16. André Le Marquand

Homepage - Contents - C. The Designers, 16. André Le Marquand

C.16 André Le Marquand

André le Marquand is known as an architect and designer of watches. After his 'Spaceman' became a success, he has been designing more and more for exclusive watch firms.
Under his own brandname 'André Le Marquand Genève' a series of very exclusive and stylish watches have been released. For the interior of the hall of the new Catena factory of Bulle, he created a beautiful fresco painting that pictures the history of time measurement.

1930	Born on the 17th of August 1930 in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
1955	He finishes his studies at the art schools he attended in Switzerland and Great Britain to become an independent architect.
1969	After the launching of the first space-vehicles, the owner of Catena Bulle Switzerland, Claude Lebet and the director Francis Bourquin ask André Le Marquand to create a range of watches of a totally new design. The result is an edition of four series of watches in 1972 and 1973, nearly all inspired by an astronaut's helmet. This watch is also sold by Tressa Lux, Fortis, Jules Jurgensen, Octo, Zeno Watch, Harlem and others. On December 11th 1969 the design is registered in the USA under no. 20.466 and a patent application is filed on February 10th 1970, in Switzerland.
1972	The Spaceman watches cause a sensation at the Basle Fair. Nobody thought these strange watches could ever be sold. Nevertheless, within ten years 150.000 Spacemans were sold all over the world. Especially in the Far East and in Hollywood, the watches were very successful. Many fake copies were made in Hong Kong.

1972. Spaceman
The first oval model is called 'Spaceman' and is issued in six different colours. Each colour is fitted with an automatic or a mechanical movement. The hands are always orange coloured. Available with or without day and date. The straps were made by Dupont and Nemours out of Corfam. The 'Spaceman 7Z' is a less interesting variation on this design and has a circular dial and an oval case.

The basic models are:

1	Creamy coloured strap, green dial.
2	Blue strap, blue dial.
3	Red strap, red dial.
4	Black-brown strap, matching dial.
5	Dark brown strap, matching dial.
6	White strap, white or violet dial.

1974. Spaceman Audacieuse
The second rectangular series is called 'Spaceman Audacieuse' with an asymmetrical shaped chromium plated steel bracelet, lacquered leather or normal leather strap. Each watch is produced as a man's watch and as a smaller ladies' watch. Available with day, with and without day and date, and with an automatic or a normal movement. The metal case has four variations: chromium plated, gold plated, shiny black and dull black. If the watch has a leather strap, the colour of the strap matches the colour of the dial. An incredible number of variations, due to the combination of strap and dial, can be found of these watches. The rare ones are the models with vertical bars on the dial, with lighting and the completely black models. It is reported that there is a watch in this series with a dynamic scattering liquid crystal display by Microma.

Some examples:

7	With lighting.
8	Completely black version. Very rare.
9	Chromium plated.
10	Man's watch. Red lacquered strap.
11	Lady's watch. Red lacquered strap.

1977.
The third series contains one Spaceman model in black, red, blue, brown or steel colour, with a matching broad leather or a chromium plated steel symmetrical strap. Fitted with digital mechanical movement.

12	Red-violet version.
13	Grey version.

1977.
The fourth series contains two LCD watches. Strap and helmet shaped case made out of dull chromium plated steel. The dial is grey or black.

14	Chronograph.
15	Very futuristic model named 'Spacesonic'. Also sold by Limit International (Hirst Brothers & Co. of Great Britain).

< Previous page | Top | Next page >

Related Photos: 1 | 2

email: doensen@xs4all.nl

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or used in any forms or by any means - graphic, electronic or mechanical, including (but not limited to) photocopying or information storage and retrieval systems - without written permission from the copyright holder.