TREATS! Q&A: EDOUARD MEYLAN

As co-owner of Celsius X VI II—creator of the first “hand-made clamshell art-watch/phone with more than 600 mechanical components” priced at $300,000—Edouard Meylan’s mission is simple: create a micromechanical art of timeless communication empire that sells dozens—not millions—of devices.

by Rob Hill

 

 

Hello from Los Angeles. How’s Paris today?

Getting cold, winter is at the door.

 

Your company is very unique and specialized. What was the idea behind founding Celsius X VI II?

Mobile phones are becoming the most important accessory in our life. They transmit emotions through communication, yet the objects are mere disposable items. We want to change that we want to create objects that people will value as pieces of art that they will keep forever.

 

What’s your vision for the company?

To create the first autonomous mechanical phone.

 

What were some of the first designs you guys did?

Phones with a simple watch pasted on the top of the phone. No integration as we have today. Today every opening of the phone generates energy that powers the watch. It’s our patented butterfly winding system.

 

 

What made them special?

The first designs were very “classical” when compared to our current models. Now we show the mechanics.

 

The new phone, LeDIX, is stunning. How did it come about?

It is our 2^nd generation of phones. We wanted it to be special in its own way; we didn’t want to include a special watch. We wanted to use the space we have. The phone is our playground reason why we have this time display that uses the entire topside of the clamshell. The big innovation is the way we display the GMT and the date. For that we use what we call Image Guiding System, a pure fibre optic system that transmits an image in space—a little bit like an endoscope.

 

How long did it take to design?

The design evolved over 2 years. The development took 3 years.

 

Are you being approached by other brands to collaborate all the time?

Not all the time but we are exploring partnerships with car and watch brands.

 

 

What brands would you like to work with?

Pagani. We love their values and their functional approach.

 

Have you ever thought of doing a camera?

Yes, but phones are so complex to develop that we don’t have time and resources to do anything else.

 

What’s next?

Another revolution!

 

Finally, what is your favorite treat?

A one-week trip heli-skiing in Canada.