RENDEZVOUS WITH A MAVERICK
A candid conversation with timepiece photographer, Dante T. EUSTIS
By S. Homer
One might be surprised to discover that timepiece photographer Dante T. Eustis himself is a bit camera shy. Behind his famous images is a man who doesn’t love the spotlight. Some may interpret his solitary ways as a curse, but Eustis sees them as a blessing. “If I were someone who needed to be centre stage, I wouldn’t be as good at what I do. I understand the independent nature of my subjects—their desire to live on their own terms instead of lauded according to someone else’s standards”, he explains. Although Dante T. Eustis isn’t typically keen to talk to the press, he agreed to sit down with us to chat more about his oeuvre and discuss his latest series, which features a selection of very rare breeds captured in their natural habitats for the first time.
- SH
- Thank you for agreeing to meet today, we know you’re not very enthusiastic about interviews.
- DE
- It’s my pleasure.
- SH
- What makes a timepiece “very rare” in your eyes?
- DE
- What a question. I have to say it isn’t just one thing. Swiss savoir-faire is certainly essential, but technical virtuosity is only part of the puzzle. The same can be said of design. There are a lot of beautiful timepieces out there, but I guess it’s the combination of form and intention that sets very rare breeds apart. Take the Streamliner Small Seconds Blue Enamel for example: this is a creation engineered to look modern and minimalist, but in reality, the dial is made possible through a traditional enamelling technique. It’s for those who know, not those who want everyone else to notice.
- SH
- How do you prepare for a shoot? There must be a lot of research involved.
- DE
- It all begins with finding my subject and identifying its habitat—that’s the hardest part. Then begins the observation phase. I don’t go in right away with a camera. To ensure a quality image, I have to study the lay of the land, their schedules… if they have any. All breeds in the H. Moser species are born risk takers. If they see an opportunity, you can be sure they’ll seize it, which is to say predictability is simply not in their DNA. I admire that about them.
- SH
- Which H. Moser was the most difficult to catch on camera?
- DE
- Well, none of them are easy—that goes without saying. However, I do remember one run-in in particular with the Endeavour Tourbillon Concept Vantablack®. To me, this timepiece has always been the epitome of less is more. The Vantablack® material is one of the darkest materials made by man. I was so lucky to have spotted it before night fell—otherwise it would have become practically invisible. I remember how its red gold hardware glistened in the setting sun. It was like witnessing an eclipse.
- SH
- Are there any rare breeds that you have yet to capture that are on your photographer’s bucket list?
- DE
- Of course. The work I do doesn’t happen overnight… It’s a lifelong passion that requires great patience. I have yet to catch a real-life glimpse of the Streamliner Minute Repeater and its splendid Aqua Blue fumé “Grand Feu” enamel dial. I once heard its signature acoustics—the enchanting chime of its minute repeater, but when I turned my head in its direction, poof, no one was there.
The latest work of Dante T. Eustis
