April 1, 2025 • 74 mins
Discover the rich tapestry of history, innovation, and family legacy as Andreas Leibundgut from Delma Watches takes us through a century of watchmaking excellence. We unwrap the pivotal 1960s era when Andreas's grandfather ushered Delma into the exhilarating world of sports and dive watches, laying the foundation for the brand's current identity. Andreas shares fascinating insights into his family's unwavering dedication to maintaining Delma's independence and agility, enabling them to pivot quickly in response to market demands and customer needs, even in the face of industry upheavals like the quartz crisis.
Feel the palpable personal connection as Andreas recounts the emotional journey from encountering his father's Swiss timepiece to embracing a lifelong passion for horology. The conversation uncovers the unique benefits of Delma's family ownership, highlighting their nimble approach to product development and the deep relationships they nurture with customers. We also delve into the challenges of managing both Delma and its sister brand, Delbana, with a close-knit team that thrives on collaboration and innovation.
Join us for a thrilling exploration of Delma's pioneering strides in watch design, from the groundbreaking engineering of the Blue Shark series to the versatile Delma Quattro. Andreas reveals how collaborations with adventurers and environmentalists underscore the brand's commitment to ocean conservation and sustainability. As we conclude, anticipation builds for upcoming watch releases and future projects that promise to blend tradition with modern innovation, expanding Delma's 1924 line into a broader collection that resonates with both history and contemporary style.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Blake Rea (00:01):
hello everybody.
Welcome to another episode oflonely wrist.
Today we have one of myfavorite micro brands, delma
delmo watches.
We have andreas here.
What's up, buddy?
Andreas Leibundgut (00:16):
hi, how you doing.
Thanks for having me yeah, yeah, we're.
Blake Rea (00:20):
This is gonna be the first, though, andreas, we don't
.
We don't video for him, but wedo have a youtube video that we
filmed with him at uh, at theirfactory and their manufacturer,
and that should be live,hopefully, by now, but it's been
a long time coming.
I'm sure you're probablywondering if I'm still alive, so
, uh.
(00:44):
So let's start off with, like,maybe, the early days of Delma.
When I was there, you guys werecelebrating 100 years of
watchmaking, 1924.
Insane.
What's one story or moment,would you say, from the brand's
(01:05):
early days that kind of reallydefines what delma is today?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:12):
well, the the 60s were were kind of
crucial for delma um, not onlybecause um it defined how it
went on.
In the 60s my grandfather tookover Delma from one of the
remaining of the two brothersand so certainly for the, the
brand or the company, but alsofor for us, that has been
(01:35):
defining.
It's very defining for me as itkind of led to my path of what
I do now but then also of whatthey did once they took over the
company.
I mean, they, they've alwaysbeen doing sports watches, but
then they really went into thedive watches and that whole
diving culture and that has beendefining for them until today,
(01:59):
um, with the current collectionand things that we do yeah, and
um, I know it's been so it'swith the gilliman brothers,
right.
Blake Rea (02:10):
and then your family took over and I know your your
dad, is overseeing the brand nowand you you've I mean, you're
the only person I think you'rethe only person I've ever
communicated with at telma,except for when I was there at
the factory and I saw some ofthe watchmakers and some of the
admin team and stuff.
(02:31):
But I'm assuming you'reprobably going to step up when
your dad decides to retire.
Is that what's going to happen?
Andreas Leibundgut (02:40):
Yeah, what's gonna happen, or?
Uh, yeah, so yeah, my mygrandfather took over in 66, um,
when there was only one of thetwo remaining, uh, the gilliam
brothers, and they didn't haveanybody to take over the company
, and so he took over from them.
Then, since 96, my dad has beenat the company too.
(03:02):
Uh, he's quite young, uh, still, so he will probably work for
another year or two.
Um, then at some point, uh, Iwill take over.
Blake Rea (03:12):
Yes, nice, nice, and then also uh, sister brand which
we don't talk too much about,but delbana.
I mean, it seems like you havea lot of stuff going on, kind of
you're overseeing.
Delbana too.
Is that right yeah?
Andreas Leibundgut (03:31):
that's right , I mean it's yeah, it's a funny
coincidence.
So just, delbana is a brandthat's originally from Gremchen,
the town next to where we arefrom, and Daniel Kessler, who's
been running the brand with hisfamily for quite some time.
He joined us in early 2000s andever since then we operate both
(03:56):
brands together and so Delbanais part of of Delma.
We integrated them and thecollection and everything, and
so, yes, we're overseeing thetwo brands.
Blake Rea (04:10):
That seems like a lot of work.
It is.
Yes, it is.
Andreas Leibundgut (04:15):
And, yeah, sometimes you have a bit of a
dilemma on.
You know when you need toprioritize as a small, as a
small company and small team,when resources are scarce,
sometimes you need to doprioritization.
So it's not always easy, butit's.
It's very interesting, it's funto to be able to work on on
(04:37):
both sides yeah, I mean, andthere's not.
Blake Rea (04:41):
I mean, from out of the brands that we work with,
right, there's not a lot ofbrands that have been out there
on the market as long as youguys you know.
I can only say a handful ofbrands that I work with have
been around 100 years, you know.
So that's such a crazymilestone for a micro brand,
right, considering all theshaking in the watch industry.
(05:04):
Right, considering all the theshaking in the watch industry.
And if you look at the 70s, youknow I mean the quartz crisis
and all of that.
You know, everybody has a videoabout the quartz crisis, but or
talks about it.
The fact that you guys kind of,you know, like stuck through
and continued to produce watchesin such a tumultuous period, uh
, really says a lot about thebrand and the leadership and the
(05:25):
structure in in how you, uh,you know how you continue to
kind of push forward.
Andreas Leibundgut (05:31):
You know, yeah, I mean there's a lot, I
mean there's several brands thatare older than delma, older
than 100 years but there's notthat many brands that actually
have continuously beenoperational throughout all the
years.
There's many brands that havebeen revived after 50-odd years
(05:52):
of sleeping.
But yeah, Delma and Delbanoboth of them have always been
operational and have always beenmaking watches, and so that's
something to be a little bitproud of.
Blake Rea (06:04):
Yeah, I think so I, I think so too, and when I was
there too, uh, you know, we, wetalked and you showed me around
the uh, the manufacturer, and tostill see that you guys are in
the same building that you'vealways been in, uh, like, you
told me like, oh, this is theoriginal building that we
founded in and yeah, that'ssuper cool, you know it is.
Andreas Leibundgut (06:30):
Yeah, it's quite cool because it has a lot
of little details.
There's something like on thebalcony reeling, there's the HE
kind of in the metal engravedand all that.
So it's fun.
It's filled with heritage andhistory At the same time.
It's a very old building, um,so logistics aren't always the
easiest, um, so stuff like thatum, but it has a lot of, yeah,
(06:56):
little treasures and and a lotof history of it.
Blake Rea (06:59):
yeah yeah, and I remember too, when we were, when
we were shooting and we weregoing through um, like some of
the archives, you know, like youhad some of the archive pieces
that we were kind of shootingnext to because, uh, I remember
I think we shot with one of theearlier quattros.
Uh, if I'm not mistaken, um, wedefinitely shot with one of the
(07:24):
first shell stars, but yeah, Imean just to see kind of like
some of the historical pieces,especially the pieces that I've
seen online.
You know, it was a very I wastelling my wife it was like a
very surreal experience because,you know, you guys are a brand
that I've had probably, I'd say,the longest relationship with.
(07:48):
I mean, you were one of thefirst brands really to kind of
help me get into the industryand to give me kind of the
opportunity to work with you andto kind of see, you know,
behind the curtain and uh, andso when I came back from um,
from filming last year injanuary, it was just kind of
(08:11):
surreal.
You know, I told my wife I waslike, oh, my god, like I got,
you know, because here, here itis like we, you and I have
talked like I don't knowhundreds of times right, maybe
like yeah many times and youknow, for the first time I got
to like actually spend some realtime with you, you know, and uh
andfilm and and kind of get to see,
(08:32):
like every you know, the innerworkings and and just to kind of
to see that curtain kind ofpulled back.
You know, it was just so, sosurreal and um and so cool, um
and and yeah, so it's one ofthose things that I'll always,
I'll always remember for sure,and uh, and so, yeah, the
(08:52):
YouTube video that we worked onpeople will be seeing that
probably by the time we publishthis.
So, uh, so yeah, I just beentrying to catch up but uh, but
yeah, yeah, so I really enjoyedthat and uh, I'm glad that you
got you guys kind of gave me theopportunity to kind of to kind
of to get involved.
You know, and and now, I thinkDelmo was one of the earlier
(09:15):
brands, cause I think I told you, um, but my dad wore a Delmo
and uh, and so that was kind oflike what kind of exposed me to
the brand.
You know, uh, I think I don'tknow the whole story, but I
think my dad got a watch at likea pawn shop or something.
(09:35):
You know, you guys have made somany watches and I mean in the
Delma fan group on Facebook.
We've got the fan group there,uh, just to see the people that
(09:58):
send messages in and putmessages, put stuff on the board
of like these random watchesthat, like you guys, have made
so many watches and a hundredyears.
It's crazy to to just eventhink about.
But but yeah, I think you gottawatch it.
A pawn shop and um, and when Iwas trying to get one of my
first like swiss swiss watches,uh, it was, it was a delma, so
you know how awesome is thatthat's very nice yeah, and so I
(10:22):
mean you guys have beenindependent and and, yeah, how
would you say that beingindependent, being family owned,
has kind of shaped the, thebrand more so to you know, most
people may know or may not know,but a lot of the watch brands
are owned by these conglomerates, these umbrella corporations
(10:44):
that own movement manufacturersand case suppliers and hairspray
suppliers, all this.
But, um, how would you say thatbeing independent has kind of
helped delma, you know, not onlyin the manufacturing process
but being agile, um, bringinggreat products to market, and
help kind of shape the brand towhere you are now?
Andreas Leibundgut (11:09):
Well, I think it had a huge influence on
on the company overall, but, um, but also both brands, um, I
think one of it is certainlythat you were, as you said,
independent, because we're arather small company, we are
quite quick and when my dad andI we can decide something, we
(11:32):
can develop stuff quickly, andso we can certainly have the
agility as an advantage in termsof bringing stuff to market or
speed to market.
The other is that we're alsoquite close to the customer.
We know, you know what's goingon your constant exchange, so it
(11:55):
feeds back into the process ofnot only the development but
also the feedback of you know,you get to know the customer
quite easily because you'redealing with them directly.
I think that's a big help.
There's, of course, also acouple of downsides of being
small and independent, and thatis that you know the resources
(12:20):
are sometimes a bit more scarcethan if you're a big brand or if
you're a brand in a bigconglomerate where, at least at
the beginning, you you have moreresources to to plan stuff with
.
So we, you know we gotta beprofitable as a company and and
what we do and that has a, thathas an element to it as well.
(12:44):
You don't have endless amountsto work with, but that also
makes it very interesting,because you work with what you
have and you need to be creativeand, yeah, it's a good
adventure.
Blake Rea (13:08):
It's a very fun thing to to do.
Yeah, I think I think agility,you know, like you mentioned,
being able to kind of pivot veryquickly, um, especially
considering how slow I think Idon't know, maybe slow is the
right word.
But uh, all the other brandsthat I've worked with and not to
not to slander any of them, butit seems like there's just so
(13:29):
many moving parts that theydon't have the ability to kind
of turn or pivot or positionvery quickly.
And and yeah, I definitelythink that's an advantage you
said in the sixties you guyskind of transitioned into doing
dive watches and kind of, uh,you know, putting your eggs in
(13:51):
that basket and shifting the wayand the utility behind watches,
uh, what would you say inspiredthat kind of pivot to dive
watches?
Andreas Leibundgut (14:03):
well, delma has always been doing sports
watches.
They've been doing chronographsin in the forties, Um, and so
it wasn't a totally unfamiliarfield.
But in the sixties the wholediving culture, and especially
for the, the watches thatincrease or kind of became a
(14:24):
much bigger field.
And I think the key element toit as well is my grandfather
used to work for Yenny watches.
Yenny watches isn't around, Imean, they're not that big these
days, but back then they werequite important and they were
(14:45):
early on in the dive watch fieldand so I think there was a
great inspiration of that comingwith him when he took over the
company and he implemented thatand so I think that kind of had
certainly an inspiration on himof what he wanted to do over the
next years most people don'tknow this and I guess you may
(15:10):
not know, but yinni watches isstill around and they're still
producing watches, but mostpeople know them now as doxa.
Blake Rea (15:19):
So yinni watches manufacturers, doxa watches,
which, um, yeah, it's just aweird kind of weird thing, but
it's a very, it's a very popularbrand.
Um, it was a very popular brandback in the day and now you
just don't don't see them, um,and and yeah.
(15:39):
So you know, dive watches areparticularly challenging because
it seems like every brand wantsto do like, or at least they
have a divers watch in theirportfolio.
And coming from chronographs,um, you know how, how do you
feel, like delma kind of, uh,struck that balance between not
(16:06):
only having like a functionaldiver but chronographs are
particularly a little bit, I w Iwould say.
I mean, I guess from myunderstanding that not only if
we're putting the constructionaside, like the movement, the
complication, all that stuff.
But you know, it seems that achronograph is, but, um, you
(16:28):
know, it seems that achronograph is would probably be
easier to to bring to market,um, based on like case shape and
things like that.
