you that the present moment remains the most important thing to live. For Half Time, the inspiration came from Love ... when two halves are found to form only one.
With my wife and my son. During the day I work in the workshop accompanied by my wife and in the evening we find our son who loves playing with my tools and my radio-controlled planes. They give me happiness and inspiration
How do you view the current state of trade shows, how do you feel is best to show clients and the industry your new watches?
I think we are in a transitional period. Myself in recent years I have left the lounges of the centers of interest that I like like model aircraft and fishing for example. I was trapped by the addiction to the mobile phone and to online shopping, but after 2 months of lockdown I finally realize the importance of freedom and I therefore planned to return to the salons to see the latest news and especially talking about it verbally which is not possible with a tablet. So I think it will be the same in the world of watchmaking, that people will abandon their touchscreen tablet for a return to relationships that are much more human and that are even more essential to us today after what we have just to cross.
What is it that makes LB unique?
My complications are unique since they are all patented, my production is limited to less than 20 pieces per year, my components are 100% made in Switzerland and assembled in Switzerland by myself. You will therefore be sure to wear a fully Swiss watch with a unique complication that you will not find on the wrists of thousands or millions of people.
What does success look like for you personally and professionally?
Personally, it is to succeed in a Family Life in Love, professionally, it is to be able to live in a profession that you love. I am incredibly proud we are still independent.
Have you a design you are working on currently?
Yes, but I can't tell you anything because I never show something that has not been completely accomplished. Nothing less, I can offer you a clue: LESS IS MORE
“Only the present moment has a meaning”
(this is the slogan of my brand)
For for from LB - click here.