[Interview] Moritz Grossmann CEO Christine Hutter

While visiting Glashütte for a recent interview, I saw something interesting from the car window. A banner large enough to be seen from anywhere in town was hanging on the Moritz Grossmann headquarters, which stands on a hill. It read, "Watchmakers, finishers, and CNC operators wanted." Now that the COVID-19 pandemic has passed, many watch brands and suppliers are apparently struggling with labor shortages, even though it's not as visible in public. They are unable to restore their production systems, which had once shrunk, to their pre-COVID-19 state.

The strength of a small maison lies in its ability to quickly put decisions into action.

"We noticed small changes from around January 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest around March, and we immediately switched to short-term work. This allowed us to avoid laying off valuable personnel. We currently have 52 staff members, and we are aiming to increase our capacity by installing more CNC machines."

　So said CEO Christine Hutter, who visited Japan for the first time in a long time. As Moritz Grossmann's company philosophy is to work by hand using traditional techniques, it is clear that skilled staff are of utmost importance.

"We had no choice but to scale back production during the COVID-19 pandemic, but we expect to increase production by about 35% in 2023, to about 350 units. Currently, we are completely out of stock at our headquarters, but in fact, it was during the COVID-19 pandemic that we saw a significant increase in orders."

　Currently, many brands are concentrating their production capacity on models that are sure to be in demand and narrowing their lineup.

"Our situation is a little different. Originally, our handcrafted work, which could only be produced in small batches, was highly valued, but our tremblage and silver friction designs became a big draw. You could say that our strength in small-batch production is now being put to good use. The unique artistic pieces that only an independent company can produce are once again being appreciated."

　However, the issue of supplier delivery times, which is crucial for production plans, is still a headache. Delivery times that used to be three months are now often as long as 14 months. It is said that obtaining high-quality synthetic rubies is particularly difficult.

"Especially in times like these, it is important to maintain good relationships with suppliers. And it is also important to develop human resources. We are particularly short of finishers, as it takes about 18 months of training. We have also set up special rooms within the company so that people can receive direct instruction on silver friction and engraving from older technicians (many of whom are retired freelancers). Once a decision is made, we can put it into action immediately. This is the greatest strength of a small maison."