I mean, you guys have a veryunique case profile.
Um, you know, your dive watchesare particularly tough.
If you look at the, the blueshark now, um, I mean, it goes
to like what was it like?
10 000 was 10 000 feet orsomething, or something crazy
(16:49):
yeah, more it's.
Andreas Leibundgut (16:51):
Uh, it's 5 000 meters, so it's a 16 400
yeah, I mean, um, what, what?
Blake Rea (16:59):
how did you guys kind of decide to just say, hey, not
only are we going to get into,did you guys kind of decide to
just say, hey, not only are wegoing to get into divers watches
, but we're going to get intolike ultra deep, like deep
diving watches?
Like when did that kind offoster?
Because I think the first blueshark was?
It was in the 90s, wasn't it?
No, the first blue shark was in2011.
Andreas Leibundgut (17:22):
Okay, okay, um, it was 3 000 meters back
then, uh, and then, with thedifferent iterations, we, we
increased in in depth, uh, andby now, the blue shark 4 goes to
5 000 meters.
Um, yeah, I mean, it's, it'spushing, it's pushing the
(17:42):
boundaries, you, you try to tryto do something that goes a
little further.
You could make a watch thatgoes beyond 10K meters, but then
is it still bearable on a dailybasis, and so I think for us,
the approach is to push theboundary in terms of performance
(18:05):
but, at the same time, create awatch that is still bearable
beyond just being in the water,because you want it to work in
the water and you want it to beabsolutely performing and robust
and everything that it needs tobe in the water so that it does
(18:26):
deliver, but you also want towatch it.
You know has a certain elementof style and that looks good on
land when you're not diving, andI think that's the the key to
connect the two and to bringthat together, and I think with
some of the models we've, we'veachieved it yeah, another watch
(18:50):
that I think doesn't get the thelove that it probably deserves
is, uh, and, and this is a watchthat I wish I owned, uh, but
but the quattro.
Blake Rea (19:01):
I mean, the quattro is such a cool watch because you
can take the head of the watchoff.
You have the rapid braceletexchange system where you can
just take the movement in thehead of the watch out and put it
in a decompression table, whichI haven't really seen anybody
doing anything like that, youknow, beyond Delma, right, mean,
(19:25):
it's, it's just such a uniquesystem and yeah, in the 70s, 80s
there were a couple of brandsdoing it, um, and it was, I mean
, back then it was much morecommon and much more used than
today.
Andreas Leibundgut (19:39):
Today most divers, or all divers, use a
computer on the side as well.
Um, you wouldn't just go downonly with the mechanical watch.
You would.
You'll have an electroniccomputer that tells you, you
know when you need to decompress, for how long, and so on when
you go back up um.
But back then 70s, 80s, um,that wasn't the case, or not, as
(20:03):
in the 80s, not as much.
And delma did a lot of the, alot of dive shows and fairs,
especially in florida, and sothat was something that we
developed for that.
And the current quattro is ayeah, it's more of a nostalgia
piece kind of.
(20:24):
It's a bit more niche becauseit's more special in the way
that also the shape of thewatches is done.
But I think it's a very coolpiece and the idea behind it I
mean it was 40 something yearsago when they did it and it
(20:45):
still works.
It's still.
The system is simple but yetstill super robust.
It works in the water and worksout of the water and I think
it's a it's a very cool idea.
Blake Rea (20:57):
It's an amazing idea, it's an amazing concept, it's
super cool, and I remember whenI was there, I got hands on with
, uh, with the, the shell startitanium, which I was super
impressed with, and that's what.
Thank you, because, because Ihave, I have one now, um, and I
(21:17):
love wearing it, um, oh, thankyou you all you also just
released.
Was it the new Midland?
Is that?
Andreas Leibundgut (21:30):
Yeah, we released the Midland last year
in Geneva and now this Januarywe released a new version of it
with a purple dial, and there ismore to come in the field of
the Midlands.
It's been a model that's we'vebeen very happy with.
(21:51):
It's been quite successful andit fits what Delma has been
doing very well.
It's, it's sporty, it's cheap,but it's a robust, stainless
watch and it's kind of a fusionof both worlds, and so, yeah,
we're definitely bringing onmore of this, and so the latest
(22:14):
one that we released justbeginning of January was the
purple version.
Blake Rea (22:19):
I also saw the release of the Ocean Master,
oliver, uh, her.
Is that how you pronounce thelast name, oliver her?
hair yeah oliver hair racing,which I think was, I mean, super
cool full-loom dial, and uh,one of one of my first uh, delmo
watches was was actually anocean master and uh, I remember
(22:42):
because you know, obviously Iget the emails and everything
and when I saw that you releasedit and, um, you sent out an
email saying like hey, cool,like here's a new release, like
here's the watch we designedwith him, and then you had to,
of course, the pictures of himwearing it and then uh, and then
you could track him, like onsea, because he was like like
sailing around the ocean, youknow, like, and uh, and you
(23:04):
could track him, I guess, if Iremember correctly, because I
think I went to the website andyou could see how, like his
progress bar on, like where he'sat on the map and everything,
and I was like that's cool,that's super cool.
How did you guys get connectedwith him?
Andreas Leibundgut (23:21):
Well, he's also Swiss, german as we are, so
he's not too far away from us,um.
So, yeah, the oliver or ollie,um very inspiring story, um, the
whole monday globe is.
I find it super, superinspiring.
For those that don't know whatthe monday globe is, it's a solo
(23:46):
around the world, unassistedsailing race, so it's crazy the
people that they go.
They leave lisabla delon infrance, west coast of france, um
, and they go around the worldum, without ever going on land
in between, on land in between.
(24:12):
And oliver just made it backyesterday as we record this, um,
after 99 days and five hours atsea and it's just, yeah, it's
incredible what they do, um, theconditions that they're in, the
, just the not only the physicalbut also the mental toughness
of these sailors is absolutelyincredible and so, yeah, it's a
(24:34):
great match for us in terms ofyou know what they stand for and
what they do.
You know it's all aboutreliability, um, you know it's,
it's all about reliability.
Um, when you're out there for100 days at sea, um, you not
(24:54):
only the watch, but you knowmost of the things that you have
on your boats.
They need to be super reliable.
The things needs, everythingneeds to work, because if
something breaks, they need torepair it on at sea, and so the,
the conditions that they gothrough, you know, especially in
this ocean, is incredibly tough, extremely high, not you know
(25:18):
gusts, a lot of winds,constantly winds, constantly
waves and so on.
So it's very hard to navigateand I think it's a very good
connection.
It's very good for us to alsohave it as a testing field.
So Oli has had severaldifferent things that we tested
(25:41):
and I think it's a very goodmatch.
Um and I.
I find it super inspiring.
Inspiring um, but they do I I'dsay so.
Blake Rea (25:51):
I mean there's not too many people out there that
can do what he just did?
Um, I'd be.
I think it'd be interesting,for, uh, I'm sure maybe you've
seen pictures of the watch nowthat it came back, just to see
how it held up.
Andreas Leibundgut (26:07):
Actually I have not, because, well, oli got
back into France yesterday andso we haven't seen him, I
haven't talked to him yet he,first and foremost, was probably
happy to see his family andeverybody, of course.
We haven't seen the watch.
We know that the watch has beenworking throughout the 100 days
(26:28):
at sea.
It has stood the test, but wehaven't seen it.
I'll be keen to see.
Just during the 100 days he hashad several incidents that have
been quite tough, with thingsthat broke or things that he had
to fix um, and so it's.
(26:50):
It's good to know that he wasable to rely on on his ocean
master yeah, no, that's so cool.
Blake Rea (26:57):
Yeah, you have to keep me updated.
So, like quite a series ofpictures.
Um, when you guys are workingon a new watch, um, how would
you say that you guys prioritizemore tradition versus kind of
going into a newer direction?
Andreas Leibundgut (27:17):
um, well, if you're 100 years old as a
company, then you certainly havea certain foundation, or you
have a good foundation of.
You know stuff that you havemade, um, and so that often
draws as a an inspiration forthings that are to come, or as a
(27:38):
base that things that are tocome, and it, uh, it gives, it
provides certain values.
Um, you know the craftsmanshipthat goes into it, um, the
direction in terms of.
You know the robustness of thewatches, the certain aspects
(28:00):
that lay a foundation,especially if we're talking now
dive watches and sports watches,sports watches and then, at the
same time, there is a certaindrive to to push the boundaries
and to stay contemporary ormodern in the, the materials
(28:20):
that we try to integrate, andyou know things that we try to
to do that we haven't done.
So that's, yeah, I would sayit's a blend between the two
worlds, um, but what's importantis that you, or that we, stay
true to the, the dna of thebrand, and to the core of the
(28:42):
brand, while having the libertyto explore certain areas or
certain materials or certainthings, um, and I think that's
that's what makes our job veryfun I, I definitely think you
guys, uh, you guys, yeah, youguys are doing it right.
Blake Rea (29:03):
Um, especially when I got hands-on with some of the
archive pieces, like the vintageshell star that you guys had to
me.
It was just such a cool watchand I've got my eyes on a few of
them on ebay right now becauseI, I won't, and there's one, um,
there's one up right now Idon't want to say too much
because somebody might, you know, buy it before I can get to it
(29:25):
but, um, there's one shell starthat, uh, that's on, that has
actually like a world timerbezel, um, which I think, I mean
, is super, super cool, um, andand so that that might be one
that, I add, I think, isundervalued personally, but, uh,
(29:47):
but no, no, no, like that'swhat I'm thinking about adding,
and, uh, and so, having such anextensive archive, I'm sure you
guys, I mean, can literallyrevive any piece at any time um,
but having such a largeportfolio of watches, how do you
kind of decide, like, okay,this is something that we need
(30:07):
to bring back or this issomething that needs to kind of
come to market again?
Andreas Leibundgut (30:15):
Yeah, as you said, the amount of SKUs that
one has in the portfolio, Ithink, is a constant struggle
that many, many companies, notjust in the watch world, have,
and you try to navigate theamount.
(30:36):
I think currently, or over thepast couple of years, we've been
more focused on reducing theportfolio, because the portfolio
has gotten quite large and inorder to understand, one must
also understand why it has grown.
(30:56):
One must also understand thereasons, and so we operate in
different areas, differentregions in the world, with very
diverse tastes, and so we have,you know, dress watches that are
much more purposeful for areaslike the Middle East or Asia,
(31:23):
and then you have sports watchesthat are much more directed at,
you know, the US or NorthAmerica, and so the portfolio is
something that's constantlymanaged, so to say, and we, you
know, you take pieces out andyou bring your pieces in pieces
(31:53):
out, and you, you bring yourpieces in um the.
The important thing, I think, isthat, with such a long and
diverse history, is to bring thepieces back.
That fits the dna and not justbring any piece back, even
though you know it could fit atrend, um that's happening
somewhere at some point, but youwant to, to bring back the
pieces that match the DNA andthe values that you hold as a
(32:16):
brand today, or have held for awhile as a brand, but that you
want to communicate as welltoday, and so for us, that means
that we focus on the key sportspieces that we've had over the
past 100 years.
We've recently relaunched abi-compact chronograph.
(32:38):
We've relaunched the Shell Stara while ago before, but these
are pieces that are importantfor us, that have defined the
course of the company and stuffhave really made a mark on on
the brand's history, and so Ithink it's these are pieces to
(32:58):
to bring back.
Um, then we have others that wecan, uh, look away from look
away from.
Blake Rea (33:13):
Yeah, I'd say that's a good, a good kind of way to
think about it.
Um, and I'm super curious, youknow we talked a little bit
about the blue shark, um, beinga beast and then, um, you know,
obviously it seems like you guysare focusing really on kind of
building watches for extremeenvironments.
You know, I think it's a goodway to put it.
And you know, obviously we justtalked about oliver and him
(33:38):
coming around the world.
But beyond that, would you,what would you say?
I mean, maybe you may or not,may not know, but what would you
say?
Or that you're aware of is themost extreme environment that a
Delma has kind of been through.
Andreas Leibundgut (34:00):
One that stands out was when we did the
Blue Shark 3, we did with a teamof divers.
We went to lake baikal and didice diving and it wasn't
potentially the the absolutetoughest test for the watches.
(34:23):
Um, it was certainly extreme,with temperatures dropping
around negative 20 Celsius, thatis, and it made it very
challenging for the team.
So we were filming as we werediving and we were filming
(34:44):
underwater, but one of the keythings was to get the gear
assembled to film and, withstuff not freezing up and coming
out of the water and going backinto the water, stuff like that
, with things being wet, stuffwould freeze quite quickly and
(35:04):
so I think it was definitely atestament of durability for for
watches, um, and certainly um,yeah, for the ones that were
there, it was.
It was very cold, um, and theguys and girls that were diving
it during that week they werevery resilient and, yeah, that
(35:26):
was a that was a tough one, Ithink.
Blake Rea (35:29):
I, I saw the video.
I saw the video.
I saw the video.
Um, it definitely lookedextreme the fact that you guys
were not only focusing on ontrying trying to like safety
right, you know safety but youguys were filming a video at the
same time like a marketingvideo.
Andreas Leibundgut (35:44):
I was like, holy shit, like this is crazy
yeah it was tough to get it alltogether, but it was a very
interesting experience becausethe infrastructure was also not
the simplest and so it was verydemanding for the team, but I
(36:10):
think it was well worth the tripit was.
