====== Arpa, Yvan ======

**Yvan Arpa** is a Swiss watch designer. 

He began his career as a mathematics professor, but after competing in professional martial arts matches in Thailand and crossing Papua New Guinea on foot, he returned to his roots in Switzerland.

In [[1997]], he joined the [[Richemont]] Group and served as managing director for Switzerland and sales director for Europe and Asia at [[Baume & Mercier]].

From [[2002]] to [[2006]], he was Managing Director at [[Hublot]] and helped launch the [[Big Bang]] collection.

From [[2006]] to [[2009]], he was CEO of [[Romain Jerome]] and launched watches featuring rusted steel from the Titanic or genuine moon dust. 

In [[2009]], Yvan Arpa founded his own company, “Luxury Artpieces,” through which he launched the following brands:

  * “Black Belt Watch” is inspired by the seven virtues, the samurai code of conduct associated with the Bushido warrior. The brand also offers a watch intended exclusively for individuals who hold a black belt in martial arts.
  * [[ArtyA]]: The brand is distinguished by its unconventional materials, including butterfly wings, real bullets, fossilized dinosaur droppings, real spiders, boxes struck by lightning, tobacco leaves, and more.

From [[2010]] to [[2011]], he served as COO at [[Jacob & Co.]]

At [[Baselworld]] [[2013]], he unveiled “Spero Lucem,” named in honor of his hometown, [[Geneva]]. Yvan Arpa also designed several fountain pens and knives for this brand.

In [[2016]], Yvan Arpa designed the [[smartwatch]] Gear S3 for Samsung, the first smartwatch to incorporate the codes of [[Haute Horlogerie]].

According to Hodinkee, and given his incredible life story, “Yvan Arpa is a strong contender for the title of ‘The Most Interesting Man in the World, Swiss Edition’.”

===== Sources =====
  * [[https://ultimatepopculture.fandom.com/wiki/Yvan_Arpa|Ultimate Pop Culture Wiki: Yvan Arpa]]

This page is licensed under the [[https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/|CC BY-SA license]].

{{tag>Biographies}}