One of my favourite lines is: 'I run a men-only magazine'. A phrase that nowadays only makes people of a certain generation smile, so I say it less and less often. But the reality does not change: watchmaking is a very male interest.
On the other hand, behind the scenes many women work in this sector. Mainly in two fields: communication and quality control. But if you visit the factories, you see women at the assembly of movements, in the ateliers of the final stages of watchmaking (setting the dial and putting in the case), in the workshops of the crafts and in the finishing departments. In the offices, then, the female presence is numerous. They are also good as expert trainers and heritage managers, a fact that never ceases to amaze those who are new to this sector.
If communication and marketing are often the preserve of the female gender
- also in Italy -, there are now only three women at the head of Swiss watch companies: Catherine Rénier, Ceo of Jaeger-LeCoultre, Nayla Hayek, President of Swatch Group, and Caroline Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard (if I had forgotten any, that would not make five).
Not that the situation is changing in the rest of the world, because the ratio of men to women in leadership positions is still very unbalanced. But, on the other hand, female watch enthusiasts are increasing. We see this among our followers, for example, and personally I am very pleased. After all, if I had to base myself on the number of women who write about watches, I shouldn't be surprised.
Already in our editorial staff, the female quota is more than respected, but also among our colleagues there are many female journalists specialising in watchmaking. All technically prepared, but with that sensitivity to design that gives an extra edge to product analysis. Or does it?
Dody Giussani
