Walking His Own Path

AUGUSTMAN speaks to Zurich watchmaker A. Angelo Nottaris, who hails from a line of notable watchmakers, as he forges a truly unique journey in creating his own brand, Nottaris.

- SUFFIAN HAKIM

I MET A. ANGELO NOTTARIS at this year's Watches and Wonders in Geneva. We met at the public lounge, conversed about watches and our travels, and he shared about his ground-up efforts in creating his own brand - Nottaris. We connected immediately over our shared love for the machinery of watches.

Nottaris is a watch brand crafted for our zeitgeist. Today, we understand the threat of climate change. In the age of information, high-quality products are becoming more accessible. Nottaris meets both realities in its timepieces. It uses recycled medical steel to create its cases, and powers them with avant-garde movements.

A. Angelo is part of the new wave of young entrepreneurs looking to make their mark on Switzerland's centuries-old watchmaking industry. He began his horological journey at the Zeitzentrum Grenchen, a prestigious school for watchmaking, before enrolling into the University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, where he studied Industrial Design. He then got his master's degree in applied science with a focus on watch design at the famed Hesge Head Geneva.

Nottaris's first model, the UNI:SEX, is based on A. Angelo's master's thesis and has been a hit among collectors of watches from independent brands.

Nottaris is also currently developing the sporty Camara and the skeletonised Superbe expressions, slated to hit the market in 2026. Both show the artistry and craftsmanship that the brand is capable of, and his impressive team of watch experts and artisans are helping him to realise this vision.

After connecting in Geneva, I followed up for a Zoom meeting with A. Angelo Nottaris in July to hear about his incredible journey as a watchmaker and a brand founder.

You're a fifth-generation watchmaker. How has this heritage shaped your own perspectives and philosophies as a watchmaker?