The senior executive assigned to evaluate outside inventions barely looked at him.
He examined the business card.
Then glanced toward the protective wooden case.
“Do you have formal Swiss watchmaking credentials?”
Her father answered calmly.
“No. I'm an independent watchmaker.”
The executive nodded without enthusiasm.
“Where's your workshop?”
“Harlem.”
The executive raised an eyebrow.
For a brief moment, the room became uncomfortable.
Then he asked whether the prototype had been manufactured in Europe.
Her father explained that he'd designed and assembled it himself.
The executive smiled politely.
But the expression wasn't friendly.
It was dismissive.
He opened the case.
Studied the movement.
Then asked several technical questions.
Her father answered them clearly.
The second man in the room, a younger watchmaking specialist, became increasingly interested.
He leaned closer.
Asked about the floating bridge.
The three-point support system.
The friction tolerances.
And the unusual placement of the stabilizing components.
Her father explained his approach.
The younger specialist seemed impressed.
But the senior executive interrupted.
“This would be difficult to position within our brand.”
Her father looked confused.
“Because of the mechanism?”
The executive glanced toward him.
“Because of the overall development story.”
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then the executive continued.
“Our customers expect a particular heritage.”
Her father looked toward the prototype.
“It's a mechanical design. Heritage doesn't change whether it works.”
The younger specialist lowered his eyes.
The executive's smile disappeared.
“I think you misunderstand the luxury market.”
Her father remained calm.
“I understand the engineering.”
The executive leaned back.
“Engineering alone doesn't create value.”
The watchmaker nodded slowly.
“No. But without engineering, there's no movement to sell.”
The room became silent.
The executive stared.
Then closed the wooden case.
“We'll review the material and contact you if there's interest.”
Her father reached toward the case.
“I'd like to take the prototype with me.”