Of all the microbrands to have blown up over the last five years, few have struck a chord quite as soundly as Furlan Marri. From their initial batch of handsome, accessible, vintage-inspired watches to the latest, painfully cool Disco Volante models – via a game-changing perpetual calendar – they’ve proven that it’s all been a lot more than hype.
So, we took the opportunity to talk to the Geneva-based Swiss half of the partnership, Andrea Furlan about cars, podcasts and a long weekend in the Swiss mountains.
What, other than a watch, is at the top of your wish list?
A Porsche 993 4S or Turbo would be a dream as I started to design cars when I was very young. I even did all my high school in German to go to Pforzheim Design University with the ambition of becoming an automotive designer. However, the fascination with watches took over, and my career path shifted entirely towards watch design.
A recent find or discovery?
A blown-glass vase from Murano, Italy, made by Flavio Poli. It contains uranium and is therefore luminescent under UV light, which is very cool to look at in the dark.
Tadao Ando
What inspires you?
Anything related to industrial design and architecture. I especially search for interesting curves and intriguing details. I recently fell in love with the work of Kengo Kuma and the minimalism of Tadao Ando, two architects from Japan.
A book, podcast, or album that changed the way you think?
I particularly enjoyed StandOutOnline by Natasha Courtenay-Smith, which provides valuable insights into strategically building a digital brand through storytelling, authenticity, and targeted online presence. Another key inspiration for me is Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara, which emphasises the transformative power of exceeding customer expectations and creating unforgettable experiences through personalised interactions. At our brand, we strive daily to integrate these principles by continuously refining our digital storytelling and cultivating a culture of attentive care, creativity, and connection with our community.
Solvil Watch
What was the last watch you bought?
I bought a little Solvil watch from my friend Joel Laplace; rose gold case, made by hand by Georges Croisier. He was a famous casemaker that produced cases for some of Patek Philippe’s 1518 references, for Vacheron Constantin’s Disco Volante, and many other brands. I like how the lugs are assembled and the proportions of the dial.
Do you collect anything outside of watches?
I collect vintage chairs especially the ones from the 1960s, and old phones like the first iPhone because I love the packaging and the overall design with its round edges. I also started to collect vintage ashtrays from Solvil and Rolex.
Crans-Montana
What’s your ideal long weekend?
I can count on my hands the number of ‘long’ or ‘personal’ weekends I enjoy during the year (joking), but if I can tell you one of them, it would certainly be a weekend in the Swiss mountains, relaxing and enjoying a fondue with my family. A walk near Crans-Montana or St-Luc station, then a drive through the mountains, taking in the breathtaking panorama of the Valais. It is where my brain is in ‘half-off’ mode. But never too far from my sketchbook, if one or more ideas come…
What would we always find in your fridge?
A jar of tapenade from Provence, France. This has been my guilty pleasure since I was very young. It reminds me of the time when we used to visit the region every year with my parents. We’d go to piano concerts in a château (because I did over 12 years of classical piano) and during the intermission, there was always tapenade on toast. That was the only reason I went!
What’s a rule or mantra that you live by?
Always strive for perfection, accepting that you will never arrive.
What does the year ahead look like for you?
This will be interesting because we’ve introduced our community design lab, where people can vote and co-create a watch with us. This will enable us to find out more about their interest and the models, features or colours they really want. We’ll also be opening our showroom in Japan, in Tokyo, this year. We’re looking forward to doing this, and to engaging with the Japanese market in an unusual way. This year will be our fourth year in business, and we’ll be presenting our anniversary piece during Watches and Wonders 2025. We want to better structure the three different lines, Mechaquartz, Mechanical and Technical, so that you can see accessible price point watches as well as accessible complications. Hamad Al Marri and I are always thinking about the balance between accessibility, attention to the community and the details we can add to our watches.
Jean Claude Biver
Who is a celebrity or person of note or intellectual you admire?
In addition to my parents, simply because they always supported me, accompanied me and took me back to my watch design internships when I was only 15, I love the spirit of people like Jean-Claude Biver and Max Büsser. Mr. Biver, because he opened doors and welcomed me during my first internship in the watchmaking industry at the age of 15. Mr. Büsser, for the precious advice he has given me and the interesting discussions we have when we meet in Geneva.
Oracle Time