Blake Rea (36:12):
It was a cool experience yeah, no, I, um, I
didn't tell you about this, butremember how I told you about my
friend who does underwaterphotography and I sent you you
know her, her, um, her likewebsite and everything.
And uh, she, she, she went toIndonesia for a diving, uh trip
and, um, I was actually going tosurprise you guys, so I, I gave
(36:36):
her a shell star to take one ofmy personal watches, uh, to
take with her to Indonesia.
And uh, and anyway, she worethe shell star the entire trip
and uh, and she got socomfortable wearing it it's
funny and because she was goingto take pictures with it in
underwater in Indonesia on thisjourney, and she got so
(37:00):
comfortable wearing it, sheforgot to take pictures with it.
And of course I'm very happy tohear that she liked it yeah,
yeah, no, she, she had it formaybe like six months or so and,
um, and yeah, she, she wore itfrom my understanding every day
(37:20):
in indonesia.
Um, she'd sent me some liketests.
You know, she has a pool in herbackyard.
She was like going underwater,like taking picture, because she
never shot product photographyunderwater, which is, I mean, a
separate challenge, um, but no,so she was testing it in the
pool, uh, and then, you know,she sent me some of those
pictures and I was like cool,like when are you going to
(37:40):
indonesia?
Like you know, becausemeanwhile I'm in my head like
all right, like that's, that'samazing, like when am I gonna
get my watch back?
Like, um, but that was one ofthe, the first, the first shell
stars, and sadly I don't haveany pictures to show you.
Um, but no, she, she totally,totally enjoyed it and I just
got that watch back, maybe, uh,maybe like a couple months ago
(38:05):
and and yeah, I mean six months.
You know, she was in indonesiafor maybe like a really long
time, I think, and uh, and itlooks just as good as when it
left.
You know, besides the factthere are some marks on the
bezel, um, because, for thatspecific reference, the, the
bezel is aluminum, um, but still, I mean it looks awesome.
(38:29):
Um, I know, uh, you guys arebringing the brand more into
america.
We talked, I mean you and Ihave talked offline about this,
but, um, you know when, when doyou think people can start to
see delmo more locally?
You know, because I, you know,I've been pressing you guys to
(38:50):
to do that for a while like toto get distributors or not to
get distributors, but to getretail locations, um, here, I
know you have a service centerhere and and you guys have a
distributor now and you guys arestarting to get accounts around
the us.
Um, but curious as to howthat's kind of, uh, how that's
(39:13):
going and, uh, when you guys canexpect to kind of get a little
bit larger of a footprint, youknow, in the united states yes,
we have started a while ago toexpand our retail network with a
distributor in the US and wehave now around seven to nine
(39:40):
points of sales in the US spreadout across different regions.
Andreas Leibundgut (39:48):
We're working on expanding it in an
organic way.
The aim for us is not, to, bynext year, to have 100 accounts.
By all means.
That's not sustainable 100%.
It's also not the goal for us.
(40:08):
We're going to be happy withgood partnerships that work for
us and for the accounts, and sowe aim to grow a little bit more
, but not incredibly, over thenext years, but we can certainly
(40:29):
expect a couple of new storesto come on board.
Blake Rea (40:34):
That's it.
I mean that's it, you know,because if you grow too fast,
you're not able to support yourcore accounts.
You know, support theirbusiness, support them to grow
the brand.
You know you have to be morestrategic.
Support them um to grow thebrand.
You know you have to be morestrategic.
And obviously, when I was um,when I was in Iowa, so I told
you about like all that happenedover the summer, um, when I
(40:56):
took my, my holiday, I went toIowa, um, and I texted you when
I was there, cause, uh, theplace, my friend, yeah, watching
clock junction, uh, he, uh, hetook me there and I didn't even
know like I didn't do anyresearch, you know, and it was
so cool to see, uh, to see delmathere, um, especially coming
(41:17):
back from, uh, you know, fromthe manufacturer in january and
then in july, uh, doing, youknow, doing the trip there and
then seeing, you know, thetourbillon.
You know I was like, oh, yeah,did, did you guys see the new
tourbillon?
yet, like that, we haven't evengot a chance to talk about that
yet, the anniversary tourbillon,um, but they're like, yeah, we
(41:40):
got one and I was like, oh, like, and they pulled it out and I
was like, you know, I got to seeit again and they were like,
yeah, we just, I think they, Ithink they had ordered it for a
customer um, if I'm not mistakenand and yeah, I mean just to
see everything kind of there, um, considering, you know you guys
don't have again you know likea ton of ton of retail presence
(42:03):
here, um, but but it was justvery cool to see kind of one of
your accounts and to kind of getto, to learn with them and
they're they're really happy,you know, being um like selling
your watches, like they are sohappy to be, to be a retailer
for you guys.
Just because I talked to him, Italked to him about it to them,
(42:25):
you know I was like, oh, likeyou know, what do you think you
know I was doing, doing, doing alittle bit of inside research
for you guys?
Um, I was like, oh, what do youthink you know?
like how, how do you like thebrand, like, how do you know?
And everybody just had only goodthings to say about, like the,
your team, you know, um, and inthe watches and, and you know
(42:46):
they, they said that they've,out of all the domo washes,
they've sold it, they.
I don't think they've ever evergot somebody like had to return
one or like who hasn't beenhappy with it.
Um, but you know they, wetalked at at length about it for
maybe about an hour and uh, youknow he, the, the owner, jerry,
kind of jumps around topics,but no, we talked at length
(43:10):
about it and it was very kind ofcool to see what I would
consider to be the ground of thepassion for the brand here in
the United States, to see aretailer who's having such good
success with the brand, who'shaving such good success with
the brand.
I mean the fact that they'reselling some of your tourbillon
(43:31):
watches, I mean is awesome,considering, you know, you guys
are just kind of coming backoverseas into the United States
and focusing on this market tosee that they're having success
and selling the tourbillon, youknow was kind of crazy, you know
, to me at least, so maybe not.
Andreas Leibundgut (43:51):
No, I we're, you know we're delighted with,
with Jerry and the team, but Ithink they embody exactly what
you know, what I was just sayingbefore Thelma doesn't need a
hundred accounts.
We don't need an account.
We don't need retailers whereThelma is number 75 in their
(44:13):
portfolio.
What we are seeking is muchmore.
What Jerry and the team standsfor, which is somebody who is
very passionate about the brand,and I think that shows.
Think that that shows, um, itshows also when he talks to the
(44:34):
customers and he's able to bringacross what we stand for, and
so that's for us, that's veryimportant and, uh, that's what
you know brings, makes it asuccess for us and makes it a
success for them, but isultimately also the best case
for the customer, because theyget the service that they need
and they they desire, and you'renot just left here shopping by
(44:57):
yourself, so to say, when youlook at a smaller brand.
So now we're very happy andthis is exactly the approach
that we will do, or the type ofretail we'll seek when going
forward.
Blake Rea (45:13):
I'd say that's a great strategy.
Curious to get your take,especially now here in the
United States.
I mean, obviously, micro brandsare kind of all the rage right
now and you've been in the watchindustry for a long time now
and your family what have youkind of seen change in the watch
(45:38):
industry and evolve?
As you've been in the industry,you know, I know that people
are pushing more towards micros,because before people didn't
care about, care about micros,people didn't care about, you
know, tons of great brands thathave great storied histories,
but now you see customers thatare kind of more open.
If not, they prefer having amicro brand watch over over a
(46:03):
big box brand.
Right, you know, because of theexact same reason you talked
about.
You know, the fact is like if I, uh, if I own one of your
watches and I send you know youan email, like you guys are
responding and and it's it'svery much like a family kind of
business and that vibe kind ofcomes across.
Um, but since you've been inthe industry, what have you kind
(46:24):
of noticed change, uh, in thewatch industry?
Andreas Leibundgut (46:31):
have you kind of noticed change in the
watch industry.
Well, I think there's manychanges in this regard.
When it comes to approachingthe customer, I think we we've
seen a change with, you know,overall, with the fares there's,
I think you know, with theexception of COVID or the time
(46:52):
of COVID, you see that there's alot more direct-to-consumer
fares.
They provide a great platformfor micro-brands such as
ourselves, but also for slightlyor bigger brands, not the very
big brands, but I think that's avery good platform for
(47:15):
consumers to connect with thebrands and I think, at the same
time, that helps to driveinterest for the brands as well.
And I think that's new, or ornot new, but at least that has
increased over the past.
I would say five to ten years,with the exception of a couple
(47:37):
of years maybe couldn't do shows, um, I think there's also a
bigger focus on collectors, um,at least I think for for I can't
speak for super high end brands, you know um, at least from
(47:57):
from our, on our level, um, butI think that there is a stronger
focus um, not just to deliverto retailers and you know here
are the watches and then theysell them off but much more to
do you know, to connect with thecustomers, and so we've had,
(48:20):
especially during and we saw itspecifically with the Tourbillon
, where we had almost a touraround the world with meetings
with collectors of retailers, sothe retailers had dinners and
we went there and we, you know,explained them the brand.
We explained to them what we do,the watch and so on, and so
(48:43):
there's much more of a directconnection with these collectors
and I think there's also astronger focus on these
collectors, and I think you knowit goes hand in hand collectors
and people interested inwatches, they uh, they're also
more open to to the smallerbrands and I think uh, at least
(49:04):
for us, uh over the past coupleof years, that that's certainly
been beneficial.
Blake Rea (49:10):
I definitely say so.
I mean it's working right.
I mean there's just such astrong connection and I promise
I mean if you listen to any ofmy other podcasts I don't say
this to everybody but there'ssuch a strong connection that I
feel with the brand, a strongconnection that I feel with uh,
(49:32):
with the brand, um, not justbecause I know you guys, but
just because of how I wasintroduced, uh to you guys and
uh and I I hope you know, when Ihave children, that they can
feel the same way about, like mywatches or you know my
collection or whatever,obviously having I think I've
got four, four delmo watches orfive or something in my
collection or whatever, andobviously having I think I've
got four, four delmo watches orfive or something in my
(49:53):
collection, um, but hopefullythey'll feel the same way that I
feel I'll have to say like hey,this was, this was your
grandpa's like first swiss watch.
Okay, like hang on to it, youknow, because, uh, I I think I
actually sent you a picture ofit um, like one of his, his
watches like his watches.
Andreas Leibundgut (50:14):
You showed it to me once, yeah yeah, yeah,
um.
Blake Rea (50:18):
Are there any models that you feel like have a cult
following that you guys put outthat you didn't expect, you know
to to move as quickly?
Andreas Leibundgut (50:32):
There's certainly a couple of models
that we have that move betterthan, or, you know, have very
strong desire, sure, sure, but Iwouldn't be able to say, like
you know, it's this one model.
I was super surprised.
I mean, one of the models isthe Quattro, which is quite a
niche product, so to say, butthen strong interest from
(50:57):
various I couldn't even say, youknow, it's only selling in this
region, so it's veryinteresting.
It's a very specific product.
I think the quattro is a goodexample.
Um, and then we're, we're alsosuper happy with, with the
tourbillon that we have done.
Uh, sure, that's a, that's aspecial one for us as well.
(51:18):
Um, now there's a yeah, there'sa special one for us as well.
Now there's a couple, not onespecific fair enough as a brand.
Blake Rea (51:29):
I'm sure this is a challenging one that a lot of
brands face.
But just kind of jumping inbetween, we talked about kind of
staying grounded while pushingthe envelope.
But with this whole kind ofresurgent on, you know, you see,
a lot of brands are gettingexperimental with like materials
(51:50):
and and things like that.
Um, you know, how do you guyskind of uh play in that sandbox
per se?
You know, um, like, I know youguys have a lot of fun with
titanium.
Um, I know you guys are doinglike like bronze and like dlc.
Um, I mean, you guys are usingceramics and and things like
(52:13):
that.
But, um, are there anymaterials that you guys, uh like
, are particularly interested in, kind of like learning,
interested in bringing into yourwatches that you haven't yet?
Or how do you keep up in thatregards?
Andreas Leibundgut (52:35):
We're always looking you know, just keeping
track on things that we couldimplement or new things.
I think carbon is certainly aninteresting one that we've
experimented with a bit.
That's a topic at the moment aswell.
(52:56):
There are other materials thatwe have, um that we're looking
into, and then, of course,there's always the precious
metals.
Um, you know that has been athing very much in the past as
well, um, delma has done quite afew gold watches, um in the 80s
(53:16):
and 90s, um, it's always atopic, um, but yeah, it's always
a.
Materials, different materialsto integrate or new things to
integrate is always a topic Idid.
Blake Rea (53:30):
I did talk about that .
I said, hey look, if you guyscome out with a carbon, a forged
carbon shell star with a forgedcarbon dial and orange accents,
I would be one of the firstbuyer, one of the first buyers.
Andreas Leibundgut (53:45):
We'll make.
Blake Rea (53:45):
We'll make you one, yeah that that would be insane,
especially in the 40, the 41size.
Now I think I'm getting used tothis, um, but even even if I
I'm sure this is much morechallenging, but even a carbon
bracelet would be crazy.
I'm curious and you may not beable to say, but you know what's
(54:06):
kind of next for the brand, youknow, is there any kind of
hints or anything that you cankind of like give us about like
the future, maybe what you guysare planning, because I know you
guys, as a watch brand brand,you have to be like years out
right.
You know you're talking aboutwatches now that you're going to
be producing three or fouryears from now.
