Where in the world is Carlos Dias???

Does anyone know where Carlos Dias is? Has anyone heard from the former dictator of Roger Dubuis? Is he working on a secret new project, skiing in the Alps, or examining his head on a long black couch? Since the Richemont Group acquired Manufacture Roger Dubuis last year, the brand has made tremendous strides in correcting its troubled movements and improving overall customer service while Carlos Dias has simply vanished.

Carlos Dias is the founder and visionary behind one of the finest luxury Swiss brands in the world. While a true genius for design and a pioneer of the modern watch industry, Dias was an extremely controlling, maniacal tyrant who struck fear throughout his manufacture while rattling the world of haute horology. With his keen eye for progressive design and his understanding and respect for the history of the watch industry, Dias overwhelmed the Swiss with his cutting-edge concepts. He embraced the exclusivity of luxury, and at the same time, whimsically toyed with the emotions of the fashion elite, most notably in the Asian markets.

A few years ago I had the opportunity of dining with Mr. Dias in Geneva during the SIHH show. As an authorized dealer for Roger Dubuis timepieces for almost eight years, I had developed an excellent professional relationship with Mr. Dias as he was an extremely impressive and refined individual. Talking over a glass of red wine and delicious lamb (his personal favorite), I asked the simple question, “Where do you get the names for your beautiful watch collections?” Dias put his wine on the table, smiled at me and replied in English, “It is really just a joke on the people. First, I gave the people my Hommage. Next, I gave them my Sympathie. Then I gave them Much More, and when they were ready, I gave them Too Much. Now they can all Follow Me.” And follow me the watch industry has.

So where in the world is Carlos Dias? The answer is everywhere. While absent from the forefront of haute horology, Carlos Dias and his Manufacture Roger Dubuis continues to revolutionize the modern watch with his bold and eccentric designs while influencing hundreds of watch brands from Switzerland and beyond. Today, it is amazing to see the power of Dias’ reach of designs, most notably the Excalibur collection whose sleek, grooved bezel has had a global domino effect throughout all price point brands. While people may second guess the leadership and management of Carlos Dias, one may never question the genius and passion of an outsider who pioneered the modern timepiece as we know it.

About David King, King Jewelers

David King is the owner of King Jewelers Nashville who has a passion for watches and writing. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with degrees in English and Chemistry, David and his brother Jono King are the fifth generation to own and operate King Jewelers.

Established in 1912, King Jewelers has proudly styled jewelry and timepiece aficionados from around the world. A pioneer among independent couture jewelers, King Jewelers has built an outstanding reputation steeped in quality, value and first-class customer service. King Jewelers is an authorized dealer for over forty luxury Swiss watch brands including Bell & Ross, Bulgari, Breitling, Cartier, Chanel, Chopard, Hublot, Girard-Perregaux, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jaquet Droz, Montblanc, Roger Dubuis, Swiss Army, and TAG Heuer. With store locations in Aventura, FL and Nashville, TN, King Jewelers has won numerous awards as the Southeast's top jewelry store and diamond wholesaler. King Jewelers is a member of the American Watch Guild, an IW Leading Watch Retailer, and offers Nashville watch repairs and watch refinishing. For additional information, please visit our salon in Green Hills located at 4121 Hillsboro Road, call (615) 724-5464, or log onto http://www.kings1912.com/.