Gisbert L. Brunner
Gisbert L. Brunner, born in 1947, has been interested in wristwatches, pendulum clocks and other precision time-keeping instruments since 1964. The quartz crisis in the watchmaking industry in the 1970s only fanned the flames of his passion for the traditional timepieces that were supposedly becoming extinct. An avid collector of watches, he has been writing specialist articles that testify to his passion and expertise since the early 1980s. These articles have been published in Chronos Japan, Prestige, Materialist, Goldschmiedezeitung, Magic Moments and ZEIT Magazin. He founded the online platform www.uhrenkosmos.com with a partner in 2018.
Over the years, Gisbert L. Brunner has written more than 20 books. His successful publications The Watch Book I (2015) and The Watch Book II (2016) were followed by Rolex – The Watch Book, published by teNeues Verlag in several different languages in June 2017. Due to high international demand, there have been multiple reprints of this most recent publication.
Red Dot in an interview with Gisbert L. Brunner
Red Dot: What does a watch have to offer in order to persuade you of its merits?
Gisbert L. Brunner: Naturally, it must look good, have a harmonious design and the correct signature as well as show real watchmaking quality or be truly original.
Where will the watch industry be ten years from now?
That’s something nobody can really predict with any certainty as the middle and long-term impact of smartwatches is not yet clear at the moment. But one thing is sure, the traditional mechanical watch will survive.
What is the hallmark of good design?
In good, considered design, it is almost inevitable that form follows function. It is not ostentatious, but appeals instead with a classical, more reserved appearance. Nevertheless, it attracts attention. A significant aspect, where applicable, is ease of use.
How do you proceed when evaluating products?
Step by step. Firstly by screening a watch, then by examining all aspects in detail as well as its tactile properties.