Twelve on Time: Yvan Arpa on His Personal Relationship with Time and Watches
This installment of the "Twelve on Time" series features Yvan Arpa, founder of the independent watch brand ArtyA, discussing his personal philosophy on watchmaking. Arpa emphasizes innovation, the emotional connection to timepieces, and the importance of independent watchmakers over established brands.
Arpa considers a Roman sundial his first "watch," appreciating the philosophical mottoes engraved beneath it and the concept that a timepiece should remind us to live life intensely.
He values innovation most in a watch, believing it must offer something new and not merely repeat past designs.
Arpa identifies the tourbillon as his favorite complication, viewing it as a poetic mechanical representation of time passing.
He criticizes the trend of consumers only buying from major brands, overlooking the passion and innovation found in independent watchmaking.
The escapement and its regulation are details that instantly reveal a watch's careful craftsmanship to Arpa.
Arpa believes the quartz crisis fundamentally reshaped the watch industry, forcing watchmakers to redefine their purpose.
He sees the greatest challenge for the watch industry as reinvention, likening the potential fate of watches to that of the hat industry if they don't offer more than just timekeeping.
Arpa draws inspiration from childlike wonder, finding it in everyday things like flowers, animals, or architecture.