The latest creations of Nicolas Mertenat, are in his image, purist and innovative.
Passionate about minimalist contemporary art and architecture, the creator of the watches BLANCARRÉ realizes his dream and lets us enter his world.
A former designer for major brands such as Swatch, Boucheron, Ebel and Gucci, and a lover of aesthetics and cubism, Nicolas Mertenat created his own label with his family, a brand that reflects his personality and breaks away from conventional preconceived ideas.
Often, our professional careers take us far from our native lands, but sometimes paths cross and bring us closer. This is the case of Nicolas MertenatIt was in the town where he was born that he created, in association with his brother Claude, the house BLANCARRÉComing from a family of triplets, they had often been attracted by the idea of collaborating together, and in their fifties, they decided to take the plunge. Claude provides financial support and manages the business, while Nicolas designs. After years of teaching in Geneva, they met there to present their first watch at the Tribu House Art Gallery.
Nicolas Mertenat, or the dream becomes reality. The artist designer wanted to create the watch he wanted to wear. His creations are the result of professional maturity and a certain need for independence.
Despite a volatile economic climate and highly complex market dynamics, his dream came true. He left a major watchmaking company (Oméga) to partner with Claude. Both address a clientele looking for something new, both in terms of product and distribution. The Mertenat brothers do not want, initially, to invade the already overcrowded gallery windows. They do not want to be confronted with a saturated market that is too classic for their tastes. Their goal is to present the label's collection BLANCARRÉ in an ephemeral manner through one-off events and in multi-brand points of sale, but also on the website dedicated to the six original creations or only sold in Geneva at the Time & Passion boutique (Rue Arnold Winkelried 4, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland). Nicolas Mertenat, true to himself, breaks with traditional distribution conventions. He has traded his pencils for his salesman's jacket to promote his label. Just like his watches, his choices are in his image; he is there where you least expect him, a purist and perfectionist, attentive to every element, nothing is left to chance.
The label BLANCARRÉ offers modern and minimalist watches, often at odds with classic watchmaking concepts. Where angles are usually rounded, Nicolas Mertenat leaves them prominent. He draws his inspiration from cubism and architecture, which he is passionate about.
Simple in appearance, his watches are a work of art in themselves, cubic sculptures with perfect lines. An ingenious combination of simplicity and sophistication, of refined design and hidden complexity. Crafted from modern materials such as titanium, ceramic, and rubber, the designer's watches remain timeless. Sharp and angular edges, flat and smooth surfaces, contemporary materials are combined with the criteria of fine watchmaking to create watches of unequivocal quality.
The exceptional know-how and skills that are found in the line BLANCARRÉ have their roots in the heart of Swiss watchmaking, in the Jura region to be precise, the homeland of the Mertenat brothers. The watches BLANCARRÉ are made from 85% Jura products. The refined collection includes six numbered models available in modern and very purist colors, such as White black and gray. It is not out of the question that the artist will expand his palette with a few touches of color in the near future. Bronzes and autumn tones should soon be added to the collection.
Like their designer, the watches BLANCARRÉ combine sobriety and refinement. They have all the qualities of the most renowned. The associated brothers know that it is a bold bet, but they prefer to accept the risk than to regret not having tried the adventure!
PK
