I am 63 and semi-retired, working as a consultant in the acquisition of exceptional watches and collectible cars. I have always been passionate about motorsport and competed in several seasons of GT Endurance racing with Ferrari. I am also a painter, which gives me another way to express my creativity. I enjoy many sports, especially cycling, surfing, and skiing. I am also passionate about cinema and literature.
Laurent Mathieu
It certainly wasn’t one of my first watches—since those weren’t particularly significant—but my entry into the world of watchmaking coincided with Ferrari’s partnership with Girard-Perregaux, so for our wedding, my wife and I each gave the other a watch. A Boucheron Reflet for Isabelle, and a Girard-Perregaux 8020 Chronograph for Ferrari.
Cartier Santos Dumont: I bought the 2650 from a friend who’s made his life in Mexico. We’d worked together at Rank Xerox in the ’90s, and I ran into him again in Paris in 2015 — he was wearing this magnificent rose gold watch with its beautiful case and incredible elegance. We were at a restaurant, and I couldn’t take my eyes off that watch…
Ten years later, to save his restaurant — which was going through a temporary financial rough patch — he called me to say he wanted to sell it.
We met up in Spain, spent a wonderful evening together — I wore the watch — and he confirmed the sale the next morning.
This is the second time I’ve bought a watch from a friend, and I find it makes for an interesting collecting theme: buying watches from very close friends as a way to carry a memory with me, or as a symbol of our bond.
Yes, for watches and cars.
Classic cars, auto racing, painting, surfing, music.
My watch of the day (or the one I actually dare to wear when I’m out and about in Paris) and my phone, usually.
In 2005, Breguet launched the Tradition line with the 7027. In 2006, after closing a great deal with a client, I invited him to lunch at the Ritz. As we were leaving, I suggested we stop by the Breguet Museum, and after spending two hours in the boutique, my client walked out with the famous 7027 and a Tsar’s alarm clock… That day, I told myself… one day I’ll own a Breguet Tradition.
In the meantime, I bought a yellow gold Type XX Aéronavale, and after my watch was entered into the Breguet archives, I discovered through Emmanuel Breguet that it was part of a limited edition of 150 pieces. A few years later, as the value of that Type XX continued to rise, I traded it via The WatchCollectors for a Tradition 7027. And one last thing: its serial number, 2764, represents the two departments — Eure and Pyrénées-Atlantiques — which are my two places of residence outside of Paris.
Patek Philippe 5396R.
Since I’m out in the country, I’ve had to change watches three times.
This morning, I wore our Complications Club’s watch, a Rolex Air King.
For lunch, my Cartier Santos Dumont 2650.
And when I went to wash my car, I had to wear my old Swatch from 1993!
The Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
Maui, with a beautiful 1.5-meter wave that breaks for a very long time — ‘as if there were no tomorrow’ — with an offshore wind and my trusty Donald Takayama longboard.
My iPhone with a good connection, so I can keep dreaming on Chrono 24, Classic Trader, La Centrale, etc…. and a Canal+ subscription for F1.
(And my IWC QP to get me out of my cave on full moon nights!)
Essential for the correct functioning of the site. They cannot be disabled.
They help us understand how visitors interact with the site by collecting information anonymously (e.g. Google Analytics).
Used to show personalised advertising and measure the effectiveness of campaigns. They may be set by third parties.
They store your choices (language, region) to offer you a personalised browsing experience.
