OLIVER EBSTEIN

Owner and Director

With Chronoswiss since 2012, Oliver Ebstein is fulfilling a long-time dream of running his own independent company while satisfying his horological interest. This entrepreneur and lover of anything mechanical makes the business flourish through a teamwork of different mindsets. “You should always hire people that are better than you are. Why hire excellent people if you don’t let them be the experts?” he says. Were the days longer than 24 hours, Oliver would love to spend more time “putting things together in my garage, be it watch-related or welding.”

MAIK PANZIERA

Designer

Maik is not a watchmaker. But after almost four decades as a jeweller, dial maker and watch designer he sure knows how to design a timepiece from scratch. Fascinated by the watch industry’s combination of CNC and handwork, he brought Chronoswiss into its modern mechanical era with his three-dimensional designs and excellent artisanal skills in guilloché and enamelling. His casual jeans style hint at a rock ’n’ roll heart, which is also implied in his design philosophy: “At an independent company you can do beautiful things that you like – you are not run by marketing or numbers.”

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BEAT WEINMANN

Personal Commerce

Tel.: +41 41 552 21 27
Mob: +41 (0) 78 935 80 80
E-Mail: beat.weinmann@chronoswiss.com

After 25 years in the industry, Beat knows both how to sell a watch and how to manufacture one. With “reachable and personal” as his mantra, he patiently guides clients and partners to find the right models while building long-term relationships. Being extremely focused, he also finds the time to co-create campaigns, and gets work done behind the scenes. When not in the office, you will find Beat cycling or running up near vertical mountain passes or swimming through Switzerland’s scenic lakes.

CHRISTOPHE CHORAO

Global Sales

Tel.: +41 41 552 21 07
Mob: +41 78 212 06 67
E-Mail: christophe.chorao@chronoswiss.com

After two decades in the watch industry working for larger brands, Christophe Chorao has a track record of being a trusted, convinced, passionate and professional sales manager who has created growth and opened many new boutiques around the world. Now he is very happy to bring his extensive knowledge to a new challenge. "Chronoswiss has definitely got a strong DNA – you immediately recognise the timepieces; they are really different. Add to this the fact that you can easily connect the innovative product identity with the spirit of a family-owned company," says the family-oriented gentleman based in Neuchâtel.

UTE ESPIG

Quality Control

With the loupe wrapped around her head Ute scrutinizes the dials, cases, hands, bands and every visible miniscule part of every watch before it goes out into the world of watch aficionados and collectors. With a background in textiles she took her precision game to the next level six years ago when she started at Chronoswiss. Her widely known calm and patience are needed to spot mistakes – which are rare, but unavoidable. “We are all humans, things can slip by us – nobody is without fault.”

KARIN GABRIEL

Watchmaker Production

With 33 years as a watchmaker Karin builds new watches and prototypes and resolves technical problems. “A mechanical watch is not only beautiful, it is technically interesting and alive,” she says. Her dexterous fingers and concentrated gaze entail what you can only get with experience: She simply knows what spaces and tolerances are needed, how to make extremely precise adjustments and how to conduct a reality check on a new design before signing off for production. Being a perfectionist at heart helps, too.

ROCCO GIUDICE

Sales Global

Tel.:+41 41 552 21 00
Mob: +41 78 218 50 90
E-Mail: rocco.giudice@chronoswiss.com

With a background in communications & marketing, Rocco expanded his skills into sales early on, proving that he has more strings to his bow. Not to mention his wanderlust! Rocco has explored the beauty of South-East Asia and even called Hong Kong home for a while. His creativity doesn’t stop there – he’s written a book that has been published in major French-speaking countries. But what really sets Rocco apart is his thirst for challenge and encounter: “Life is only as good as the people we meet”. He thrives on exploring new frontiers, speaking of which: “Chronoswiss is treading a unique path. Driven by an artisan core but combined with a progressive spirit, it also has the freedom of an independent watch brand.”

SELINA GOSZTOLA

Working Student in Communications / Social Media

Besides her studies in economics at the University of Lucerne, Selina is now deepening her theory-based knowledge from the lectures at Chronoswiss. "What impresses me about Chronoswiss are the extraordinary designs that enable a unique media presence. I am pleased that as a young student I can already gather working experience in a family business that not only prepares me for my professional future, but whose work deeply convinces me." As a balance between everyday study and practical implementation at Chronoswiss, she likes to ride her motorbike up various mountain passes or enjoy the days off with her family and friends.

SUZANA GRAORAC

Back Office

After 20 years at Chronoswiss, developing mainly the important montage of Chronoswiss bracelets, Suzana’s tasks expanded, and they now also include administrative work behind the scenes. Always up for learning something new and loving the mix between practical work with her hands and on the computer, she praises the atmosphere in the team. “That’s why I am still here after all these years: We are like a family – and I love the watches,” she says.