Um, are there any kind of hintsas as to what you, you guys,
(54:29):
are going to be doing in thenext couple years, or maybe the
directions on how you're goingto kind of shape the brand?
Andreas Leibundgut (54:36):
I cannot tell you anything.
No, I'm just joking.
Okay now you're talking like acorporate brand.
No, so we have a obviously forthis year.
Things are already in the back,so to say, sure, sure, with a
(55:01):
couple of things coming, more orless in a month from now, when
we go to Geneva and we're goingto release a new ladies piece.
There's going to be some divewatches, there's going to be new
chronographs, then we're goingto have a couple of things
coming in the summer, alsosomething coming on the 1924
(55:24):
line as well.
And, yeah, then further down theroad, things are in the
pipeline that being worked on,but nothing yet that's, you know
, fully locked, but nothing yetthat's fully locked.
We'll certainly explore stuffthat is within the core of the
(55:48):
brand.
I mean, dive watches are alwaysa topic.
Making them slightly smallerthan some of our other models
are that we have currently inthe collection, and then also
the work on smaller than some ofour other models are that we
have currently in the collection, and then also the work on
contemporary parts.
(56:09):
And, last but not least, whatwe also have is we're also
working on a proprietarymovement in the direction of
what we have done with theTourbillon.
Blake Rea (56:29):
But there nothing can be disclosed yet.
Sure, sure, I understand.
Um, we haven't had a chance totalk about the tourbillon, so I
guess this is a good kind ofchance to bring it up.
Um, you know, obviously youguys did your tourbillon for
your your 100 100th anniversary.
Um, how did you guys did yourtourbillon for your your 100th
anniversary?
Um, how did you guys kind ofcome to that conclusion like,
okay, cool, like we're gonna doa tourbillon?
Um, you know, like where wasthat the first tourbillon that
(56:50):
you guys have ever done as abrand?
And uh, how did how did thatkind of whole project kind of
come to life?
Andreas Leibundgut (57:03):
It is the first tour beyond that we've
ever done.
My father has always wanted tocreate a tour beyond, and so
he's been looking into differentoptions for a while and just
exploring you know, not justsuppliers and you know of
(57:25):
movements, but also, um, how wecould build it in a way that it
fits our brand and it fits thedna of delma.
And at some point a couple ofyears ago, we were like, well,
it would be a perfect occasionto do it for the 100 years.
(57:47):
And we, uh, through connections, got to a guy called oliver
mori, or Olivier Mori, and wethen developed the movement
based off his tour beyondmovement for us, and took us,
(58:10):
I'd say, two and a half to threeyears to build the movement the
way we wanted to have it, andthen also quite some time to
build the case and designeverything.
And so it's been the first tourbeyond we've made.
(58:31):
We've been very happy with howit's been received, and so, yeah
, I think it was a in terms of.
I think the tourbillon is.
It's just a fascinatingcomplication, it's just
something that's very pleasantto to view, um, because of the
(58:54):
movement, and I think it's stilla bit of a, a grail, so to say
in terms of, uh, totally ofcomplication, even though
there's there's more complicatedcomplications, but it's still
from a visual aspect, I thinkit's a.
It's a very interesting andvery pleasing um complication.
(59:15):
I think, yeah, that's why we uhhe always wanted to have that
done.
I think that was a, that was agood idea, um, so we've been
very happy with it.
Um, we have, off the hundredpieces, just a handful left, and
so that's why there's somethingnew coming on that 1924 line
(59:42):
through and down this year.
Blake Rea (59:44):
Wow.
So not only was it just ananniversary piece, but if I
understand you correctly, areyou guys going to do a whole
kind of 1924 collection now.
Andreas Leibundgut (59:55):
Yeah, the 1924, the idea was always to
bring the 1924 a bit more to thefront.
As we said at the beginning ofthe talk, there's not that many
brands that are older than 100years, and there's even fewer
brands that have been fullyoperational for a hundred years,
(01:00:18):
and so we, we felt like the1924 should be communicated a
bit more strongly.
Um, and we we want to build acollection on that, uh, and it's
not just going to be a one-offtour beyond piece, it's going to
be more, more than that, and sothere's uh, more things to come
(01:00:43):
in in that direction.
Blake Rea (01:00:44):
Yeah amazing, curious now that your dad has created
his dream tour beyond is.
Is that the watch that he wearsevery day?
Because I I shared to you, youknow, the watch that my dad wore
every day.
So now, now I'm curious.
So what, what?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:00:58):
is it.
Well, he, he got himself thenumber one.
Um, that was clear from thevery beginning.
There was no.
There was no debating on thatone.
Um, and he wears it very often.
Yeah, he, he does.
Um, I wouldn't say every day,but, uh, he wears it quite often
.
Yeah, I wouldn't say every day,but he wears it quite often.
Blake Rea (01:01:20):
Amazing.
This is probably one of thetougher questions that we have.
But if there was one Delmowatch that you could wear for
the rest of your life, whatwould it be?
I know, when I sit throughthese questions up front I was
like, yeah well.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:01:40):
I thought about that but then I kind of
forgot about it.
No, it is a tough one because Ihave an old Klondike.
Back in the 90s, delma used tomake these limited edition gold
and platinum watches quitedressy and I have one with a
(01:02:10):
chronograph with a moon face andit's tonal shaped and I like it
.
I often wear it for more dressyoccasions but it's too fancy
for an everyday watch.
But I love the piece and Ithink for an everyday watch, I
(01:02:35):
think a Shell Star Titanium isvery good.
I don't want to, you know, doadvertising or promote.
No, no, no, but I think theShell Star Titanium is super
cool.
Every day, you know, watched.
It's lightweight, supercomfortable, rugged, so it's
(01:02:55):
perfect.
Yeah, I think that's a goodchoice.
I can tell you that over thepast I would say, six months,
the piece that I've been wearingmost is the Midland Black Dial,
and that's just a super easy,cool, stylish watch that just
(01:03:21):
fits with almost every outfit.
That's not too bad.
Blake Rea (01:03:28):
I'd say yeah, no.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:29):
I'm very happy with that piece too, yeah.
Blake Rea (01:03:32):
But it's a tough one.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:34):
There's too many options to always wear the
same watch.
Blake Rea (01:03:38):
I know and I feel bad for putting you on the spot
like that, but, uh, I I thinkwhen, uh, when I was there, um,
I think the because the midlandyou just read, you just reissued
.
Right, you guys just came outit's been about a year now.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:53):
Maybe the midland, so it's a new release,
um, but the watch, the design ofthe watch overall, and, uh,
it's a new release, but thedesign of the watch overall and
it's totally new case shape,everything.
The name Midland has been usedfor many different collections.
As a matter of fact, when theGilliman brothers founded the
(01:04:15):
company back in 1924, they usedfour collection or brand names,
so to say, and one of themalready was Midland.
And so Midland has always beenused for chronographs and sports
pieces, in the 60s and 80s, sothroughout the company's time.
(01:04:39):
And so this one is a new model,but it's not a.
The name is not new, so to say.
Blake Rea (01:04:49):
No, I mean, yeah, I think, when I was there and we
were filming and, like, youreached out, I saw that watch
and I was like, oh, what is that, you know?
And you're like, oh, that'scoming, that's coming.
And I was like, oh, okay, thatdoes make sense because it is
incredibly versatile.
(01:05:09):
I mean, like I said, I have theShellstar Titanium, obviously
the orange one, the orange dial,and I'm absolutely obsessed
with it.
Um, I love wearing it and Imean you can see, like some of
the, like the, the, my buckleit's hard to tell from the or my
(01:05:30):
deployant, um, but it it is.
It is definitely getting some,some love marks on it from from
how much I've been wearing it.
So, um, I'm curious to, uh,what is probably one of the more
inspiring stories that maybeyou've heard about?
The brand, or maybe somebodyeven wearing a watch?
(01:05:51):
I know we talked about oliversuper cool.
Um, I know we talked a littlebit, I mean, obviously, about my
father, um, but what would yousay is probably one of the more
crazier or inspiring storiesthat you've heard about?
Maybe somebody wearing a watch,or maybe a customer, or just
even the brand?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:06:16):
Yeah, I think Oliver is a very recent
and truly inspiring one.
We've done quite a bit of workwith other adventurers that have
been very inspiring.
We've done stuff with NickMaloney, another sailor.
He went for the 200 yearanniversary of Antarctica's
(01:06:41):
discovery.
They traveled down to one ofthe islands just in front of
Antarctica and sailed, sailed,around Antarctic not around full
continent, but in that area andso we've then also done a
collaboration with Nick and ASOCfor the Ocean Master Antarctica
(01:07:08):
.
That was a very inspiringproject.
In terms of just somebody doingsomething or wearing the watch
is a hard thing to just singleout, so to say, but I think,
yeah, nick has done a lot ofinspiring stuff.
(01:07:28):
We've also worked with a guy,with Magnus.
He's a diver and oceanconservantist and he has done a
lot of work with sharks andthat's very inspiring as well
(01:07:49):
when you know, applying thewatch, using the watch in its
field.
He was doing stuff in theazores to preserve the habitat
of the sharks where they breed,and, yeah, I think that was a
very For us.
It was a very insightfulproject as well to do, not just
(01:08:15):
from a time piece or from awatch perspective, because he
was using the, the blue sharkand was testing it, and but it
was a and quite a an emotionalum project to see how these
sharks maneuver and how the thebreeding rounds are affected by
(01:08:37):
what we do.
Blake Rea (01:08:37):
Yeah, yeah, because that was the.
You guys did the the blue shark.
Azores yes, exactly that wasthe watch.
That kind of came from that,I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, and it was like uh, wasit like a?
It was like a bronze orsomething, wasn't it?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:08:55):
no, it was a stainless steel one, but it had
it was.
So there were two iterations.
Oh, that's right there was ablue had a gray in dial.
Yeah, so they were.
Yeah, that's right.
That's right, the one that wasmore kind of the deep ocean one,
and the one that was more, uh,closer to shore, so to say, in
(01:09:17):
terms of the colors sure, sure,sure.
Blake Rea (01:09:20):
Um.
Final question, and you knowyou don't have to kind of think
in terms of watchmakers, but ifyou guys could collaborate with
another brand or maybe, uh,bring on like a new ambassador,
um, maybe somebody in adifferent industry, or you know,
get feedback from somebody, oror you know, if you could
(01:09:42):
collaborate with anybody, itdoesn't matter who it is in
history, right, or or brand whowould that be and what would
that look like?
And that's another super hardone, but people do want to know,
I promise.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:10:00):
And that's another super hard one, but
people do want to know.
I promise it's a good question.
There's a, there's a couple ofwell, I would need to
differentiate a little bitbetween within the industry or
outside the industry.
There's a, there's a couple ofthe, a couple of watchmakers or
brands within the industry thatI admire for what they do and I
(01:10:27):
wouldn't mind collaborating withthem.
The question is whether theywould want to collaborate with
Delamar.
Blake Rea (01:10:33):
Sure, sure, sure.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:10:35):
But no one of them that I think is very
cool is Kari Wojtyla, and whathe does in terms of movement
work and style work isincredible.
And Anderson they do reallycool stuff which I really like.
(01:10:57):
Yeah, these are two from theindustry that I just kind of
like.
Outside the industry it's adifferent route I would much
more go like.
I like Patagonia, oh yeah.
(01:11:18):
Nice Especially.
You know what they do beyondtheir products, but what they do
in terms of um, you know givingback um, in terms of
sustainability, what they they.
I think they're a very goodexample of reuse, recycle kind
(01:11:41):
of that mentality, but not in away of just, you know, bringing
your paper to the recyclingstore, but really making sure
that you create something withthe materials that you have at
hand and giving back tocommunities and the environment.
And they're a very kind ofadventure-driven brand, like we
(01:12:08):
are.
So I think that would beinteresting.
Blake Rea (01:12:11):
Yeah, you heard it first here Delma Patagonia
Collaboration coming soon.
No, I'm just kidding.
No, thank you so much for forspending time with us, uh, as
always.
Uh, I'm looking forward toseeing you guys uh again in in
Geneva.
Uh, and and I I'm glad that wefinally got this podcast.
(01:12:33):
This is one of the, the, theearlier podcast.
Here we are like third.
I we're like almost 40 episodesnow, so this is one of the ones
that I originally thought aboutrecording like in episode one
or two yeah, it took us a whileit did, it did, and for a good
reason.
I mean, you guys have been busy.
You guys have obviously beenbeen doing a lot, you know, with
(01:12:58):
uh, with the uh, with the, thetime that you have the little
time that we all have and uh,and.
So, yeah, I'm finally glad wewere able to kind of get this
all scheduled and get thisrecorded and get this behind us,
and I can't wait to see some ofthe new releases uh and and
Geneva and and.
Yeah, hopefully, you know,outside of the show we'll be
able to to connect uh again andand and step aside.
(01:13:18):
You know, outside of the showwe'll be able to connect again
and step aside, you know, youknow, maybe when we're not both
working.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:13:26):
Yeah Well, thanks so much for having me.
It's been a pleasure.
It's been a while, yeah, sincewe talked about doing this, so
I'm very pleased to have finallyachieved it yeah, and yeah,
we'll be happy to welcome you ingeneva um we'll be there all
(01:13:47):
week and so uh, yeah, anytimeamazing everybody.
Blake Rea (01:13:53):
We are going to link all of delma's websites online
store.
