The story of Alain Silberstein — the man and the eponymous watch brand — is fascinating, even from a distance. I’m lucky to be hearing it firsthand (albeit over Zoom). Silberstein, the architect turned watch designer, has a storied, and to my mind, underappreciated place in the history of watches. Much of our conversation is spent looking backwards and ruminating on his legacy. It would be fair to think that, after some 30-odd years in and around the business of watches, Silberstein is approaching the endgame. But I’m not so sure. The increasing cadence of perfectly pitched collaborations, along with Silberstein’s own infectious energy, suggests that we can expect plenty of bold, primary colored designs for years to come.
If you’re not overly familiar with the oeuvre of Silberstein, don’t worry, it isn’t hard to miss. The cylindrical cases and straight lugs have an architectural air to them, which is fitting as Silberstein billed himself as the “Architecte Horloger,” a nod to his professional training. And while the cases may be bold, they don’t hold a candle to the dials. The hands are simple geometric shapes in primary colors. There’s a sense of whimsy in the dials
