Eric A. Loth
Founder
Born on December 29th in Bienne
The British Masters SA, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland
Born in Bienne and grown up in Le Locle, Eric A. Loth has been deeply immersed in the engineering world ever since childhood. His father was a professor at the Engineering School of Neuchâtel; therefore he has always been surrounded by technicians and engineers. His venture into the watch creation world was completely accidental.
He graduated in mechanical engineering (polytechnics) at the Neuchâtel Engineering School. Post graduated in physical metallurgy at the University of Neuchâtel and in business administration at the higher Business Management School I.M.D. in Lausanne.
To this date, through his assignments in different companies and industries (including watch-making) his work has resulted in no less than 24 international patents in materials technology and watch applications, thanks to his constant drive to develop technical innovations, to convert technical solutions into product design and more generally to bear challenges. His genuine passion is to use his innovation drive and the inspiration he gets from the many forms of Art that he admires, to turn dreams into reality.
In 1994, with the encouragement of his family, friend and partners, the idea of acquiring a watch brand in the luxury segment came up. He was looking for a very special brand through which his passion for innovation and art could be expressed. This set off a long search that resulted in a somewhat unexpected result: the names and incredibly rich history of some great inventors of 17th and 18th century- England. A research and development phase was then entered, between 1996 and 1999, inspired indeed by the rich heritage of George Graham, inventor of the Chronograph among other amazing things and of John Arnold, inventor of breakthrough escapements, a winner of the famous Longitude Prize and by far the leading supplier of Marine Chronometers to Britain’s ships (Royal Navy as well as merchant- and explorer- vessels). The product development work was done by taking these inventions and concepts in a much broader sense, and translating them to create very unique, contemporary timekeepers that would stun today’s watch-making fans.
In this way, Eric Loth was determined to expose the rich British watch-making heritage and to use it to revive the time honoured English pioneering and innovation tradition in this industry.
Within 10 years, The British Masters had (re)established these brands as pre-eminent British spirit- timekeeper purveyors. Eric Loth has the ability to anticipate on trends and with his engineering and scientific background, to collaborate with designer to bring extraordinary British timepieces to life.
From the considerable heritage and history of Graham and Arnold & Son, the challenge will be to put the true and timeless spirit and philosophy of these great inventors back at work with that very distinct British attitude.
