Valbray
 | This article contains promotional content. (June 2015) |
 | |
| Company type | Private company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Watch Making |
| Founded | 2009 |
| Founder | Côme de Valbray and Olga Corsini |
| Headquarters | Romanel sur Morges, Switzerland |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Website | www |
Valbray is a Swiss watch company co-founded by Cômel de Valbray and Olga Corsini in 2009. The brand's collection is based on a patented, camera-iris-like design called Oculus that enables indications, mechanisms or art on the dial to be displayed or concealed by rotating the bezel.
History
[edit]Côme de Valbray and Olga Corsini founded Valbray near Lausanne, Switzerland in March 2009. de Valbray had a background in microtechnology and business and experience in watch manufacturing and an interest in photography.[1] Corsini had a degree in jewelry design and experience working for Gucci, Bulgari, and Chaumet.[2]
The premise of Valbray's collection was to incorporate an element into the dial of a watch that was similar to the iris of a camera. Valbray invented and designed the mechanism over two years and called it the "Oculus". It was patented in 2010,[3] the same year that the Valbray brand first exhibited four prototypes at the Baselworld watch fair.
In May 2013, Valbray opened a factory in Romanel sur Morges, Switzerland. By 2014, Valbray employed 12 people. Valbray manufacture watch cases, components, and straps.
Watches
[edit]Valbray's main products are the Oculus V01 Chronograph and Oculus V02 Grand Dateur.[4] All of Valbray's timepieces use Swiss Made, Automatic watch movements.
In 2014 Valbray worked with Leica Camera to create the Valbray EL 1 Chrono.[5][6] Which stands for Ernst Leitz, one of the founders of Leica. One hundred of the watches were produced: 50 in a titanium case and 50 with a black diamond-like carbon finish.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Valbray Watches on Independent Watchmakers">Valbray Watches on Independent Watchmakers
- ^ Huyton, Steve (2014-06-05). "Valbray Oculus Chrono Achromatic Black". Total Design Reviews. Retrieved 2023-03-20.
- ^ Valbray dial patent dial
- ^ / Valbray Opens its Shutters
- ^ Leica Celebrates 100 Years: A Factory Tour In Wetzlar, Germany on Quill & Pad
- ^ Very Special Limited Edition EL 1 Chrono With Valbray on Quill & Pad[permanent dead link]
- ^ The Valbray EL1 "100 Years Of Leica Photography Edition" (Details & Pricing)