Olivier Gaud, born in Switzerland in 1985, comes from a family background where commerce and an appreciation of fine objects have marked his upbringing. The son of a coffee merchant and an antique dealer, Olivier grew up near Geneva, in a village on the shores of Lake Geneva. His academic journey, nurtured in this rich cultural tapestry, eventually led him to the prestigious Haute École de Gestion, where he specialized in commodities trading.

Yet, it was the captivating realm of watchmaking that truly won Olivier’s heart as he turned 20. His enthusiasm for the craft was profoundly influenced and expanded through numerous pivotal encounters, notably a significant meeting with Philippe Cantin – an esteemed former collaborator of Svend Andersen and a respected professor at the Geneva School of Watchmaking – whom he met at Christie’s. Following his graduation, Olivier embarked on a prestigious career at the renowned Geneva auction house. Starting as a viewing assistant before progressing to the role of viewing manager, he spent seven years opening and closely examining thousands of watches and contributing to the production of auction catalogs.

Philippe Cantin encouraged him to get hands-on, and thus Olivier Gaud found himself spending every evening at his small watchmaker’s bench at home, and every Tuesday night under Cantin’s guidance, repairing and disassembling watches he had picked up at flea markets, all the while taking watchmaking courses at the Ifage adult education institute in Geneva. By day, he worked at Apple in Geneva, fixing Macs and training the after-sales service teams. There, he honed his technical expertise and approach to customer service. He reflects on this period as the foundation of his learning, driven by heart and passion.

In 2016, a family turning point led him to London, where he joined the after-sales service team at the Cartier boutique on New Bond Street. There, immersed in an environment that demanded precision, rigor, and excellence, he refined his understanding of serving a discerning international clientele. After two years, the anticipation of a joyous new arrival prompted Olivier and his wife to return to Geneva. Thanks to internal mobility within the Richemont group, he joined Vacheron Constantin in their international after-sales service. In this role, he managed the repairs of exceptional pieces – those too complex or rare to be handled locally in the markets thereby merging his experience from Christie’s with a sharp insight into the collector and secondary markets.

At Vacheron Constantin, he quickly made himself indispensable – easing the watchmakers’ workload by becoming a visitor guide at the Geneva manufacture. Thanks to his extensive knowledge of horology and its mechanisms, and to his fluency in English, he was often on the frontline, welcoming visitors and clients, and sharing with them his passion for watchmaking.

In 2020, Cartier recruited him as the coordinator for the Swiss market, a role in which he was responsible for managing supply, product visibility, merchandising, and events across the brand’s 23 sales points in Switzerland. It was in 2021, as the world emerged from the Covid crisis, that he decided to leave his position and strike out on his own, creating OLIGO – the name is derived from the nickname he had been known by “since he was a toddler,” in fact a phonetic contraction of his full name). OLIGO is a local brand of eco-friendly designer watches with a magical touch : the hands appear to be floating in space.

OLIGO quickly became a success, captivating an international clientele across generations with its refreshing approach to Swiss horology. Around the same time, he met Olivier and Dominique Vaucher. Together, they began collaborating on various projects and envisioned the creation of an independent watch brand, one grounded in free creativity and the celebration of Métiers d’Art, the traditional crafts and techniques employed in watch decoration, involving skills like engraving, enameling, lacquering, and gem setting. Olivier Gaud’s journey from his school days in Geneva to establishing his own brand illustrates a life driven by passion and a profound respect for the craft of watchmaking.