Everyone has their own reactions to the confinement to which the whole of France is subject. Some are taken by sudden urges to jog, others are transformed into a star chef, or follow video aperitifs ... The President of the Republic, who has just celebrated his three years in power, apparently has chosen to no longer wear a watch during this temporary parenthesis that constitutes confinement. Admittedly, there are more essential subjects at present, but one does not do it all over again: this one catches the eye of watch lovers.
Emmanuel Macron does not hesitate to roll up his sleeves, literally and figuratively. Frédéric Mitterrand, former Minister of Culture and nephew of another eminent tenant of the Élysée Palace, also criticized him for his lack of dress when presenting his plan to support culture: "Emmanuel Macron was scruffy, in shirt sleeves "because" when we talk about culture you have to look nice. It does not reinvent itself, it does as it always does, staging ”, he dropped on the antenna of RTL.
YOAN VALAT / AFP
Above all, it was an opportunity to note that the young President is not a great watch lover. We remember both the swatch worn upside down by François Hollande and the impressive collection of selected timepieces by Nicolas Sarkozy. Emmanuel Macron is hardly a fan of watches. Except when they are integrated into presidential storytelling: the argument of his French costume at a reasonable price had hit the mark during the presidential campaign, faced with the trapped costume offered by Robert Bourgi to François Fillon. "A dark blue suit from Jonas & Cie, costing around 450 euros," explained his entourage. In politics, every detail counts, including if it is sartorial… That is why, since his election, we could only come across the ex-Minister of Finance with watches at reasonable prices on the wrist, and all linked made in France or ecology.
PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / AFP
His last public appearance with a wrist watch actually dates back to the municipal elections. During his vote at Le Touquet, on March 15, you could see on his wrist the March LA.B Mansart that one of his advisers gave him a few months ago, in September 2019. A chic classic timepiece made in France, and even made in Biarritz.
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"He had already worn one of our watches about a year ago, which we had passed through one of his advisers," explained Alain Marhic, founder of the brand. It was an AM69 Electric Steel, but it was a little thicker. And since he once wore a Cartier Tank, I knew he liked fine and elegant watches. Via the same advisor, I explained that we had a new watch, very elegant, very French, inspired by French architecture, says the founder of March LA.B. I passed three to the President; he fell for the model with the Grall green dial. He also chose this one too because it is a model at a wise price: quartz, it is offered at 645 euros. ”
During the summer G7 in Biarritz, in August 2019, Emmanuel Macron had also briefly worn before cameras around the world another watch with a strong message: a solar Awake with a case made from recycled fishing nets. Made in France, it was given to a hundred directors of the Climate, Ocean and Biodiversity sequences from the Biarritz summit. This very young French brand is also a pioneer in the fact of offering a watch thus associating recycled materials and solar movement.
March LAB / Konbini
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And if not, what watchmaking choices had they submitted to Emmanuel Macron in their time by his watch advisor, since his election, three years ago already? The choice of an LMM-01 at 399 euros had pleased the owner of the Parisian concept store Merci, Arthur Gerbi, a great lover of vintage mechanical watches, and who had wanted with her "to imagine a watch that is only connected to the present . " Wearing the LIP watch offered in the new Élysée store was also essential in terms of image. Unveiled at the start of the 2018 school year, it is still among the top sales of Elysian souvenirs. And it is certainly the cheapest of all those worn by Emmanuel Macron since its launch. A 169-euro piece offered on a tri-color Nato bracelet signed by the new house Lip, taken over by the bisontine company SMB, and assembled in France.
ERIC PIERMONT / AFP
So where does the President store his watches now that he no longer wears them? At La Lanterne, at Versailles, where he resides, or at Le Touquet? Mystery. In any case, there is no news of his Cartier Tank watch, which he still wore in Bercy, but whose last public appearance in France dates back, all the same, to June 6, 2016, during an eventful visit to the post office. from Montreuil. Why deprive yourself for years of sporting a cult watch like this one, both simple and elegant, as well worn in the past by Alain Delon as by Andy Warhol? Apparently, in these times when the smallest detail can turn into a “bad buzz”, a President should not wear this… And that's a shame!
