Jacky Epitaux

“Questions de Temps”: Jacky Epitaux from Rudis Sylva

The “triptych” ordered from Rudis Sylva by a rich collector from Oman originated from the crafts of the Jura Arc and was worthy of being in a museum. Jacky Epitaux acted as master of ceremonies.

By Joel Grandjean
Editor-in-Chief

Before they were sent to their owner, most probably a prominent figure of the Sultanate of Oman, the watches had to be celebrated here. There was no better place to do that than in a watch museum, the “Château des Monts” in Le Locle. The brand introduced the three wonderful watches in the presence of Philippe Dufour, a friend and watchmaker. The trio embodies the essence of the Jura Arc, of its traditional honed watchmaking skills and its deliberately secular approach. It was thus a day for local craftsmen. Jacky Epitaux, the golden child of Le Locle and founder of Rudis Sylva, presided the event. The brand was created in 2006 in Les Bois, in the Jura district near La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Since then, the brand located in the Franches-Montagnes region equips all its exclusive and rare watches with the uncommon Harmonious Oscillator complication. It is an ingenious and revolutionary mechanism that was developed by the brand’s watchmaker Mika Rissanen.

Thanks to two-toothed interlinked balances, to two opposite balance-springs that are deployed alternately, and to a single escapement, the mechanism can overcome gravity, the famous problem that has been watchmakers’ headache for the past 200 years.

Jacky Epitaux takes our “Question de Temps” interview. He is a former professional footballer, golden boy of Le Locle and Zenith and a fan of his region.

Jacky Epitaux is a former professional footballer Jacky Epitaux is a former professional footballer

When did you make your first watch?

When I was seventeen.

Are you a punctual person?

Yes.

On what occasion do you remember being so late that you were embarrassed?

I was invited to eat rabbit polenta at my friends’ who are from Bergamo and I completely forgot about it!

Was there a time you were either late or early thereby preventing you from the worst possible outcome?

I postponed an appointment with a retailer in Rio for the following day. That morning, at my hotel in Sao Paulo I learned that the plane I would have boarded crashed after taking off and over 200 people died.

What about a time when you were late or early which consequently meant you experienced a privileged and blessed moment?

Since I always walk at the head of a group, be it in the forest or elsewhere, it often happens that game sees me and takes off scared; too bad for those behind me.

What was your longest day ever?

At recruit school, we had to walk through the mountains from Grisons to Ticino. I fell asleep standing. It’s amazing, your knees suddenly give way and you immediately wake up in a crouched position.

Apart from a watch, what is the design that you consider most timeless?

I think the different types of fir art we find in La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is a type of art defined by the harmonious curve we find in the “king of forests” and that is abound in our beautiful Jura region.

Jacky Epitaux & Philippe Dufour Jacky Epitaux & Philippe Dufour

Can you tell us the exact latitude and longitude of your birthplace?

La Chaux-de-Fonds, calculate it yourself!

Name the personal object you wish would stay forever as it is. Please refrain from saying a watch; that would be too simple!

My car. The amount of money I would save if I didn’t have to change cars every now and then would allow me to retire earlier and allow me to have more “leisure time”.

What type of time-consuming activity do you dread the most?

The Internet is one of the traps that could make you build an anti-communication bubble around yourself. When you switch your computer off you are saying: “goodbye, I am with my family, friends, or doing something healthier”.

If someone had to tell you the story of time, what would you prefer: a book, a proverb or a favorite saying?

A book. “Une vie” (a life) by Maupassant. My choices and I would be the protagonists: the life of a fanatic told in the prose of this amazing writer.

Jacky Epitaux & Ronaldinho Jacky Epitaux with Ronaldinho

“Vous avez l’heure, nous avons le temps!” (you have the time (hour), we have time!) is a saying from the South. What do you think of it?

Or “manana” as the saying goes in South America. I go to Brazil, walk on the beach, drink a Caïpirinha, and enjoy the music and the sun. At night, I have a “Picanha” in the best “Churasco” and the rest can wait.

Which book have you taken longer to read or have not managed to finish?

Larsson’s first “Millenium” book. I started reading it and I absolutely have to find some time to finish it, as it has been praised so much!

Your first recollection that lasted for quite some time?

My holidays at my grandparents’ in Cossonay-Gare, on the banks of the Venoge. The scenery was beautiful: river, forests, trout, mushrooms, fruits and nuts. At night, the excitement of watching factory workers leaving the cable factory and the “Grands-Moulins”. These magic days went really fast.

Which moments do you wish would last forever?

When I play or laugh with my family or friends.

Do you ever cry? If so, when was the time you thought you would not be able to stop?

I am a true optimist and I never feel low. Sometimes I cry tears of great joy and I decide when to stop. Crying makes me what I am and I find it awesome.

Jacky Epitaux during Carnival Jacky Epitaux during Carnival

What do you think is the difference between time and eternity?

Since I am a very busy person, I tend to indulge in good times so that my “too short” life seems like an eternity to me.

Your first watch?

A Rotary I received for my first communion.

Do you have many watches? What part do they play in your life?

I have six watches. The one which I am less likely to wear but is more valuable is a limited-series Rodolphe, which is a tribute to Brazil’s 5th World Cup. This watch has given me magnificent times in the world of football, my favorite sport.

Which watch do you most ardently wish to acquire which is not produced by the brand you work for?

A Richard Mille, a brand that is close to us.

The Rudis Sylva watch of which you are most proud.

Since we have produced only one watch with a major complication, I would say the Harmonious Ocsillator as it took us years to produce it.

Rodolphe Penta Rodolphe Penta is a tribute to Brazil’s 5th World Cup

If you had to bury a personal object to do the work of a sundial, what would it be?

A rowan tree. This tree evolves over the years and allows us to hear the songs of several birds. In winter, the wine that we obtain from its berries cheers up our evenings.

www.rudissylva.ch

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