A visionary partnership: De Bethune x ECAL/Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne

The second edition of the “De Bethune Award” took place on Friday, 4 September 2020 in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The annual award goes to a graduate of the ECAL’s “Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship” program in recognition for their art, work and passion.  The “De Bethune Award” comprises a cash prize and mentoring to support the recipient’s journey.

Following the presentations of the projects by the student-creators, the winner this year was the creation by Charlotte Therre.

Denis Flageollet, Founder of De Bethune, was touched by Charlotte’s ability to understand the material, enhance it, work it, but also by her search for the essence of motion, her pure approach, her restrained choices, and her understanding of craftsmanship. Nothing is left to chance. A demonstration of great maturity.

Switzerland is a privileged country in terms of know-how in the fields of art, design and luxury. By encouraging experimentation in all stages of product development, from design to production, the Master of Advanced Studies in Design for Luxury & Craftsmanship program at the ECAL/Ecole cantonale d'art de Lausanne, opens new possibilities for contributing to and advancing domains of excellence as varied as fine watchmaking, tableware, jewelry and the use of noble materials through specific techniques.

In keeping with this tradition, and in particular in the world of art mechanics for which he is a passionate spokesman, Denis Flageollet, Master Watchmaker and Founder of De Bethune, initiated a dialogue with the ECAL last year to set up an annual grant program to encourage a graduate to deepen the research begun as part of his or her Master's degree.

A dialogue between contemporary and traditional techniques
that pushes boundaries and leads to new creations of the highest quality.

Among the high-quality projects presented this year, the choice went to Swiss student Charlotte Therre, for her work entitled Coppia.

Coppia is a family of sophisticated and delicate gold jewelry that plays off shapes and lines to achieve balanced compositions. The project is inspired by the different techniques used in the world of watchmaking and art mechanics. So restrained, so pure, and with an almost androgynous, sculptural, very contemporary simplicity, the pieces generate real emotion when worn. The multiple combinations of shapes make it possible to transform the initial piece by making it evolve and change dimensions.

Denis Flageollet, Master Watchmaker and Founder of De Bethune says: “Her deep understanding of the material, of the delicate work of metalsmithing, of enhancing the material’s core; the search for the essence of motion, of artisanship, a pure, restrained approach, for a gentle, poetic outcome – Charlotte There presents us with an extremely well thought-out creation, with a true vision, and true maturity with an approach that literally transports us into her universe. Voids and fills, lines and volumes, the balancing act of different shapes, the evolutionary principle of modularity, the assembly and nesting of the pieces, the manufacturing techniques, the polished finishing… It all resonates with our work in watchmaking, and the emotional bonds we have with the objects we create.” 

De Bethune looks forward to working with Charlotte in her further research and development, and is supporting her efforts with a grant of 6000 CHF.