At a time when his sister Ophélie is officially joining the senior management team of their family business, Lucien Steinmann is bringing Positive Coating‘s signature colours to the forefront.
Joël A. Grandjean, JSH Magazine & Swiss-Watch-Passport.ch’s editor in chief
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Observing certain pieces we have worked on being selected or winning awards is a silencious but powerful source of encouragement»
On the 2025 jury of the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève, chaired by the unflappable epitome of British elegance Nick Foulke (historian, author and journalist), Lucien Steinmann embodied Swiss watchmaking excellence in the “suppliesr” side. Let’s talk with a juror who is unaccustomed to the Geneva public eye:
Some of the pieces to be evaluated have certainly passed through your workshops in the strictest secrecy. How does that feel?
“It’s a privilege to be able to examine all these timekeepers so closely, studying their design and ergonomics. Especially to handle them and test their functionality. When I see a piece that has passed through our workshops, I check to see if our work is up to standard… Then comes the pride our team feels when we measure the work that has gone into achieving this magnificent result.”
How do you deal with other jurors whose fields of expertise are far different from yours?
It is enlightening to see the various perspectives on the same timepiece. The combined expert knowledge of the jury, which includes collectors, journalists, designers, among others, means that a variety of horological concepts are rewarded.
Did your views have an impact on the other Jury members?
I never speak loudly or at length, but I believe I have made my own small contribution. Sometimes, a detail that I noticed helped to move the discussion forward. I particularly appreciated the atmosphere of trust and listening.
What did this experience bring to you?
On a personal level, a lot of confidence. I usually prefer to stay in the shadows, but this time I had to push myself. Professionally, it reminded me that Positive Coating has become an important player in this industry.
Were you nervous when you went on stage?
Yes, I’m more the guy whose work can be guessed at without ever being seen. So suddenly being in the limelight. It felt almost unnatural. Ultimately, it reminded me that my presence reflects an ecosystem of suppliers, skills, expertise and teams.
Which pieces have filled you with pride?
I can’t reveal anything. Yes, there were one or two models that made me feel very proud when I saw them appear on the jury’s desk. Not because we had done something extraordinary, but because these pieces had gone through all the stages—creation, design, finishing—and had made it that far with part of our work inside them.
