Galerie Contre-Temps
Our history
A watchmaking heritage
“How Jean-André Lepaute – ancestor on his mother’s side – became the Watchmaker to King Louis XV” is the story that Jean-Yves Vergara, founder of Contre-Temps, heard throughout his childhood.
This cultural heritage is the framework upon which a fascination for craftsmanship and a marked taste for precision and beautiful workmanship have asserted themselves.
Wheels, gears and complications ultimately determined his choice towards the world of horology and antique watches.
THE PASSION FOR VINTAGE WATCHES
This enduring passion for vintage watches and his admiration for fine watchmaking have consistently
guided his endeavours since the first shop at the Marché Malassis – Saint Ouen flea market – through the Louvre des Antiquaires, settling finally on Rue du Bac, in Paris.
Early on, Jean-Yves focused on Rolex and Omega - of which he became a specialist - before broadening his expertise to encompass other renowned manufactures and esteemed jewellery houses.
AUTHENTICITY & RELIABILITY
He was very quickly able to surround himself with a team of trusted watchmakers trained to the highest standards whose mastery and dexterity were constantly put to the test, year after year, by ever more demanding clients.
At the helm of this team Jean-Yves will therefore open, authenticate and service each timepiece that passes through the doors of the Contre-Temps shop.
A TOTAL COMMITMENT
Jean-Yves's lifelong passion is to share this captivating world with an ever-growing community of enthusiasts, from the novice collector making their maiden acquisition to the seasoned connoisseur seeking their next horological grail, from the casual or sentimental buyer to the astute investor
Above all, he remains committed to providing the same exceptional service and unwavering dedication to his loyal clientele who have entrusted him with their acquisitions, restorations, and resales for nearly three decades.
1995
First steps
First watchmaking experiences at the Louvre des Antiquaires
1998
Opening at the Malassis Market
Contre-Temps opens at Malassis Market in the Puces de Saint Ouen
2004
Opening of the shop in the heart of Paris
The Galerie Contre-Temps opens rue du Bac in Paris, on the left bank
2016
Opening of the second shop, Galerie Vivienne
Contre-Temps opens on the right bank of Paris, in the Galerie Vivienne
2024
Launch of the online store
Launch of Timeproof, the e-shop by Contre-Temps – online sales
CONTRE-TEMPS, a philosophy in a few words by Jean-Baptiste Sherrer
“To you, browsing restlessly…
A moment of your time to spare, to watch the time stand still, then start again, against its grain
Because a beautiful watch is a contradiction
Qualitative precedes quantitative, an elegant watch is no mere instrument of measure but a measure of excess
Uniquely exquisite it holds fast against the grey wash of time’s passing
Inimitably personal, it becomes an apparatus, one capable of outplaying the anonymous mechanisms of a universal time
Inextricable from a long family tradition, it counts not the days but recounts stories and tales
There are watches deemed waterproof, those which resist the water’s flow
Then there are beautiful watches, those which remain unphased, even with the flow of time
These watches we deem…Timeproof.
Oscar Wilde wrote:
“There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it”
A truer thing was seldom said yet, perhaps it falters with a beautiful watch
What else might assure you to be on time for your meeting with happiness?