Make sure you definitely checkthem out.
Like I said, this is uh and Ipromise I don't say this for
everybody that listens, but thisis a brand that I really kind
of hold hold close to heart.
Um, for the reasons that youprobably just heard, but my
(01:14:14):
dad's first swiss watch and uh,and so, yeah, everybody,
definitely I think there'ssomething in their catalog for
everybody.
So, definitely, if you haven'theard of them, go check them out
.
And if you have heard of them,I'm wondering why you don't own
one of their watches.
So, thank you so much forcoming on.
And I will talk to you, ofcourse, very soon.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:14:36):
Thank you very much.
Blake Rea (01:14:37):
Bye-bye.
hello everybody.
Welcome to another episode oflonely wrist.
Today we have one of myfavorite micro brands, delma
delmo watches.
We have andreas here.
What's up, buddy?
Andreas Leibundgut (00:16):
hi, how you doing.
Thanks for having me yeah, yeah, we're.
Blake Rea (00:20):
This is gonna be the first, though, andreas, we don't
.
We don't video for him, but wedo have a youtube video that we
filmed with him at uh, at theirfactory and their manufacturer,
and that should be live,hopefully, by now, but it's been
a long time coming.
I'm sure you're probablywondering if I'm still alive, so
, uh.
(00:44):
So let's start off with, like,maybe, the early days of Delma.
When I was there, you guys werecelebrating 100 years of
watchmaking, 1924.
Insane.
What's one story or moment,would you say, from the brand's
(01:05):
early days that kind of reallydefines what delma is today?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:12):
well, the the 60s were were kind of
crucial for delma um, not onlybecause um it defined how it
went on.
In the 60s my grandfather tookover Delma from one of the
remaining of the two brothersand so certainly for the, the
brand or the company, but alsofor for us, that has been
(01:35):
defining.
It's very defining for me as itkind of led to my path of what
I do now but then also of whatthey did once they took over the
company.
I mean, they, they've alwaysbeen doing sports watches, but
then they really went into thedive watches and that whole
diving culture and that has beendefining for them until today,
(01:59):
um, with the current collectionand things that we do yeah, and
um, I know it's been so it'swith the gilliman brothers,
right.
Blake Rea (02:10):
and then your family took over and I know your your
dad, is overseeing the brand nowand you you've I mean, you're
the only person I think you'rethe only person I've ever
communicated with at telma,except for when I was there at
the factory and I saw some ofthe watchmakers and some of the
admin team and stuff.
(02:31):
But I'm assuming you'reprobably going to step up when
your dad decides to retire.
Is that what's going to happen?
Andreas Leibundgut (02:40):
Yeah, what's gonna happen, or?
Uh, yeah, so yeah, my mygrandfather took over in 66, um,
when there was only one of thetwo remaining, uh, the gilliam
brothers, and they didn't haveanybody to take over the company
, and so he took over from them.
Then, since 96, my dad has beenat the company too.
(03:02):
Uh, he's quite young, uh, still, so he will probably work for
another year or two.
Um, then at some point, uh, Iwill take over.
Blake Rea (03:12):
Yes, nice, nice, and then also uh, sister brand which
we don't talk too much about,but delbana.
I mean, it seems like you havea lot of stuff going on, kind of
you're overseeing.
Delbana too.
Is that right yeah?
Andreas Leibundgut (03:31):
that's right , I mean it's yeah, it's a funny
coincidence.
So just, delbana is a brandthat's originally from Gremchen,
the town next to where we arefrom, and Daniel Kessler, who's
been running the brand with hisfamily for quite some time.
He joined us in early 2000s andever since then we operate both
(03:56):
brands together and so Delbanais part of of Delma.
We integrated them and thecollection and everything, and
so, yes, we're overseeing thetwo brands.
Blake Rea (04:10):
That seems like a lot of work.
It is.
Yes, it is.
Andreas Leibundgut (04:15):
And, yeah, sometimes you have a bit of a
dilemma on.
You know when you need toprioritize as a small, as a
small company and small team,when resources are scarce,
sometimes you need to doprioritization.
So it's not always easy, butit's.
It's very interesting, it's funto to be able to work on on
(04:37):
both sides yeah, I mean, andthere's not.
Blake Rea (04:41):
I mean, from out of the brands that we work with,
right, there's not a lot ofbrands that have been out there
on the market as long as youguys you know.
I can only say a handful ofbrands that I work with have
been around 100 years, you know.
So that's such a crazymilestone for a micro brand,
right, considering all theshaking in the watch industry.
(05:04):
Right, considering all the theshaking in the watch industry.
And if you look at the 70s, youknow I mean the quartz crisis
and all of that.
You know, everybody has a videoabout the quartz crisis, but or
talks about it.
The fact that you guys kind of,you know, like stuck through
and continued to produce watchesin such a tumultuous period, uh
, really says a lot about thebrand and the leadership and the
(05:25):
structure in in how you, uh,you know how you continue to
kind of push forward.
Andreas Leibundgut (05:31):
You know, yeah, I mean there's a lot, I
mean there's several brands thatare older than delma, older
than 100 years but there's notthat many brands that actually
have continuously beenoperational throughout all the
years.
There's many brands that havebeen revived after 50-odd years
(05:52):
of sleeping.
But yeah, Delma and Delbanoboth of them have always been
operational and have always beenmaking watches, and so that's
something to be a little bitproud of.
Blake Rea (06:04):
Yeah, I think so I, I think so too, and when I was
there too, uh, you know, we, wetalked and you showed me around
the uh, the manufacturer, and tostill see that you guys are in
the same building that you'vealways been in, uh, like, you
told me like, oh, this is theoriginal building that we
founded in and yeah, that'ssuper cool, you know it is.
Andreas Leibundgut (06:30):
Yeah, it's quite cool because it has a lot
of little details.
There's something like on thebalcony reeling, there's the HE
kind of in the metal engravedand all that.
So it's fun.
It's filled with heritage andhistory At the same time.
It's a very old building, um,so logistics aren't always the
easiest, um, so stuff like thatum, but it has a lot of, yeah,
(06:56):
little treasures and and a lotof history of it.
Blake Rea (06:59):
yeah yeah, and I remember too, when we were, when
we were shooting and we weregoing through um, like some of
the archives, you know, like youhad some of the archive pieces
that we were kind of shootingnext to because, uh, I remember
I think we shot with one of theearlier quattros.
Uh, if I'm not mistaken, um, wedefinitely shot with one of the
(07:24):
first shell stars, but yeah, Imean just to see kind of like
some of the historical pieces,especially the pieces that I've
seen online.
You know, it was a very I wastelling my wife it was like a
very surreal experience because,you know, you guys are a brand
that I've had probably, I'd say,the longest relationship with.
(07:48):
I mean, you were one of thefirst brands really to kind of
help me get into the industryand to give me kind of the
opportunity to work with you andto kind of see, you know,
behind the curtain and uh, andso when I came back from um,
from filming last year injanuary, it was just kind of
(08:11):
surreal.
You know, I told my wife I waslike, oh, my god, like I got,
you know, because here, here itis like we, you and I have
talked like I don't knowhundreds of times right, maybe
like yeah many times and youknow, for the first time I got
to like actually spend some realtime with you, you know, and uh
andfilm and and kind of get to see,
(08:32):
like every you know, the innerworkings and and just to kind of
to see that curtain kind ofpulled back.
You know, it was just so, sosurreal and um and so cool, um
and and yeah, so it's one ofthose things that I'll always,
I'll always remember for sure,and uh, and so, yeah, the
(08:52):
YouTube video that we worked onpeople will be seeing that
probably by the time we publishthis.
So, uh, so yeah, I just beentrying to catch up but uh, but
yeah, yeah, so I really enjoyedthat and uh, I'm glad that you
got you guys kind of gave me theopportunity to kind of to kind
of to get involved.
You know, and and now, I thinkDelmo was one of the earlier
(09:15):
brands, cause I think I told you, um, but my dad wore a Delmo
and uh, and so that was kind oflike what kind of exposed me to
the brand.
You know, uh, I think I don'tknow the whole story, but I
think my dad got a watch at likea pawn shop or something.
(09:35):
You know, you guys have made somany watches and I mean in the
Delma fan group on Facebook.
We've got the fan group there,uh, just to see the people that
(09:58):
send messages in and putmessages, put stuff on the board
of like these random watchesthat, like you guys, have made
so many watches and a hundredyears.
It's crazy to to just eventhink about.
But but yeah, I think you gottawatch it.
A pawn shop and um, and when Iwas trying to get one of my
first like swiss swiss watches,uh, it was, it was a delma, so
you know how awesome is thatthat's very nice yeah, and so I
(10:22):
mean you guys have beenindependent and and, yeah, how
would you say that beingindependent, being family owned,
has kind of shaped the, thebrand more so to you know, most
people may know or may not know,but a lot of the watch brands
are owned by these conglomerates, these umbrella corporations
(10:44):
that own movement manufacturersand case suppliers and hairspray
suppliers, all this.
But, um, how would you say thatbeing independent has kind of
helped delma, you know, not onlyin the manufacturing process
but being agile, um, bringinggreat products to market, and
help kind of shape the brand towhere you are now?
Andreas Leibundgut (11:09):
Well, I think it had a huge influence on
on the company overall, but, um, but also both brands, um, I
think one of it is certainlythat you were, as you said,
independent, because we're arather small company, we are
quite quick and when my dad andI we can decide something, we
(11:32):
can develop stuff quickly, andso we can certainly have the
agility as an advantage in termsof bringing stuff to market or
speed to market.
The other is that we're alsoquite close to the customer.
We know, you know what's goingon your constant exchange, so it
(11:55):
feeds back into the process ofnot only the development but
also the feedback of you know,you get to know the customer
quite easily because you'redealing with them directly.
I think that's a big help.
There's, of course, also acouple of downsides of being
small and independent, and thatis that you know the resources
(12:20):
are sometimes a bit more scarcethan if you're a big brand or if
you're a brand in a bigconglomerate where, at least at
the beginning, you you have moreresources to to plan stuff with
.
So we, you know we gotta beprofitable as a company and and
what we do and that has a, thathas an element to it as well.
(12:44):
You don't have endless amountsto work with, but that also
makes it very interesting,because you work with what you
have and you need to be creativeand, yeah, it's a good
adventure.
Blake Rea (13:08):
It's a very fun thing to to do.
Yeah, I think I think agility,you know, like you mentioned,
being able to kind of pivot veryquickly, um, especially
considering how slow I think Idon't know, maybe slow is the
right word.
But uh, all the other brandsthat I've worked with and not to
not to slander any of them, butit seems like there's just so
(13:29):
many moving parts that theydon't have the ability to kind
of turn or pivot or positionvery quickly.
And and yeah, I definitelythink that's an advantage you
said in the sixties you guyskind of transitioned into doing
dive watches and kind of, uh,you know, putting your eggs in
(13:51):
that basket and shifting the wayand the utility behind watches,
uh, what would you say inspiredthat kind of pivot to dive
watches?
Andreas Leibundgut (14:03):
well, delma has always been doing sports
watches.
They've been doing chronographsin in the forties, Um, and so
it wasn't a totally unfamiliarfield.
But in the sixties the wholediving culture, and especially
for the, the watches thatincrease or kind of became a
(14:24):
much bigger field.
And I think the key element toit as well is my grandfather
used to work for Yenny watches.
Yenny watches isn't around, Imean, they're not that big these
days, but back then they werequite important and they were
(14:45):
early on in the dive watch fieldand so I think there was a
great inspiration of that comingwith him when he took over the
company and he implemented thatand so I think that kind of had
certainly an inspiration on himof what he wanted to do over the
next years most people don'tknow this and I guess you may
(15:10):
not know, but yinni watches isstill around and they're still
producing watches, but mostpeople know them now as doxa.
Blake Rea (15:19):
So yinni watches manufacturers, doxa watches,
which, um, yeah, it's just aweird kind of weird thing, but
it's a very, it's a very popularbrand.
Um, it was a very popular brandback in the day and now you
just don't don't see them, um,and and yeah.
(15:39):
So you know, dive watches areparticularly challenging because
it seems like every brand wantsto do like, or at least they
have a divers watch in theirportfolio.
And coming from chronographs,um, you know how, how do you
feel, like delma kind of, uh,struck that balance between not
(16:06):
only having like a functionaldiver but chronographs are
particularly a little bit, I w Iwould say.
I mean, I guess from myunderstanding that not only if
we're putting the constructionaside, like the movement, the
complication, all that stuff.
But you know, it seems that achronograph is, but, um, you
(16:28):
know, it seems that achronograph is would probably be
easier to to bring to market,um, based on like case shape and
things like that.
I mean, you guys have a veryunique case profile.
Um, you know, your dive watchesare particularly tough.
If you look at the, the blueshark now, um, I mean, it goes
to like what was it like?
10 000 was 10 000 feet orsomething, or something crazy
(16:49):
yeah, more it's.
Andreas Leibundgut (16:51):
Uh, it's 5 000 meters, so it's a 16 400
yeah, I mean, um, what, what?
Blake Rea (16:59):
how did you guys kind of decide to just say, hey, not
only are we going to get into,did you guys kind of decide to
just say, hey, not only are wegoing to get into divers watches
, but we're going to get intolike ultra deep, like deep
diving watches?
Like when did that kind offoster?
Because I think the first blueshark was?
It was in the 90s, wasn't it?
