This is SUPERLATIVE: A Podcast about watches, the people behind them, and the worlds that inspire them. This week, our host and aBlogtoWatch Founder Ariel Adams is joined by William Massena, Founder of Massena LAB. To kick off the show, Ariel asks William to define his company and to provide some general insights about how the various Massena LAB collaboration watches come together to exist in the first place. From there, the conversation turns to the early days of watch collecting, the growing presence of the Internet within it, and how the Swiss mentality of obsessively maintaining control ultimately helped save traditional mechanical watchmaking.

The two then get into a discussion about the details of the manufacturing side of the industry, and Ariel asks William whether or not he thinks it still makes sense to create a watch where everything is produced in Switzerland, given the globalized manufacturing industry that exists today. The pair then go over some of the challenges of producing a high-quality watch that can be sold at a fair price, along with why it is important to properly explain to customers that a timepiece is worth whatever price that a brand is charging for it. Ariel then asks William about the types of projects that he would like to pursue in the future, along with how he gets brands to say “yes” to working with him and creating his designs. After William provides a bit of insight into the collaboration process and working with other designers to help create his vision, Ariel ends the show by asking William how he truly knows when he is finished with a design.

 

Stay Up-to-Date with William and Massena LAB:

• Williams’ Instagram — @Therealmassena
• Massena LAB’s Instagram — @Massenalab
• Website — https://massenalab.com/

 

Show Notes:

• 01:23 — What is Massena LAB?
• 04:59 — The Louis Erard x Massena Lab Regulator watch and how collaboration pieces come to exist.
• 10:14 — Having an instinct for knowing which types of watches people will want to buy.
• 14:42 — The early days of watch collecting and the growing presence of the internet within it.
• 20:15 — The idea of cooperation within the watch industry and the Swiss mentality when it comes to maintaining control.
• 27:11 — How Switzerland’s obsessive level of control helped save traditional watchmaking.
• 30:51 — Given today’s globalized manufacturing industry, does it still make sense to have everything produced in Switzerland?
• 37:28 — The challenges of working with manufacturing partners and producing a high quality watch that can be sold at a fair price.
• 42:31 — How to properly explain to customers that a watch is worth its asking price, and what people actually get from watch collecting.
• 47:32 — William’s desires about the types of projects that he would like to do more frequently in the future.
• 50:44 — How to get brands to say “yes” to creating your watch designs, and a look inside the collaboration process.
• 58:02 — Working with other designers to create your vision.
• 01:03:12 — When do you know that you are done with a design?

We’d love to hear from you with feedback or suggestions for future show topics or guests. Advertising opportunities are also available. Comment or contact [email protected].