THE UNVEILING: THE DBF007 SKETCHES
Design process
Stephan Messmer carefully pulls special paper out of a thick folder and spreads each individual sheet onto the table. These are his sketches for the latest watch from DuBois et fils: the DBF007. Finely drawn, clear lines, various ornamentation, tasteful details - drawn by hand with a Hysek ballpoint pen.
Stephan Messmer is a trained product and industrial designer. He designed the models of the popular DBF006 collection for DuBois et fils — the bidynators with mechanical movements in an elegant vintage case. So, it stands to reason that at the end of 2020 he was commissioned to pull out his pen again and develop the design of the latest watches.
From briefing to design
Soon after the briefing by Thomas Steinemann, CEO of DuBois et fils, Stephan Messmer presented the first drafts. They were an immediate hit and formed the basis for the further, seamless course of the design process.
But there was already more than a good idea behind these sketches: A new design always arises from an interplay of fantasy and facts. It is challenging to allow different ideas; to combine them with each other and at the same time to adhere to certain framework conditions such as materials, production techniques, proportions of the movement, technical data, haptics, etc.
The following two pieces of information were therefore an important prerequisite for the watch designer to get into a productive and creative phase quickly:
- One of the 330 historical movements of the caliber AS-1895 will tick in every new DBF007 watch.
- The new DBF007 watches should have a diving watch look.
Numerous considerations accompanied Stephan Messmer through the following creative time: What makes a diving watch? Which design fits the previous DuBois watch collections? Are there elements that could be repeated? What will make the DBF007 watches distinctive? The experienced designer collected everything that fell into his hands on the topic and also found inspiration on Instagram.
Watches with a "family feeling"
Stephan Messmer has been in his business for 25 years. The watch industry is nothing new to him. Designs change, also at DuBois et fils. It is therefore important to Stephan Messmer to create a “common thread” in order to maintain a so-called “family feeling”. A watch is always associated with a feeling. That is why he was particularly impressed by the DuBois et fils concept: « Each watch stands up for itself. If you look closely at a DBF watch, you will identify numerous details that are unique and yet interconnected. DuBois et fils combines the tried and tested with innovation, pays attention to the highest quality and relies on Swiss production. To be part of it means a lot to me and gives me great pleasure - also in my work ».
Now, almost six months after the first briefing, all the DBF007 sketches are on the table. The latest collection has long been fully developed, drawn as a 3-D model in software and with all the technical data provided. This program makes it possible to produce a model using a 3-D printer and to prepare data for the manufacturer.
Put clockwork on clock
The first two models, each with 33 limited copies of the DBF007, will soon go into production. At the beginning of October, DuBois et fils will exclusively present them to everyone who owns an AS-1895 with a DBF token.
You shouldn't miss this opportunity, because the new DBF007 watches stand out for their sporty elegance, unmistakability, high quality, a proven mixture of courage and tradition and precision. Of course, characteristics that you also know from previous DuBois et fils watches. Where the DBF007 particularly stands out from other models, as well as other details of the DIVER, you may already recognize from the sketches — which will be described in detail here soon, in an upcoming article.
Photos: Sketches by Stephan Messmer
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