Q&AChristelle Rosnoblet, Speake-Marin’s CEO On Their Strong Spirit Of Independence And Their 2023 Novelties

Born into a business family in the French Northern Alps, Christelle Rosnoblet has had entrepreneurship in her blood. With an education from the banks of Annecy Lake, she made a name for herself in field of modern trade in her region. An innovative spirit and value for freedom really do go with her role as the person at the helm of a brand like Speake-Marin. In fact, Rosnoblet’s appreciation for watches began at an early age, as she developed a high regard for the attention to detail and the quest for perfection in quality and aesthetics that fine watchmaking is associated with. With this, she made a conscious decision to immerse herself in the watch industry, and she invested in the Speake-Marin company, which had been founded by a watchmaker by the name of Peter Speake-Marin, whom she already knew. Eventually Mr Speake-Marin left the company, and Rosnoblet took over as CEO. This was several years ago. Rosnoblet spoke to us about that transition, and how her journey has been at the helm of this brand, what her vision for it is, and how she’s made it her own. Here are excerpts from the interview.

Your association with Peter Speake-Marin began years before your take-over as CEO. What was that journey like, and how was that transition into heading the brand?

First, we identified the strong potential of the Speake-Marin brand and above all how we could deploy it from a creative point of view, with the creation of real watch collections and a strong network of international retailers. My main objective was to develop our own movements internally in order to acquire the legitimacy of the major watch brands and to fully master the production chain in Switzerland. I have been trying to guide the brand with my teams towards the best for 10 years. In my opinion, the most important factors for us are: human values, creativity and the right atmosphere to develop and create, and in the best conditions.

From being a watch connoisseur to becoming the CEO of Speake-Marin, what was your discovery of the brand like? Were there any perceptions of the brand that changed with this transition?

I have always been passionate about beautiful watchmaking, but also about passion-driven crafts. For me, watchmakers are at the heart of the conception of time. I discovered Speake-Marin at a watch show with relatives. We wanted to invest in a watch brand and I immediately felt strongly about the potential of Speake-Marin and how I could deploy it by structuring it and organising its departments.

“The One & Two collection is the most significant for us, inspired by architecture and modern design.” Seen here is the One & Two Academic

₹12,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

“The One & Two collection represents the Speake-Marin vision and positioning, paying tribute to fine watchmaking while reinventing watchmaking codes as an ode to freedom”

₹12,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

“Above all, Speake-Marin evokes an independent and liberated watchmaking style. Our customers are those who seek these values.”

₹12,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

“I invested in an internal production workshop, Le Cercle des Horlogers, for the development of our movements. My dream has always been to make our movements 100-percent in-house and Swiss-made”

₹12,30,000

Check Our Selling Price

01

What were your core learnings from Peter Speake-Marin? Is he still involved in any decision-making?

Creativity has absolutely no limit: this is one of the main lessons I have learned and applied in our developments. Creativity, technicity and audacity are the drivers in the design of our watches at Speake-Marin. When we worked together on the brand, Peter Speake-Marin was on the creative part and I on the strategy and brand development part. He left Speake-Marin more than five years ago to devote himself to teaching watchmaking, he is no longer involved in the brand’s decisions.

Could you talk about the key changes you initiated with the brand when you took over? How has Speake-Marin evolved over the last 11 years, with you at the helm?

First of all, we structured it at the team level. We created separate departments—product development strategy, sales, marketing/communication, creation studio, supply chain, etc. But above all, I invested in an internal production workshop, Le Cercle des Horlogers, for the development of our movements. My dream has always been to make our movements 100-percent in-house and Swiss-made. The workshop of Le Cercle des Horlogers has propelled us in this direction. We produce the best in Swiss watchmaking technicality for demanding collectors and respecting the values of beautiful fine watchmaking. 

How much of a challenge is it to be a woman at the helm of a brand in an industry that’s otherwise male dominated?

It is a constant challenge, but I am not the only woman in this business and thankfully so. I would say that we are daring and that we dare to take risks. We dare everything.

“Today a woman can wear a Ripples watch. As a brand, we do not not set rules,” says Rosnoblet. Seen here is Ripples worn by a woman

₹19,00,000

Check Our Selling Price

Ripples on the wrist of a man. The archetypal look especially makes this watch suitable for anyone

₹19,00,000

Check Our Selling Price

The watch gets its name from the dial, which showcases ripples of parallel lines, placed horizontally

₹19,00,000

Check Our Selling Price

01

In a world where gender labels are becoming increasingly irrelevant, what are your thoughts on watches being categorised as being for women or men?

Our watches are not gendered, a Speake-Marin watch can be worn by a man or a woman. The most important thing is the emotion and the feeling that the watch will evoke for the person who wears it. Our watches are developed in 38mm, 40.3mm (The Ripples), and also in 42mm. Today a woman can wear a Ripples watch as well as a stunning Openworked Tourbillon or an elegant Academic timepiece. As a brand, we do not not set rules. Everyone is free to love and wear our watches. Above all, Speake-Marin evokes an independent and liberated watchmaking style. Our customers are those who seek these values.

“Our watches are developed in 38mm and also in 42mm,” says Rosnoblet. Seen here is the One & Two Dual Time Mint i these two sizes

₹29,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

“Our watches are not gendered, a Speake-Marin watch can be worn by a man or a woman. The most important thing is the emotion and the feeling that the watch will evoke for the person who wears it”

₹29,40,000

Check Our Selling Price

This watch celebrates mechanical watchmaking, with its open-worked display

₹29,90,000

Check Our Selling Price

01

Which collection and complication best represents Speake-Marin?

The One & Two collection is the most significant for us, inspired by architecture and modern design. It represents the Speake-Marin vision and positioning, paying tribute to fine watchmaking while reinventing watchmaking codes as an ode to freedom.

Could you give us your perspective on the novelties you’re about to show at Watches and Wonders 2023? How do these products take the brand’s story forward?

Innovation and modernity will guide the brand over the next few years while retaining the technicality and processes of traditional watchmaking. This year, are you the Ripples Date or the Ripples Blue Jeans? Or the Academic Black Tie or Academic White?  In 2023, Speake-Marin accompanies you into the future, supporting your desire, and even need, to look up, to look ahead, and to achieve your goals through a constant progress.

Seen here is the new Ripples Blue Jeans, which is one of the 2023 novelties launched by the brand at Watches and Wonders 2023 in Geneva

The icy blue dial breathes new life into the integrated metallic sport watch from Speake-Marin. It follows close on the heels of the golden dial seen in the Ripples anniversary edition of 2022

Whether down-to-earth or dreamy, whether Ripples Date or Ripples Blue Jeans, 2023 is the year for Speake-Marin to move forward with you.

This here is the Academic Black Tie and the Academic White, which take the Academic series forward with classic hues that are ironically very fresh here

The four Roman numbers on the dial of the Black Tie are solid luminescent blocks, which ensures that they glow with added brightness in the dark