LUDOVIC BALLOUARD WATCHES - MasterHorologer

Ludovic Ballouard is an independent master watchmaker based in Geneva, Switzerland. Before setting up his own watch brand, Ludovic had worked with esteemed Swiss luxury watch maisons like Franck Muller and F.P. Journe.

Ludovic Ballouard was born in 1971 in Brittany, France, to a French father and a Dutch mother.

At the age of 12, he became interested in flying and making model aeroplanes. In 1987 he hoped to become a dental prosthetic technician because he possessed the hand skills required; however the school counsellor advised watchmaking as an alternative. In 1988 Ludovic Ballouard began studying watchmaking in Rennes, France, and qualified three years later. In 1991 Ludovic Ballouard moved to the Vallée de Joux, Switzerland and started work as watchmaker at Lémania.

In 1992 he returned to Brittany and found interesting work as an aircraft- instrument technician for the next 6 years. But in 1998, realising that Haute Horology was his true passion, Ludovic Ballouard re-located to Geneva, Switzerland, and worked during a period of 3 years for Franck Muller.

In 2001 he accepted a more challenging position at the newly established company of F.P.Journe where he worked for the next 7 years, becoming one of the very few watchmakers in the entire world to master the skills of making a “Grande Sonnerie”.

In 2009, Ludovic Ballouard left F.P.Journe to set up independently and create his first watch model, the “Upside Down”. In 2009 December, Ludovic Ballouard delivered his first “Upside Down” timepiece.

In 2012, he unveiled his second horological masterpiece, the Half Time. In 2013, he collaborated with Harry Winston to develop the OPUS XIII watch.

Ludovic Ballouard makes wristwatches in precious materials like gold and platinum.

The Ludovic Ballouard watch price range is CHF 75,000 to CHF 100,000. The brand also offers customized versions of Upside Down and Half Time models. The personalization choices include diamond-setting, hand-engraving, marquetry, miniature painting, exotic dial materials (mother of pearl, carbon, meteorite and etc.), colors and numerals.