PATRIK HOFFMANN

Mentor

After four decades in the industry, including six years as CEO of Ulysse Nardin, Patrik Hoffmann was supposed to retire in 2017. Now he does take the time to ski in the Swiss Alps or to tend olive trees on the Greek island of Mykonos, but his fascination for handmade mechanical watches made it impossible to stay completely away from the industry. “A truly independent company with great team spirit, hand guilloché, and contemporary polarizing designs – Chronoswiss is not like any other watch brand out there.”

RETO MARBET

Head of Accounting

Born in Lucerne, Reto has been working in accounting for more than 15 years and has already gained valuable experience in several international companies. In addition to traditional accounting, he is passionate about process optimization and automation. "I check every day which processes can be improved and simplified. This is done with the focus on being able to provide all partners with high-quality information". His structured manner helps Reto to keep an overview and a cool head even in hectic times. As a balance to his work, he is often out and about in the Alps, be it mountain biking and hiking in the summer or snowboarding and cross-country skiing in the winter.

RETO MARXER

Boutique

Reto Marxer, a happy-go-lucky jack of all trades, is known as the Swiss army knife of Chronoswiss. His CV ranges from photographer and car mechanic to ski instructor and vintage watch dealer, and in 2015 he joined Chronoswiss. He started with sales, and he also builds displays for the boutique, takes the photos for the certified pre-owned section – and whatever is needed. "I can only sell what I really like. I can't make anybody excited about something that doesn't excite me!"

JOLANTA RAUCHFUSS

Service

Tel: +49 89 1787 665 11
Fax: +49 89 1787 665 15
E-Mail: jolanta.rauchfuss@chronoswiss.com

Jolanta has been with the brand for 30 years, thus she is a treasured encyclopedia for anything Chronoswiss. Take to heart her words of wisdom: “Service your watch at regular intervals. Because when you look after your watch, you will have a wonderful product that will live on for hundreds of years.” Still amazed and enthusiastic about our watchmaking, she particularly loves the Ocean – both the Open Gear watch and the big blue, the latter preferably approached from an Italian beach.

MAXIMILIAN SCHIEFER

Head of Communications & Social Media

Maximilian is a pioneer of the social media world. After studying in Paris, he conquered the digital space and was one of the first to recognize the commercial potential of social networks. Since 2014 he has been shaping the digital pulse of companies around the globe and has developed a great passion for the world of watches through a wide variety of projects. What fascinates him most about Chronoswiss are the progressive designs, the sophisticated technology and the courage to be unorthodox. With his many years of experience, creativity and enthusiasm for watches, he is leading Chronoswiss into a new and visionary chapter.

SEVERIN SCHWEGLER

Watchmaker / Service

Severin became a watchmaker rhabilleur because he was fascinated by the micromechanics and technology of a watch. The filigree construction of a timepiece and bringing it to life is his passion. His skills in watch service range from the smallest ladies watches to meter-high tower clocks. Severin, who is a passionate swimmer and mountain climber in his spare time, has already utilized his skills for well-known corporations as well as innovative smaller companies. What he particularly likes about Chronoswiss are the hand-guilloched and enamelled dials. He appreciates the collegial team atmosphere and the opportunity to work in various work fields at Chronoswiss.

MICHAEL SETZ

Components

On a “Schnuppertag” – Swiss German for testing day – Michael realised the multitude of tasks a watchmaker faces every day, and he got hooked. Spending his next four years in watchmaking school laid the foundation for a position at Chronoswiss. After five years of building and repairing watches he became responsible for the supply chain ranging from complete movements to single parts. A calm, dependable team player and a stickler for details, he loves the semi-public space of the Lucerne atelier. “This is the future: Less business, more casual and people can come in and learn what watchmaking is really all about.”

YANICK TAHA

Head of Customer Service

"Watches measure the most precious thing we own, -time." Therefore, Yanick considers it a privilege to work for a family-run company like Chronoswiss and assist customers with their requests. Due to his profound expertise as a watchmaker and more than 14 years of experience in customer service and watch servicing, Yanick leads the SAV department at Chronoswiss and ensures that the handcrafted masterpieces continue to run precisely for many years to come. In his private life, Yanick enjoys listening to music records and cooking with his family.

TANJA VOGELSANG

Customer Service

Tel.: +41 41 552 21 41
E-Mail: tanja.vogelsang@chronoswiss.com

In 2017 Tanja made a career change from behemoth IT to small-scale independent watchmaking, and she never looked back. Not only did it take her to beautiful Lucerne, but now she can see and be part of all the steps, from initial designs to the communal buzz in the atelier when the first specimen of a new watch model gets assembled. Her happy extroverted character couples perfectly with today’s fast and informal contacts with clients and suppliers. When she clocks out, she jumps on her bike or laces up her hiking boots – in Lucerne you have nature on your doorstep.