No, the first blue shark was in2011.
Andreas Leibundgut (17:22):
Okay, okay, um, it was 3 000 meters back
then, uh, and then, with thedifferent iterations, we, we
increased in in depth, uh, andby now, the blue shark 4 goes to
5 000 meters.
Um, yeah, I mean, it's, it'spushing, it's pushing the
(17:42):
boundaries, you, you try to tryto do something that goes a
little further.
You could make a watch thatgoes beyond 10K meters, but then
is it still bearable on a dailybasis, and so I think for us,
the approach is to push theboundary in terms of performance
(18:05):
but, at the same time, create awatch that is still bearable
beyond just being in the water,because you want it to work in
the water and you want it to beabsolutely performing and robust
and everything that it needs tobe in the water so that it does
(18:26):
deliver, but you also want towatch it.
You know has a certain elementof style and that looks good on
land when you're not diving, andI think that's the the key to
connect the two and to bringthat together, and I think with
some of the models we've, we'veachieved it yeah, another watch
(18:50):
that I think doesn't get the thelove that it probably deserves
is, uh, and, and this is a watchthat I wish I owned, uh, but
but the quattro.
Blake Rea (19:01):
I mean, the quattro is such a cool watch because you
can take the head of the watchoff.
You have the rapid braceletexchange system where you can
just take the movement in thehead of the watch out and put it
in a decompression table, whichI haven't really seen anybody
doing anything like that, youknow, beyond Delma, right, mean,
(19:25):
it's, it's just such a uniquesystem and yeah, in the 70s, 80s
there were a couple of brandsdoing it, um, and it was, I mean
, back then it was much morecommon and much more used than
today.
Andreas Leibundgut (19:39):
Today most divers, or all divers, use a
computer on the side as well.
Um, you wouldn't just go downonly with the mechanical watch.
You would.
You'll have an electroniccomputer that tells you, you
know when you need to decompress, for how long, and so on when
you go back up um.
But back then 70s, 80s, um,that wasn't the case, or not, as
(20:03):
in the 80s, not as much.
And delma did a lot of the, alot of dive shows and fairs,
especially in florida, and sothat was something that we
developed for that.
And the current quattro is ayeah, it's more of a nostalgia
piece kind of.
(20:24):
It's a bit more niche becauseit's more special in the way
that also the shape of thewatches is done.
But I think it's a very coolpiece and the idea behind it I
mean it was 40 something yearsago when they did it and it
(20:45):
still works.
It's still.
The system is simple but yetstill super robust.
It works in the water and worksout of the water and I think
it's a it's a very cool idea.
Blake Rea (20:57):
It's an amazing idea, it's an amazing concept, it's
super cool, and I remember whenI was there, I got hands on with
, uh, with the, the shell startitanium, which I was super
impressed with, and that's what.
Thank you, because, because Ihave, I have one now, um, and I
(21:17):
love wearing it, um, oh, thankyou you all you also just
released.
Was it the new Midland?
Is that?
Andreas Leibundgut (21:30):
Yeah, we released the Midland last year
in Geneva and now this Januarywe released a new version of it
with a purple dial, and there ismore to come in the field of
the Midlands.
It's been a model that's we'vebeen very happy with.
(21:51):
It's been quite successful andit fits what Delma has been
doing very well.
It's, it's sporty, it's cheap,but it's a robust, stainless
watch and it's kind of a fusionof both worlds, and so, yeah,
we're definitely bringing onmore of this, and so the latest
(22:14):
one that we released justbeginning of January was the
purple version.
Blake Rea (22:19):
I also saw the release of the Ocean Master,
oliver, uh, her.
Is that how you pronounce thelast name, oliver her?
hair yeah oliver hair racing,which I think was, I mean, super
cool full-loom dial, and uh,one of one of my first uh, delmo
watches was was actually anocean master and uh, I remember
(22:42):
because you know, obviously Iget the emails and everything
and when I saw that you releasedit and, um, you sent out an
email saying like hey, cool,like here's a new release, like
here's the watch we designedwith him, and then you had to,
of course, the pictures of himwearing it and then uh, and then
you could track him, like onsea, because he was like like
sailing around the ocean, youknow, like, and uh, and you
(23:04):
could track him, I guess, if Iremember correctly, because I
think I went to the website andyou could see how, like his
progress bar on, like where he'sat on the map and everything,
and I was like that's cool,that's super cool.
How did you guys get connectedwith him?
Andreas Leibundgut (23:21):
Well, he's also Swiss, german as we are, so
he's not too far away from us,um.
So, yeah, the oliver or ollie,um very inspiring story, um, the
whole monday globe is.
I find it super, superinspiring.
For those that don't know whatthe monday globe is, it's a solo
(23:46):
around the world, unassistedsailing race, so it's crazy the
people that they go.
They leave lisabla delon infrance, west coast of france, um
, and they go around the worldum, without ever going on land
in between, on land in between.
(24:12):
And oliver just made it backyesterday as we record this, um,
after 99 days and five hours atsea and it's just, yeah, it's
incredible what they do, um, theconditions that they're in, the
, just the not only the physicalbut also the mental toughness
of these sailors is absolutelyincredible and so, yeah, it's a
(24:34):
great match for us in terms ofyou know what they stand for and
what they do.
You know it's all aboutreliability, um, you know it's,
it's all about reliability.
Um, when you're out there for100 days at sea, um, you not
(24:54):
only the watch, but you knowmost of the things that you have
on your boats.
They need to be super reliable.
The things needs, everythingneeds to work, because if
something breaks, they need torepair it on at sea, and so the,
the conditions that they gothrough, you know, especially in
this ocean, is incredibly tough, extremely high, not you know
(25:18):
gusts, a lot of winds,constantly winds, constantly
waves and so on.
So it's very hard to navigateand I think it's a very good
connection.
It's very good for us to alsohave it as a testing field.
So Oli has had severaldifferent things that we tested
(25:41):
and I think it's a very goodmatch.
Um and I.
I find it super inspiring.
Inspiring um, but they do I I'dsay so.
Blake Rea (25:51):
I mean there's not too many people out there that
can do what he just did?
Um, I'd be.
I think it'd be interesting,for, uh, I'm sure maybe you've
seen pictures of the watch nowthat it came back, just to see
how it held up.
Andreas Leibundgut (26:07):
Actually I have not, because, well, oli got
back into France yesterday andso we haven't seen him, I
haven't talked to him yet he,first and foremost, was probably
happy to see his family andeverybody, of course.
We haven't seen the watch.
We know that the watch has beenworking throughout the 100 days
(26:28):
at sea.
It has stood the test, but wehaven't seen it.
I'll be keen to see.
Just during the 100 days he hashad several incidents that have
been quite tough, with thingsthat broke or things that he had
to fix um, and so it's.
(26:50):
It's good to know that he wasable to rely on on his ocean
master yeah, no, that's so cool.
Blake Rea (26:57):
Yeah, you have to keep me updated.
So, like quite a series ofpictures.
Um, when you guys are workingon a new watch, um, how would
you say that you guys prioritizemore tradition versus kind of
going into a newer direction?
Andreas Leibundgut (27:17):
um, well, if you're 100 years old as a
company, then you certainly havea certain foundation, or you
have a good foundation of.
You know stuff that you havemade, um, and so that often
draws as a an inspiration forthings that are to come, or as a
(27:38):
base that things that are tocome, and it, uh, it gives, it
provides certain values.
Um, you know the craftsmanshipthat goes into it, um, the
direction in terms of.
You know the robustness of thewatches, the certain aspects
(28:00):
that lay a foundation,especially if we're talking now
dive watches and sports watches,sports watches and then, at the
same time, there is a certaindrive to to push the boundaries
and to stay contemporary ormodern in the, the materials
(28:20):
that we try to integrate, andyou know things that we try to
to do that we haven't done.
So that's, yeah, I would sayit's a blend between the two
worlds, um, but what's importantis that you, or that we, stay
true to the, the dna of thebrand, and to the core of the
(28:42):
brand, while having the libertyto explore certain areas or
certain materials or certainthings, um, and I think that's
that's what makes our job veryfun I, I definitely think you
guys, uh, you guys, yeah, youguys are doing it right.
Blake Rea (29:03):
Um, especially when I got hands-on with some of the
archive pieces, like the vintageshell star that you guys had to
me.
It was just such a cool watchand I've got my eyes on a few of
them on ebay right now becauseI, I won't, and there's one, um,
there's one up right now Idon't want to say too much
because somebody might, you know, buy it before I can get to it
(29:25):
but, um, there's one shell starthat, uh, that's on, that has
actually like a world timerbezel, um, which I think, I mean
, is super, super cool, um, andand so that that might be one
that, I add, I think, isundervalued personally, but, uh,
(29:47):
but no, no, no, like that'swhat I'm thinking about adding,
and, uh, and so, having such anextensive archive, I'm sure you
guys, I mean, can literallyrevive any piece at any time um,
but having such a largeportfolio of watches, how do you
kind of decide, like, okay,this is something that we need
(30:07):
to bring back or this issomething that needs to kind of
come to market again?
Andreas Leibundgut (30:15):
Yeah, as you said, the amount of SKUs that
one has in the portfolio, Ithink, is a constant struggle
that many, many companies, notjust in the watch world, have,
and you try to navigate theamount.
(30:36):
I think currently, or over thepast couple of years, we've been
more focused on reducing theportfolio, because the portfolio
has gotten quite large and inorder to understand, one must
also understand why it has grown.
(30:56):
One must also understand thereasons, and so we operate in
different areas, differentregions in the world, with very
diverse tastes, and so we have,you know, dress watches that are
much more purposeful for areaslike the Middle East or Asia,
(31:23):
and then you have sports watchesthat are much more directed at,
you know, the US or NorthAmerica, and so the portfolio is
something that's constantlymanaged, so to say, and we, you
know, you take pieces out andyou bring your pieces in pieces
(31:53):
out, and you, you bring yourpieces in um the.
The important thing, I think, isthat, with such a long and
diverse history, is to bring thepieces back.
That fits the dna and not justbring any piece back, even
though you know it could fit atrend, um that's happening
somewhere at some point, but youwant to, to bring back the
pieces that match the DNA andthe values that you hold as a
(32:16):
brand today, or have held for awhile as a brand, but that you
want to communicate as welltoday, and so for us, that means
that we focus on the key sportspieces that we've had over the
past 100 years.
We've recently relaunched abi-compact chronograph.
(32:38):
We've relaunched the Shell Stara while ago before, but these
are pieces that are importantfor us, that have defined the
course of the company and stuffhave really made a mark on on
the brand's history, and so Ithink it's these are pieces to
(32:58):
to bring back.
Um, then we have others that wecan, uh, look away from look
away from.
Blake Rea (33:13):
Yeah, I'd say that's a good, a good kind of way to
think about it.
Um, and I'm super curious, youknow we talked a little bit
about the blue shark, um, beinga beast and then, um, you know,
obviously it seems like you guysare focusing really on kind of
building watches for extremeenvironments.
You know, I think it's a goodway to put it.
And you know, obviously we justtalked about oliver and him
(33:38):
coming around the world.
But beyond that, would you,what would you say?
I mean, maybe you may or not,may not know, but what would you
say?
Or that you're aware of is themost extreme environment that a
Delma has kind of been through.
Andreas Leibundgut (34:00):
One that stands out was when we did the
Blue Shark 3, we did with a teamof divers.
We went to lake baikal and didice diving and it wasn't
potentially the the absolutetoughest test for the watches.
(34:23):
Um, it was certainly extreme,with temperatures dropping
around negative 20 Celsius, thatis, and it made it very
challenging for the team.
So we were filming as we werediving and we were filming
(34:44):
underwater, but one of the keythings was to get the gear
assembled to film and, withstuff not freezing up and coming
out of the water and going backinto the water, stuff like that
, with things being wet, stuffwould freeze quite quickly and
(35:04):
so I think it was definitely atestament of durability for for
watches, um, and certainly um,yeah, for the ones that were
there, it was.
It was very cold, um, and theguys and girls that were diving
it during that week they werevery resilient and, yeah, that
(35:26):
was a that was a tough one, Ithink.
Blake Rea (35:29):
I, I saw the video.
I saw the video.
I saw the video.
Um, it definitely lookedextreme the fact that you guys
were not only focusing on ontrying trying to like safety
right, you know safety but youguys were filming a video at the
same time like a marketingvideo.
Andreas Leibundgut (35:44):
I was like, holy shit, like this is crazy
yeah it was tough to get it alltogether, but it was a very
interesting experience becausethe infrastructure was also not
the simplest and so it was verydemanding for the team, but I
(36:10):
think it was well worth the tripit was.
Blake Rea (36:12):
It was a cool experience yeah, no, I, um, I
didn't tell you about this, butremember how I told you about my
friend who does underwaterphotography and I sent you you
know her, her, um, her likewebsite and everything.
And uh, she, she, she went toIndonesia for a diving, uh trip
and, um, I was actually going tosurprise you guys, so I, I gave
(36:36):
her a shell star to take one ofmy personal watches, uh, to
take with her to Indonesia.
And uh, and anyway, she worethe shell star the entire trip
and uh, and she got socomfortable wearing it it's
funny and because she was goingto take pictures with it in
underwater in Indonesia on thisjourney, and she got so
(37:00):
comfortable wearing it, sheforgot to take pictures with it.
