“This is insane — and I want to be that cool too.” Coming here and seeing this masterpiece of a watch reminds me of physics lessons back in school: “I have absolutely no idea how it works or how he did it, but it’s just brilliant.”

The wristwatch I first saw at the AHCI event during Watches & Wonders 2025 in Geneva is the Seconde Vive, the first wristwatch from independent watchmaker Dann Phimphrachanh, now based in Saint-Blaise, Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh

I’ve always been drawn to independent watchmakers — especially those who remain largely unknown. I’m fascinated by handcraft, by movements and constructions that stand apart from the mainstream of mechanical timepieces. The joy is even greater when I get to meet a maker like Dann Phimphrachanh in person.

Dann Phimphrachanh

We first met at the AHCI exhibition at L’Ice Bergues in Geneva during Watches & Wonders week in April 2025 — a place where you always meet the nicest people and discover the most astonishing creations. Dann showed me the first finished prototype of his Seconde Vive wristwatch, and the days felt too short to take in everything about this remarkable timepiece.

Five months later, we ran into each other by chance on the shore of Lake Neuchâtel on a Sunday afternoon. The coincidence felt almost impossible: I had expected to visit his workshop in Yverdon-les-Bains, some 40 kilometers away, and had just come from Cologne, Germany — 600 kilometers from Saint-Blaise. To meet on the same day, at the same time, in the same small town, by pure chance, was nearly unbelievable.

Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh (photo by Thomas Brechtel)

Delighted by the coincidence, we arranged a meeting at Dann’s new workshop a few days later. I was honored to be his first visitor since his move from Yverdon-les-Bains to Saint-Blaise. I wanted to hear his story — both as a person and as a watchmaker.

Born in France, Dann holds Portuguese citizenship and is of Laotian heritage — hence his family name, Phimphrachanh. He studied watchmaking in Lisbon and has extensive experience in fine horology, having worked for Daniel Roth, Bulgari, Parmigiani Fleurier, Greubel Forsey, and Jaeger-LeCoultre. Since 2025, he has also been a candidate of the Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants (AHCI).

Back of the movement of the Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh (photo by Thomas Brechtel

The watch I came to see that day was the completed prototype of the Seconde Vive. The movement sits in a 39.5-millimeter stainless steel case, 9.8 millimeters high. It beats at 2.5 Hz (18,000 A/h) and displays hours, minutes, and seconds — the latter through a special “Jumping Seconds Vive,” a remarkably smooth take on the deadbeat seconds mechanism developed by Dann himself. The movement’s parts are made of German silver with beautifully frosted, corundum-blasted plates.

Beautiful hand finishing of the Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh

Inside the Movement

At the heart of this watch is the jumping seconds mechanism — the Seconde Vive. Dann’s goal was not simply to achieve a jumping seconds hand, but to create one that felt regular, smooth, and, as he puts it, “alive.” The gear train and escapement are visible on the dial side, while the main timekeeping train lies on the reverse.

Movement of the prototype Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh (photo by Thomas Brechtel)

The key element of the Seconde Vive is a triangular cam inspired by the Reuleaux triangle — a design famously used by Derek Pratt and, more recently, by Luca Soprana. It’s the kind of ingenious mechanical thinking that defines true independent watchmaking.

The concept also evokes the smooth motion of rotary engines, like the German NSU Wankel — found in the rare NSU Ro 80 car or the Herkules W2000 motorcycle. “It should be durable, smooth, elegant — the fine art of construction you rarely see in modern horology,” Dann says.

Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh (photo by Thomas Brechtel)

“Being truly independent means mastering every challenge yourself,” Dann tells me. “That includes finding the necessary machines and tools to make every part on my own.” Each machine and tool in his workshop has been carefully sourced, many restored by hand. “Watchmaking can also mean toolmaking,” he says. “I work in a traditional way — no CNC machines, no computers in production.”

He does, however, design and test mechanisms digitally before fabrication, combining old-world craftsmanship with practical efficiency. For physical components, he uses durable materials like German silver for plates and bridges and silvered steel for springs — chosen for longevity and repairability.

A Move Toward Balance

Time, Dann admits, is his most pressing challenge. His move from Yverdon-les-Bains to Saint-Blaise was a practical decision: “It’s just five minutes from my home,” he says. “That saves me hours every week — no cars, no trains, no traffic. And I can be closer to my family.”

Dann Phimphrachanh at his bench (photo by Thomas Brechtel)

Today, Dann works entirely on his own — a one-man workshop, so I ask whether he ever feels isolated.. “Since 2018, I haven’t worked lonely,” he says. “I’ve worked free.”

 “Maybe someday I’ll teach and share my knowledge,” he says. “Having employees would be nice, but not yet. Right now, there’s too much to do — building the brand, finishing the workshop.”

Eventually, he hopes to find a watchmaker who can join him long-term — someone who can continue his work and eventually carry on his legacy.

When I ask whether independent watchmakers help one another, Dann laughs. “It’s like a family,” I suggest. “Yes,” he says, “but a family that lives far apart and doesn’t see each other very often.”

Dann’s philosophy is one of self-reliance. He insists on doing everything himself — because only then can he truly feel he’s achieved something on his own. The path is long and difficult, but deeply personal.

Since early 2025, demand for his watches has surged worldwide. He seems both proud and a little surprised. Given the craftsmanship and passion behind his work, it’s not hard to see why collectors have taken notice. He cannot — and likely will not — meet all the demand. “But that’s how it is with true independents,” he says. “Beautiful things are rare.”

Fifty collectors may be happy; five hundred will wait.

“Wearing my own watch would be a great pleasure,” he adds with a smile. “It’s an expensive piece, though. Maybe one day I’ll make one for myself — or even better, for my child.”

Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh (photo by Thomas Brechtel)

If that happens, that child might be the only teenager in the Canton of Neuchâtel wearing a Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh. And I would say again, as I did at the beginning: “This is insane — and I want to be that cool too.”

For more information, visit www.dannph.ch and/or @dann.phimphrachanh on Instagram.

Quick Facts: The Seconde Vive by Dann Phimphrachanh

• Case: 39.5 mm, 316L stainless steel
• Height: 9.8 mm
• Movement: 18,000 A/h; hours, minutes, seconds via “Jumping Seconds Vive”
• Mechanism: Reuleaux cam, movement made of German silver
• Finishing: Frosted corundum-blasted plates
• Price and Availability: Upon request
  

You can follow Thomas Brechtel on Instagram at @Watches and Words 

You Might Also Enjoy

Thomas Brechtel’s Top 12 Highlights from Watches & Wonders 2025

The Life and Times of Legendary Independent Watchmaker Derek Pratt

Many Independent Watchmakers Struggle: Why It’s So Hard and What They Can Do