Natalie Jean-Louis is a specialist in watch movement decoration, working for Greubel Forsey and other brands. Today she has her own workshop where she continues decoration but also diversified into other artistic fields.

1 ) Describe briefly your childhood.

I grew up in France in a little village of the Franche-Comté county in a multicultural familly composedwith a Swiss mother and a Caribbean father from Martinique island.

2 ) As a child did you have a driving ambition?

I always thought that I will be independent and creative. Curiosity has always been a drive of mineand thanks to it I discovered my actual work activity.

3 ) What is your first significant memory as a child?

I had the chance of travelling at a very young age to visit my familly in the Caraibbean and I remember this first transatlantic flight. It helped me to develop an open mind that I use everyday.

4 ) Have you ever had an other profession?

I worked in the paramedical field at Johnson & Johnson from 2001 to 2003 before finding my way inthe watchmaking industry. I still have strong friendships from this first professional experience.

5 ) What made you decide to go in the direction you are currently in ?

With my artistic background this watchmaking art/craft suited me perfectly, it corresponded to my technical and aesthetic requirements of a profession.

6 ) What’s the worst job you’ve had to do?

My first job experience… even if it wasn’t bad at all my interest were elsewhere.

7 ) What’s been the hardest moment in your life so far, and how did you overcome it?

Thanks to these bad times I grew an unshakeable self-confidence. As an independent I had to face a lot of hardship. However my faith in life always got me through this hard time.

8 ) Who has had the strongest influence on you ?

Without hesitation, my paternal grandmother, Mathilde Jean-Louis who was in 2012 awarded the living treasure title by the city of Sainte-Marie in Martinique, she passed away at the age of 98. She was a great dancer, charismatic and generous, a woman who’s vibration inspired an entire region and her descendants.

9 ) What are you most proud of ?

My son and my work achievement.

10 ) What advice would you give to a 20 something someone thinking of taking a similar path as you?

Find your passion. Stay focused on your own aspirations and go for it!

11 ) Name three things on your bucket list.

For sure I have more than 3 things on my bucket list. If I had to choose it would be:

To see the pre Columbian civilizations, which have always fuelled my imagination.

Secondly, I will definitely own an Art gallery at some point.

And finally achieve new goals with my work.

12 ) Where do you think the watch industry is going to be in 10 years time?

I am optimistic about our watchmaking Art which always succeeds in rising from its ashes!

To learn more about Nathalie Jean-Louis