And of course I'm very happy tohear that she liked it yeah,
yeah, no, she, she had it formaybe like six months or so and,
um, and yeah, she, she wore itfrom my understanding every day
(37:20):
in indonesia.
Um, she'd sent me some liketests.
You know, she has a pool in herbackyard.
She was like going underwater,like taking picture, because she
never shot product photographyunderwater, which is, I mean, a
separate challenge, um, but no,so she was testing it in the
pool, uh, and then, you know,she sent me some of those
pictures and I was like cool,like when are you going to
(37:40):
indonesia?
Like you know, becausemeanwhile I'm in my head like
all right, like that's, that'samazing, like when am I gonna
get my watch back?
Like, um, but that was one ofthe, the first, the first shell
stars, and sadly I don't haveany pictures to show you.
Um, but no, she, she totally,totally enjoyed it and I just
got that watch back, maybe, uh,maybe like a couple months ago
(38:05):
and and yeah, I mean six months.
You know, she was in indonesiafor maybe like a really long
time, I think, and uh, and itlooks just as good as when it
left.
You know, besides the factthere are some marks on the
bezel, um, because, for thatspecific reference, the, the
bezel is aluminum, um, but still, I mean it looks awesome.
(38:29):
Um, I know, uh, you guys arebringing the brand more into
america.
We talked, I mean you and Ihave talked offline about this,
but, um, you know when, when doyou think people can start to
see delmo more locally?
You know, because I, you know,I've been pressing you guys to
(38:50):
to do that for a while like toto get distributors or not to
get distributors, but to getretail locations, um, here, I
know you have a service centerhere and and you guys have a
distributor now and you guys arestarting to get accounts around
the us.
Um, but curious as to howthat's kind of, uh, how that's
(39:13):
going and, uh, when you guys canexpect to kind of get a little
bit larger of a footprint, youknow, in the united states yes,
we have started a while ago toexpand our retail network with a
distributor in the US and wehave now around seven to nine
(39:40):
points of sales in the US spreadout across different regions.
Andreas Leibundgut (39:48):
We're working on expanding it in an
organic way.
The aim for us is not, to, bynext year, to have 100 accounts.
By all means.
That's not sustainable 100%.
It's also not the goal for us.
(40:08):
We're going to be happy withgood partnerships that work for
us and for the accounts, and sowe aim to grow a little bit more
, but not incredibly, over thenext years, but we can certainly
(40:29):
expect a couple of new storesto come on board.
Blake Rea (40:34):
That's it.
I mean that's it, you know,because if you grow too fast,
you're not able to support yourcore accounts.
You know, support theirbusiness, support them to grow
the brand.
You know you have to be morestrategic.
Support them um to grow thebrand.
You know you have to be morestrategic.
And obviously, when I was um,when I was in Iowa, so I told
you about like all that happenedover the summer, um, when I
(40:56):
took my, my holiday, I went toIowa, um, and I texted you when
I was there, cause, uh, theplace, my friend, yeah, watching
clock junction, uh, he, uh, hetook me there and I didn't even
know like I didn't do anyresearch, you know, and it was
so cool to see, uh, to see delmathere, um, especially coming
(41:17):
back from, uh, you know, fromthe manufacturer in january and
then in july, uh, doing, youknow, doing the trip there and
then seeing, you know, thetourbillon.
You know I was like, oh, yeah,did, did you guys see the new
tourbillon?
yet, like that, we haven't evengot a chance to talk about that
yet, the anniversary tourbillon,um, but they're like, yeah, we
(41:40):
got one and I was like, oh, like, and they pulled it out and I
was like, you know, I got to seeit again and they were like,
yeah, we just, I think they, Ithink they had ordered it for a
customer um, if I'm not mistakenand and yeah, I mean just to
see everything kind of there, um, considering, you know you guys
don't have again you know likea ton of ton of retail presence
(42:03):
here, um, but but it was justvery cool to see kind of one of
your accounts and to kind of getto, to learn with them and
they're they're really happy,you know, being um like selling
your watches, like they are sohappy to be, to be a retailer
for you guys.
Just because I talked to him, Italked to him about it to them,
(42:25):
you know I was like, oh, likeyou know, what do you think you
know I was doing, doing, doing alittle bit of inside research
for you guys?
Um, I was like, oh, what do youthink you know?
like how, how do you like thebrand, like, how do you know?
And everybody just had only goodthings to say about, like the,
your team, you know, um, and inthe watches and, and you know
(42:46):
they, they said that they've,out of all the domo washes,
they've sold it, they.
I don't think they've ever evergot somebody like had to return
one or like who hasn't beenhappy with it.
Um, but you know they, wetalked at at length about it for
maybe about an hour and uh, youknow he, the, the owner, jerry,
kind of jumps around topics,but no, we talked at length
(43:10):
about it and it was very kind ofcool to see what I would
consider to be the ground of thepassion for the brand here in
the United States, to see aretailer who's having such good
success with the brand, who'shaving such good success with
the brand.
I mean the fact that they'reselling some of your tourbillon
(43:31):
watches, I mean is awesome,considering, you know, you guys
are just kind of coming backoverseas into the United States
and focusing on this market tosee that they're having success
and selling the tourbillon, youknow was kind of crazy, you know
, to me at least, so maybe not.
Andreas Leibundgut (43:51):
No, I we're, you know we're delighted with,
with Jerry and the team, but Ithink they embody exactly what
you know, what I was just sayingbefore Thelma doesn't need a
hundred accounts.
We don't need an account.
We don't need retailers whereThelma is number 75 in their
(44:13):
portfolio.
What we are seeking is muchmore.
What Jerry and the team standsfor, which is somebody who is
very passionate about the brand,and I think that shows.
Think that that shows, um, itshows also when he talks to the
(44:34):
customers and he's able to bringacross what we stand for, and
so that's for us, that's veryimportant and, uh, that's what
you know brings, makes it asuccess for us and makes it a
success for them, but isultimately also the best case
for the customer, because theyget the service that they need
and they they desire, and you'renot just left here shopping by
(44:57):
yourself, so to say, when youlook at a smaller brand.
So now we're very happy andthis is exactly the approach
that we will do, or the type ofretail we'll seek when going
forward.
Blake Rea (45:13):
I'd say that's a great strategy.
Curious to get your take,especially now here in the
United States.
I mean, obviously, micro brandsare kind of all the rage right
now and you've been in the watchindustry for a long time now
and your family what have youkind of seen change in the watch
(45:38):
industry and evolve?
As you've been in the industry,you know, I know that people
are pushing more towards micros,because before people didn't
care about, care about micros,people didn't care about, you
know, tons of great brands thathave great storied histories,
but now you see customers thatare kind of more open.
If not, they prefer having amicro brand watch over over a
(46:03):
big box brand.
Right, you know, because of theexact same reason you talked
about.
You know, the fact is like if I, uh, if I own one of your
watches and I send you know youan email, like you guys are
responding and and it's it'svery much like a family kind of
business and that vibe kind ofcomes across.
Um, but since you've been inthe industry, what have you kind
(46:24):
of noticed change, uh, in thewatch industry?
Andreas Leibundgut (46:31):
have you kind of noticed change in the
watch industry.
Well, I think there's manychanges in this regard.
When it comes to approachingthe customer, I think we we've
seen a change with, you know,overall, with the fares there's,
I think you know, with theexception of COVID or the time
(46:52):
of COVID, you see that there's alot more direct-to-consumer
fares.
They provide a great platformfor micro-brands such as
ourselves, but also for slightlyor bigger brands, not the very
big brands, but I think that's avery good platform for
(47:15):
consumers to connect with thebrands and I think, at the same
time, that helps to driveinterest for the brands as well.
And I think that's new, or ornot new, but at least that has
increased over the past.
I would say five to ten years,with the exception of a couple
(47:37):
of years maybe couldn't do shows, um, I think there's also a
bigger focus on collectors, um,at least I think for for I can't
speak for super high end brands, you know um, at least from
(47:57):
from our, on our level, um, butI think that there is a stronger
focus um, not just to deliverto retailers and you know here
are the watches and then theysell them off but much more to
do you know, to connect with thecustomers, and so we've had,
(48:20):
especially during and we saw itspecifically with the Tourbillon
, where we had almost a touraround the world with meetings
with collectors of retailers, sothe retailers had dinners and
we went there and we, you know,explained them the brand.
We explained to them what we do,the watch and so on, and so
(48:43):
there's much more of a directconnection with these collectors
and I think there's also astronger focus on these
collectors, and I think you knowit goes hand in hand collectors
and people interested inwatches, they uh, they're also
more open to to the smallerbrands and I think uh, at least
(49:04):
for us, uh over the past coupleof years, that that's certainly
been beneficial.
Blake Rea (49:10):
I definitely say so.
I mean it's working right.
I mean there's just such astrong connection and I promise
I mean if you listen to any ofmy other podcasts I don't say
this to everybody but there'ssuch a strong connection that I
feel with the brand, a strongconnection that I feel with uh,
(49:32):
with the brand, um, not justbecause I know you guys, but
just because of how I wasintroduced, uh to you guys and
uh and I I hope you know, when Ihave children, that they can
feel the same way about, like mywatches or you know my
collection or whatever,obviously having I think I've
got four, four delmo watches orfive or something in my
collection or whatever, andobviously having I think I've
got four, four delmo watches orfive or something in my
(49:53):
collection, um, but hopefullythey'll feel the same way that I
feel I'll have to say like hey,this was, this was your
grandpa's like first swiss watch.
Okay, like hang on to it, youknow, because, uh, I I think I
actually sent you a picture ofit um, like one of his, his
watches like his watches.
Andreas Leibundgut (50:14):
You showed it to me once, yeah yeah, yeah,
um.
Blake Rea (50:18):
Are there any models that you feel like have a cult
following that you guys put outthat you didn't expect, you know
to to move as quickly?
Andreas Leibundgut (50:32):
There's certainly a couple of models
that we have that move betterthan, or, you know, have very
strong desire, sure, sure, but Iwouldn't be able to say, like
you know, it's this one model.
I was super surprised.
I mean, one of the models isthe Quattro, which is quite a
niche product, so to say, butthen strong interest from
(50:57):
various I couldn't even say, youknow, it's only selling in this
region, so it's veryinteresting.
It's a very specific product.
I think the quattro is a goodexample.
Um, and then we're, we're alsosuper happy with, with the
tourbillon that we have done.
Uh, sure, that's a, that's aspecial one for us as well.
(51:18):
Um, now there's a yeah, there'sa special one for us as well.
Now there's a couple, not onespecific fair enough as a brand.
Blake Rea (51:29):
I'm sure this is a challenging one that a lot of
brands face.
But just kind of jumping inbetween, we talked about kind of
staying grounded while pushingthe envelope.
But with this whole kind ofresurgent on, you know, you see,
a lot of brands are gettingexperimental with like materials
(51:50):
and and things like that.
Um, you know, how do you guyskind of uh play in that sandbox
per se?
You know, um, like, I know youguys have a lot of fun with
titanium.
Um, I know you guys are doinglike like bronze and like dlc.
Um, I mean, you guys are usingceramics and and things like
(52:13):
that.
But, um, are there anymaterials that you guys, uh like
, are particularly interested in, kind of like learning,
interested in bringing into yourwatches that you haven't yet?
Or how do you keep up in thatregards?
Andreas Leibundgut (52:35):
We're always looking you know, just keeping
track on things that we couldimplement or new things.
I think carbon is certainly aninteresting one that we've
experimented with a bit.
That's a topic at the moment aswell.
(52:56):
There are other materials thatwe have, um that we're looking
into, and then, of course,there's always the precious
metals.
Um, you know that has been athing very much in the past as
well, um, delma has done quite afew gold watches, um in the 80s
(53:16):
and 90s, um, it's always atopic, um, but yeah, it's always
a.
Materials, different materialsto integrate or new things to
integrate is always a topic Idid.
Blake Rea (53:30):
I did talk about that .
I said, hey look, if you guyscome out with a carbon, a forged
carbon shell star with a forgedcarbon dial and orange accents,
I would be one of the firstbuyer, one of the first buyers.
Andreas Leibundgut (53:45):
We'll make.
Blake Rea (53:45):
We'll make you one, yeah that that would be insane,
especially in the 40, the 41size.
Now I think I'm getting used tothis, um, but even even if I
I'm sure this is much morechallenging, but even a carbon
bracelet would be crazy.
I'm curious and you may not beable to say, but you know what's
(54:06):
kind of next for the brand, youknow, is there any kind of
hints or anything that you cankind of like give us about like
the future, maybe what you guysare planning, because I know you
guys, as a watch brand brand,you have to be like years out
right.
You know you're talking aboutwatches now that you're going to
be producing three or fouryears from now.
Um, are there any kind of hintsas as to what you, you guys,
(54:29):
are going to be doing in thenext couple years, or maybe the
directions on how you're goingto kind of shape the brand?
Andreas Leibundgut (54:36):
I cannot tell you anything.
No, I'm just joking.
Okay now you're talking like acorporate brand.
No, so we have a obviously forthis year.
Things are already in the back,so to say, sure, sure, with a
(55:01):
couple of things coming, more orless in a month from now, when
we go to Geneva and we're goingto release a new ladies piece.
There's going to be some divewatches, there's going to be new
chronographs, then we're goingto have a couple of things
coming in the summer, alsosomething coming on the 1924
(55:24):
line as well.
