Introduction to Krayon Watches
Most luxury watch brands rely on celebrity endorsements, substantial marketing budgets, and the production of thousands of units per year to maintain their visibility. However, Krayon Watches does the exact opposite. Rémi Maillat founded the brand in 2013 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Specifically, he built it into one of the most respected independent names in the world through patience and deep engineering skill. Furthermore, unlike most brands in its category, this house speaks to an audience that values the “soul” of an object over a famous logo. Even if you will never own one, understanding how this brand operates teaches you something valuable about true craftsmanship. You should also read our guide on gemstone buying mistakes to understand how quality standards apply to all high-value luxury acquisitions.
From Engineering Studio to Independent Brand
Krayon Watches did not begin as a standard consumer brand. Instead, Maillat launched the company as an engineering and movement-design studio. During those early years, he created complex mechanisms for major luxury houses. Before founding his own firm, he developed his expertise at Cartier as a watchmaking engineer. This experience provided him with both technical depth and valuable industry knowledge.
During that period, consequently, the company earned revenue by designing prototypes for other brands. Meanwhile, Maillat quietly worked on his most ambitious personal idea: the Universal Sunrise Sunset mechanism. This system calculates precise sunrise and sunset times for virtually any location on Earth using coordinates, date, and time zone. Crucially, rather than selling this invention to another brand, he chose to keep it for his own collection. This single decision altered the company’s trajectory. As a result, the studio shifted its focus toward building complete watches under the name Krayon Watches. For more on the history of Swiss engineering, visit the official Watch Explorer site.
The “One Watch, One Watchmaker” Philosophy
Today, the brand operates from a converted historic building beside Lake Neuchâtel. A small team of approximately twelve skilled artisans works in traditional workshops. Notably, they produce fewer than 50 watches per year. This low number is not a marketing gimmick; rather, it reflects the genuine complexity of the movements. Each caliber requires hundreds of hours of hand-finishing and careful adjustment.
Accountability and Pride in Craft
Moreover, the “One Watch, One Watchmaker” philosophy sits at the heart of their process. Instead of splitting tasks across an assembly line, each watchmaker assembles an entire timepiece from start to finish. This approach creates clear accountability and a direct human connection between the maker and the object. Consequently, every watch represents months of focused work. For enthusiasts who love mechanical horology, this feels far closer to an ancient craft than to modern manufacturing.
How Krayon Watches Reaches the Global Market
The brand does not flood the market with boutiques or duty-free displays. Instead, it works with a carefully selected network of specialist retailers across eight key markets, including Dubai, Singapore, and Japan. This tight distribution keeps the brand experience personal. As a result, Maillat travels regularly to meet collectors face-to-face.
For buyers, therefore, discovering Krayon Watches typically happens through in-depth editorial features or international fairs rather than mainstream advertising. In addition, the brand remains discoverable through honest journalism and word-of-mouth recommendations. This ensures that the community around the brand consists of people who genuinely appreciate the engineering involved. You can explore award-winning models at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG).
Deep Personalisation and the Three Core Models
One of the most impressive qualities of the brand is the level of personalisation available to the client. The Anywhere watch, for example, displays sunrise and sunset times for a specific location chosen by the owner. That location—perhaps a hometown or a favorite coastline—is set by a watchmaker and becomes permanently tied to the watch’s identity.
Pricing and Exclusivity
- The Everywhere: This is the most complex creation, capable of calculating sunrise and sunset for any location. It carries a price of approximately CHF 700,000. However, the brand has paused production due to its extreme technical demands.
- The Anywhere: This is the primary model today. It displays times for one fixed location. Prices start at CHF 138,000 excluding taxes. Notably, this model won the GPHG Calendar and Astronomy Prize in 2022.
- The Anyday: Arriving in 2025, Maillat describes this as the world’s first mechanical planner. It sits as the most approachable of the three, while still carrying the full commitment to craft.
FAQ: Krayon Watches
How many Krayon Watches are made annually?
The team produces fewer than 50 watches per year. This ensures that every piece receives the undivided attention of a master watchmaker.
What is a sunrise/sunset complication?
It is a mechanical calculator that displays the exact time the sun rises and sets based on the user’s specific latitude and longitude.
Where is the Krayon workshop located?
The brand manufactures and assembles all its pieces in Neuchâtel, the historic heart of Swiss watchmaking.
Can I customize the location on an Anywhere watch?
Yes. Every Anywhere model is calibrated to a specific geographic location chosen by the owner during the ordering process.
Who owns Krayon Watches?
The brand remains independently owned and led by its founder and lead engineer, Rémi Maillat.
Disclaimer
All production figures, pricing, and distribution details are based on publicly available brand communications and verified media reports as of 2025–2026. Prices are quoted in Swiss francs and exclude taxes unless otherwise stated. Details may change over time. Always verify current information directly with Krayon or an authorised retailer before making any purchase decisions. This article is written for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or purchasing advice.
