The art of decompression

seconde/seconde/ doesn't design watches so much as he designs situations. The C60 Desk Diver was the situation of being trapped in an office. The C60 Pool Diver, its follow-up, is the situation of escaping one. We caught up with him to find out how a helium-escape valve becomes a palm tree, and why the martini glass on the date window might be the most honest thing in watchmaking.

The Desk Diver was about surviving office life. Is the Pool Diver about escaping it?

Exactly. The Desk Diver helped you navigate office life - perform, endure, carry on. Then I started thinking about 'decompression' - a diving term - and how it pairs with 'escape'. We had the watch for the 9-to-5. Now it was time for the watch that lets you leave it behind. Just for a while.

- seconde/seconde/

The helium-escape valve has a palm tree on it. That's not standard issue.

When we were working on the Desk Diver, I designed a small visual for the escape valve - a literal escape key - that we never used. The idea stayed with me. For the Pool Diver, the valve had to mean something. So it became a symbol of escapism. A palm tree. The concept is simple: let's get out of here.

- seconde/seconde/

And the martini glass on the date window? 'Please don't drink and dive' on the caseback?

I live in northern France and often take my children to England on holiday. I'd teach them English from road signs - 'Don't drink and drive' - and in my head it became 'Please don't drink and dive.' The watch suggests having a nice cocktail. The caseback suggests having some sense about it. Both feel necessary.

- seconde/seconde/

Final question: do you actually like going on holiday?

Of course. But if you love holidays too much, that might be a sign that your work life isn't fulfilling enough. Holidays shouldn't be the dream that makes everything else bearable. It's good when, after a week away, you actually look forward to going back. That's a healthy sign.

- seconde/seconde/

He's right, of course. But he also put a bezel on the Pool Diver that schedules reading, sunbathing, and reconsidering life choices (10 o'clock, handle with care). He knows what he's doing.

Limited order window, order yours before 24th June.