And, yeah, then further down theroad, things are in the
pipeline that being worked on,but nothing yet that's, you know
, fully locked, but nothing yetthat's fully locked.
We'll certainly explore stuffthat is within the core of the
(55:48):
brand.
I mean, dive watches are alwaysa topic.
Making them slightly smallerthan some of our other models
are that we have currently inthe collection, and then also
the work on smaller than some ofour other models are that we
have currently in the collection, and then also the work on
contemporary parts.
(56:09):
And, last but not least, whatwe also have is we're also
working on a proprietarymovement in the direction of
what we have done with theTourbillon.
Blake Rea (56:29):
But there nothing can be disclosed yet.
Sure, sure, I understand.
Um, we haven't had a chance totalk about the tourbillon, so I
guess this is a good kind ofchance to bring it up.
Um, you know, obviously youguys did your tourbillon for
your your 100 100th anniversary.
Um, how did you guys did yourtourbillon for your your 100th
anniversary?
Um, how did you guys kind ofcome to that conclusion like,
okay, cool, like we're gonna doa tourbillon?
Um, you know, like where wasthat the first tourbillon that
(56:50):
you guys have ever done as abrand?
And uh, how did how did thatkind of whole project kind of
come to life?
Andreas Leibundgut (57:03):
It is the first tour beyond that we've
ever done.
My father has always wanted tocreate a tour beyond, and so
he's been looking into differentoptions for a while and just
exploring you know, not justsuppliers and you know of
(57:25):
movements, but also, um, how wecould build it in a way that it
fits our brand and it fits thedna of delma.
And at some point a couple ofyears ago, we were like, well,
it would be a perfect occasionto do it for the 100 years.
(57:47):
And we, uh, through connections, got to a guy called oliver
mori, or Olivier Mori, and wethen developed the movement
based off his tour beyondmovement for us, and took us,
(58:10):
I'd say, two and a half to threeyears to build the movement the
way we wanted to have it, andthen also quite some time to
build the case and designeverything.
And so it's been the first tourbeyond we've made.
(58:31):
We've been very happy with howit's been received, and so, yeah
, I think it was a in terms of.
I think the tourbillon is.
It's just a fascinatingcomplication, it's just
something that's very pleasantto to view, um, because of the
(58:54):
movement, and I think it's stilla bit of a, a grail, so to say
in terms of, uh, totally ofcomplication, even though
there's there's more complicatedcomplications, but it's still
from a visual aspect, I thinkit's a.
It's a very interesting andvery pleasing um complication.
(59:15):
I think, yeah, that's why we uhhe always wanted to have that
done.
I think that was a, that was agood idea, um, so we've been
very happy with it.
Um, we have, off the hundredpieces, just a handful left, and
so that's why there's somethingnew coming on that 1924 line
(59:42):
through and down this year.
Blake Rea (59:44):
Wow.
So not only was it just ananniversary piece, but if I
understand you correctly, areyou guys going to do a whole
kind of 1924 collection now.
Andreas Leibundgut (59:55):
Yeah, the 1924, the idea was always to
bring the 1924 a bit more to thefront.
As we said at the beginning ofthe talk, there's not that many
brands that are older than 100years, and there's even fewer
brands that have been fullyoperational for a hundred years,
(01:00:18):
and so we, we felt like the1924 should be communicated a
bit more strongly.
Um, and we we want to build acollection on that, uh, and it's
not just going to be a one-offtour beyond piece, it's going to
be more, more than that, and sothere's uh, more things to come
(01:00:43):
in in that direction.
Blake Rea (01:00:44):
Yeah amazing, curious now that your dad has created
his dream tour beyond is.
Is that the watch that he wearsevery day?
Because I I shared to you, youknow, the watch that my dad wore
every day.
So now, now I'm curious.
So what, what?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:00:58):
is it.
Well, he, he got himself thenumber one.
Um, that was clear from thevery beginning.
There was no.
There was no debating on thatone.
Um, and he wears it very often.
Yeah, he, he does.
Um, I wouldn't say every day,but, uh, he wears it quite often
.
Yeah, I wouldn't say every day,but he wears it quite often.
Blake Rea (01:01:20):
Amazing.
This is probably one of thetougher questions that we have.
But if there was one Delmowatch that you could wear for
the rest of your life, whatwould it be?
I know, when I sit throughthese questions up front I was
like, yeah well.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:01:40):
I thought about that but then I kind of
forgot about it.
No, it is a tough one because Ihave an old Klondike.
Back in the 90s, delma used tomake these limited edition gold
and platinum watches quitedressy and I have one with a
(01:02:10):
chronograph with a moon face andit's tonal shaped and I like it
.
I often wear it for more dressyoccasions but it's too fancy
for an everyday watch.
But I love the piece and Ithink for an everyday watch, I
(01:02:35):
think a Shell Star Titanium isvery good.
I don't want to, you know, doadvertising or promote.
No, no, no, but I think theShell Star Titanium is super
cool.
Every day, you know, watched.
It's lightweight, supercomfortable, rugged, so it's
(01:02:55):
perfect.
Yeah, I think that's a goodchoice.
I can tell you that over thepast I would say, six months,
the piece that I've been wearingmost is the Midland Black Dial,
and that's just a super easy,cool, stylish watch that just
(01:03:21):
fits with almost every outfit.
That's not too bad.
Blake Rea (01:03:28):
I'd say yeah, no.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:29):
I'm very happy with that piece too, yeah.
Blake Rea (01:03:32):
But it's a tough one.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:34):
There's too many options to always wear the
same watch.
Blake Rea (01:03:38):
I know and I feel bad for putting you on the spot
like that, but, uh, I I thinkwhen, uh, when I was there, um,
I think the because the midlandyou just read, you just reissued
.
Right, you guys just came outit's been about a year now.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:03:53):
Maybe the midland, so it's a new release,
um, but the watch, the design ofthe watch overall, and, uh,
it's a new release, but thedesign of the watch overall and
it's totally new case shape,everything.
The name Midland has been usedfor many different collections.
As a matter of fact, when theGilliman brothers founded the
(01:04:15):
company back in 1924, they usedfour collection or brand names,
so to say, and one of themalready was Midland.
And so Midland has always beenused for chronographs and sports
pieces, in the 60s and 80s, sothroughout the company's time.
(01:04:39):
And so this one is a new model,but it's not a.
The name is not new, so to say.
Blake Rea (01:04:49):
No, I mean, yeah, I think, when I was there and we
were filming and, like, youreached out, I saw that watch
and I was like, oh, what is that, you know?
And you're like, oh, that'scoming, that's coming.
And I was like, oh, okay, thatdoes make sense because it is
incredibly versatile.
(01:05:09):
I mean, like I said, I have theShellstar Titanium, obviously
the orange one, the orange dial,and I'm absolutely obsessed
with it.
Um, I love wearing it and Imean you can see, like some of
the, like the, the, my buckleit's hard to tell from the or my
(01:05:30):
deployant, um, but it it is.
It is definitely getting some,some love marks on it from from
how much I've been wearing it.
So, um, I'm curious to, uh,what is probably one of the more
inspiring stories that maybeyou've heard about?
The brand, or maybe somebodyeven wearing a watch?
(01:05:51):
I know we talked about oliversuper cool.
Um, I know we talked a littlebit, I mean, obviously, about my
father, um, but what would yousay is probably one of the more
crazier or inspiring storiesthat you've heard about?
Maybe somebody wearing a watch,or maybe a customer, or just
even the brand?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:06:16):
Yeah, I think Oliver is a very recent
and truly inspiring one.
We've done quite a bit of workwith other adventurers that have
been very inspiring.
We've done stuff with NickMaloney, another sailor.
He went for the 200 yearanniversary of Antarctica's
(01:06:41):
discovery.
They traveled down to one ofthe islands just in front of
Antarctica and sailed, sailed,around Antarctic not around full
continent, but in that area andso we've then also done a
collaboration with Nick and ASOCfor the Ocean Master Antarctica
(01:07:08):
.
That was a very inspiringproject.
In terms of just somebody doingsomething or wearing the watch
is a hard thing to just singleout, so to say, but I think,
yeah, nick has done a lot ofinspiring stuff.
(01:07:28):
We've also worked with a guy,with Magnus.
He's a diver and oceanconservantist and he has done a
lot of work with sharks andthat's very inspiring as well
(01:07:49):
when you know, applying thewatch, using the watch in its
field.
He was doing stuff in theazores to preserve the habitat
of the sharks where they breed,and, yeah, I think that was a
very For us.
It was a very insightfulproject as well to do, not just
(01:08:15):
from a time piece or from awatch perspective, because he
was using the, the blue sharkand was testing it, and but it
was a and quite a an emotionalum project to see how these
sharks maneuver and how the thebreeding rounds are affected by
(01:08:37):
what we do.
Blake Rea (01:08:37):
Yeah, yeah, because that was the.
You guys did the the blue shark.
Azores yes, exactly that wasthe watch.
That kind of came from that,I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, and it was like uh, wasit like a?
It was like a bronze orsomething, wasn't it?
Andreas Leibundgut (01:08:55):
no, it was a stainless steel one, but it had
it was.
So there were two iterations.
Oh, that's right there was ablue had a gray in dial.
Yeah, so they were.
Yeah, that's right.
That's right, the one that wasmore kind of the deep ocean one,
and the one that was more, uh,closer to shore, so to say, in
(01:09:17):
terms of the colors sure, sure,sure.
Blake Rea (01:09:20):
Um.
Final question, and you knowyou don't have to kind of think
in terms of watchmakers, but ifyou guys could collaborate with
another brand or maybe, uh,bring on like a new ambassador,
um, maybe somebody in adifferent industry, or you know,
get feedback from somebody, oror you know, if you could
(01:09:42):
collaborate with anybody, itdoesn't matter who it is in
history, right, or or brand whowould that be and what would
that look like?
And that's another super hardone, but people do want to know,
I promise.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:10:00):
And that's another super hard one, but
people do want to know.
I promise it's a good question.
There's a, there's a couple ofwell, I would need to
differentiate a little bitbetween within the industry or
outside the industry.
There's a, there's a couple ofthe, a couple of watchmakers or
brands within the industry thatI admire for what they do and I
(01:10:27):
wouldn't mind collaborating withthem.
The question is whether theywould want to collaborate with
Delamar.
Blake Rea (01:10:33):
Sure, sure, sure.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:10:35):
But no one of them that I think is very
cool is Kari Wojtyla, and whathe does in terms of movement
work and style work isincredible.
And Anderson they do reallycool stuff which I really like.
(01:10:57):
Yeah, these are two from theindustry that I just kind of
like.
Outside the industry it's adifferent route I would much
more go like.
I like Patagonia, oh yeah.
(01:11:18):
Nice Especially.
You know what they do beyondtheir products, but what they do
in terms of um, you know givingback um, in terms of
sustainability, what they they.
I think they're a very goodexample of reuse, recycle kind
(01:11:41):
of that mentality, but not in away of just, you know, bringing
your paper to the recyclingstore, but really making sure
that you create something withthe materials that you have at
hand and giving back tocommunities and the environment.
And they're a very kind ofadventure-driven brand, like we
(01:12:08):
are.
So I think that would beinteresting.
Blake Rea (01:12:11):
Yeah, you heard it first here Delma Patagonia
Collaboration coming soon.
No, I'm just kidding.
No, thank you so much for forspending time with us, uh, as
always.
Uh, I'm looking forward toseeing you guys uh again in in
Geneva.
Uh, and and I I'm glad that wefinally got this podcast.
(01:12:33):
This is one of the, the, theearlier podcast.
Here we are like third.
I we're like almost 40 episodesnow, so this is one of the ones
that I originally thought aboutrecording like in episode one
or two yeah, it took us a whileit did, it did, and for a good
reason.
I mean, you guys have been busy.
You guys have obviously beenbeen doing a lot, you know, with
(01:12:58):
uh, with the uh, with the, thetime that you have the little
time that we all have and uh,and.
So, yeah, I'm finally glad wewere able to kind of get this
all scheduled and get thisrecorded and get this behind us,
and I can't wait to see some ofthe new releases uh and and
Geneva and and.
Yeah, hopefully, you know,outside of the show we'll be
able to to connect uh again andand and step aside.
(01:13:18):
You know, outside of the showwe'll be able to connect again
and step aside, you know, youknow, maybe when we're not both
working.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:13:26):
Yeah Well, thanks so much for having me.
It's been a pleasure.
It's been a while, yeah, sincewe talked about doing this, so
I'm very pleased to have finallyachieved it yeah, and yeah,
we'll be happy to welcome you ingeneva um we'll be there all
(01:13:47):
week and so uh, yeah, anytimeamazing everybody.
Blake Rea (01:13:53):
We are going to link all of delma's websites online
store.
Make sure you definitely checkthem out.
Like I said, this is uh and Ipromise I don't say this for
everybody that listens, but thisis a brand that I really kind
of hold hold close to heart.
Um, for the reasons that youprobably just heard, but my
(01:14:14):
dad's first swiss watch and uh,and so, yeah, everybody,
definitely I think there'ssomething in their catalog for
everybody.
So, definitely, if you haven'theard of them, go check them out
.
And if you have heard of them,I'm wondering why you don't own
one of their watches.
So, thank you so much forcoming on.
And I will talk to you, ofcourse, very soon.
Andreas Leibundgut (01:14:36):
Thank you very much.
Blake Rea (01:14:37):
Bye-bye.
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