Lundis Bleus is an independent Swiss watch brand based in La Chaux-de-Fonds, a historic center of traditional watchmaking. The company was founded by Bastien Vuilliomenet and Johan Storni, two watchmakers who first met in 1994 while studying at the local watchmaking school. After gaining extensive experience working for prominent high-horology names, the duo officially launched the brand in 2015. The name Lundis Bleus, or Blue Mondays, refers to a 19th-century practice where skilled artisans would take Mondays off to recover from Sunday festivities or follow their own creative pursuits.
The founders brought a wealth of technical and design expertise to their venture. Bastien Vuilliomenet specialized in design and product management, having worked for companies like Corum and Roventa-Henex, while also teaching himself the complex art of Grand Feu enameling. Johan Storni focused on movement construction and technical development, with a career that included tenures at Renaud & Papi, La Joux-Perret, and Richard Mille. Since August 2021, Vuilliomenet has taken over the sole management of the brand, continuing the workshop’s operations in Neuchâtel.
One of the primary reasons enthusiasts are drawn to Lundis Bleus is the brand’s commitment to providing an accessible alternative to high-end independent watchmaking. The marque emphasizes transparency and honesty regarding the origin of its components, openly stating which parts are produced in-house and which are sourced from trusted suppliers in Switzerland or Asia. This approach allows the brand to offer watches with high-level artisanal finishes at price points significantly lower than traditional haute horlogerie.
The central appeal of their timepieces lies in the exceptional quality of the dials. Many collectors value the brand for its mastery of rare decorative techniques, particularly kiln-fired Grand Feu enamel. Because the production is highly artisanal and most assembly and finishing occur in their own workshop, the annual output is strictly limited to approximately 100 units. This scarcity, combined with the fact that each dial can take weeks of delicate work to produce, ensures a high degree of rarity for every piece.
The design language of Lundis Bleus is characterized by a “variations on a theme” philosophy. Most of their watches share a common 40 mm stainless steel case design with a distinctive “basin” shape and a large, ergonomic mushroom-style crown. This standardized architecture allows the brand to focus its creative energy entirely on the dial, which serves as the centerpiece of every collection. The cases are typically paired with high-quality box-shaped sapphire crystals that enhance the visual depth of the craftsmanship beneath.
The product lineup is organized into three main collections: Essentielles, Contemporaines, and Métiers d’Art. The Essentielles collection represents the brand’s entry point, featuring clean, modern designs often powered by reliable movements like the Miyota 9015 or Sellita SW300. These models emphasize geometry and texture, using multi-layered dial constructions with applied indices and a signature alcohol-molecule logo at 12 o’clock, which serves as a playful nod to the brand’s namesake “Blue Mondays.”
The Contemporaines collection is where the brand’s focus on materials becomes most evident. These pieces often feature dials made from semi-precious stones, such as lapis lazuli, malachite, meteorite, or aventurine glass. By removing most dial markers and logos, the brand allows the natural beauty of the minerals to stand alone. These models bridge the gap between industrial watchmaking and artisanal craft, offering enthusiasts the chance to own a stone-dial watch with hand-finished details.
The Métiers d’Art collection represents the pinnacle of the brand’s technical and artistic ability. This line features intricate kiln-fired enamel work, including cloisonné and champlevé techniques. One notable piece in this category is the “Viper,” which features a meticulously crafted snake head in cloisonné enamel. These watches are often unique pieces or produced in extremely small quantities, with prices reflecting the intensive labor required to fire the enamel multiple times at high temperatures.
Key pieces that have defined the brand’s reputation include the Ref. 1100, their inaugural model launched in 2016, and the Ref. 1110-MA “Royal Blue,” which showcases their mastery of translucent blue enamel over a silver base. Other significant models include the “Sea of Japan” and the “World Map” editions, both of which utilize fine gold wire and enamel to create miniature paintings on the wrist. These pieces demonstrate the brand’s ability to compete with much larger luxury houses in terms of dial artistry.
In summary, Lundis Bleus occupies a unique niche by blending traditional Swiss watchmaking school roots with a modern, independent spirit. By focusing on a single, well-proportioned case design and investing heavily in hand-decorated dials, the brand provides a gateway for collectors to enter the world of independent horology. Their transparent business model and dedication to rare crafts like enameling have established them as a respected name for those seeking singular, low-volume timepieces.
