biography

A lifetime of passion

vincent calabrese

Born in sunny Naples, Vincent Calabrese discovered his passion for watchmaking at the age of 14, while repairing watches. Fascinated by the rhythmic ticking, he saw it as much more than a simple mechanism: a measure of time, an echo of our existence. Self-taught, he moved to Switzerland to master his art. For him, the movement is the heart, but the watch is the soul. Being a “philosopher-creator”, he transcends mechanical complexity to create timepieces charged with meaning. From the Golden Bridge, a watchmaking icon, to his Space Collection, he pushes technical and aesthetic limits, backed by over thirty patents. Eager to take on new challenges, he is constantly innovating, leaving his own mark on watchmaking history.

The Vincent Calabrese brand is the culmination of this exceptional career, a brand that embodies passion, audacity, and the relentless quest for perfection.

Presentation - Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie

“Don’t go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path...and leave a trail”.

1944

Born in Naples in January 1944, at the age of 13 he was forced to leave school and took up various trades. He had the opportunity to do a three-month apprenticeship in a watch repair store. Before the age of 14, he went into business for himself, repairing the watches of relatives and friends.

1961

To avoid military service and perfect his knowledge of watchmaking, in November 1961 he emigrated to Le Locle in Switzerland, where he worked in various watchmaking factories.

1972

He is lucky enough to be hired as a watchmaker and manager in a luxury watch store in Crans-sur-Sierre, where he sells and repairs the most prestigious watches.

1975

Contact with a wealthy clientele and watches of a certain importance inspired him to create his own watch under the name Spatial Watchmaking. But, although he is an excellent repairer, he has never been to school. As a result, he was totally unaware of the theoretical aspects of watchmaking, as well as the manufacturing process.

1985

On the occasion of the inauguration of AHCI (Association des Horlogers Créateurs Indépendants/ Association of Independent Watchmakers Creators), he creates his first Tourbillon bracelet with in-line escapement.

1986

FLYING TOURBILLON, the most historic wristwatch he ever created for Blancpain. Even today, this watch remains the flattest tourbillon, with a single barrel and 8-day power reserve. What is more, it is the first watch to feature a tourbillon visible from the dial and visible through an opening in the movement.

1986-1988

Exploration of his spatial watchmaking. Creation of movements and shapes in a wide range of materials. He makes every part of the watch himself, from the movement to the casing, including enameling, engraving, and gem-setting.

1988

Birth of his FLYING TOURBILLON, the ultimate example of synthesis.

1989

Subscription for ten flying tourbillons to be delivered within 18 months.
Creation of the TWO-HANDS clock, combining the immobility of a pendulum with the mobility of a tourbillon.
Creation of the BALADIN with its wandering hour mechanism.

2016

Trial and takeover of my brand by Blancpain
Writing of the book “Le temps d’une vie” (A lifetime)

2019

Multiple trips to Asia

2020-2021

Pandemic and search for novelty

Birth of the Calasys prototype with Swiss and international patent registration

The collections

Explore the many facets of watchmaking through the Hora Nova collections. Each collection reveals a unique vision of time, reflecting the expertise and passion of Vincent Calabrese.