Ollivier Saveo: between flowers and petrol
The jeweler and craftsman innovates with a sapphire case with finely sculpted gold leaves and flowers. France’s best craftsman intends to become renowned in Switzerland.
By Marco Cattaneo
Journalist
When we look at these pieces we can’t help but be reminded of table clocks and their Art Nouveau decorations protected from dust with the use of bell jars. Ollivier Savéo watches are jewelry pieces delicately housed in a surprising case: a sapphire tube held by two gold flanges that reveal each detail of the decorations. The flowers, leaves and butterfly wings in solid gold are embellished by precious stones and convey their creator’s passion. Rightly so as at the turn of the century, Ollivier Savelli, the brand’s founder, was chosen as France’s best craftsman in jewelry.
A petrol sample
His love for nature enables him to draw his inspiration from flowers, though he also sometimes ventures into less consensual worlds. That’s why amongst his watches we find a solid gold skull or the amazing Petroleum, a reference to the Steampunk Movement.
He designed this rather imposing watch for a special group of people: the owners of oil refineries and oil groups. He hopes this niche product will seduce customers from Azerbaijan and the Gulf. The whole piece is dedicated to the oil world with the bezel having the same design as the connecting pieces between the cylinders of oil pipelines. Furthermore, a small cylinder at 6 o’clock can be filled with petrol.
Savelli does not wish to take any risks with his young brand that was registered only a few months ago. Hence, the Petroleum doesn’t feature an in-house movement but an open worked Sellita together with ETA calibers known for their proven reliability. However, this does not mean that Savelli does not have in mind to create his own tourbillon. For the moment, though, most of the pieces in his budding collection range between CHF36,000 and CHF55,000 and will only be available either as unique pieces or in limited series of 33 pieces.
Savelli has worked at Roger Dubuis, Gay Frères and Quinting, so he is not new to the watchmaking market. Indeed, his approach has a very clear vision of luxury. “It’s a philosophy; a matter of emotions. Of course, technique is also important but it must above all be at the service of beauty”.
The values of the Compagnons
He learned pertinent technique at sixteen when he joined the “Compagnons du Tour de France”. Before switching to jewelry, he had worked in metallurgy. He spent almost ten years travelling around France, fascinated by fire and matter, and worked in Lyon and Montpellier. His extraordinary learning experience taught him the values of sharing, brotherhood and respect for good work that he still upholds today while regretting that they have become a bit outdated. He also learned some simple truths like the difference between conceiving something and creating it. This is why his brand is so young; he wanted his prototypes to be finished before starting his company. And since the name Savelli had already been taken, he shortened it to Savéo. He did keep, though, the unusual spelling of his name, Ollivier with the double ‘l’, which his father got to choose after tossing a coin.
Does the author mean that he was interested in working with fire and other materials? I saw it as a poetic expression; hence my choice of words. If the former, then we could just say ‘fascinated by fire and different materials’. Thanks
An arabesque from the 16th century
As a true craftsman, Savelli pays attention to the smallest details and gives his watches and their surroundings proper care. He shows his leather-wrapped presentation cases with as much enthusiasm as his engravings. Their cover does not feature the brand’s name but only an arabesque pattern which he has made an integral part of his brand.
Every element had to be useful; therefore, the leather presentation case contains the warranty, which he demonstrates proudly. The case also has the exact same format as a passport to give it a second life. “Luxury is also longevity”, he adds, amused.
