Genus
Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland · Est. 2019
Founded by Sébastien Billières
Genus is an independent Geneva-based watchmaker founded in 2019 by master watchmaker Sebastien Billieres, redefining time through mechanical innovation and poetic craftsmanship. Each timepiece is hand-crafted and assembled in-house at Plan-les-Ouates, fusing Swiss Haute Horlogerie tradition with groundbreaking design.
- Founded
- 2019
- Headquarters
- Plan-les-Ouates, Switzerland
- Group
- Independent
- Price Segment
- Luxury
- Status
- Active
Key Collections
- GNS1 — The brand's singular model featuring a revolutionary time display using two discs with living organisms (bioengineered bacteria) visible on the dial — a fusion of horology and biology.
Timeline
- 2017 — Sébastien Billières founds Genus in Geneva, Switzerland, with the concept of merging haute horlogerie with biological innovation.
- 2019 — Unveils the GNS1.2 at SIHH, generating global attention for its living-organism dial concept.
- 2022 — Continues development of biological watchmaking concepts, pushing the boundaries of what a luxury watch can contain.
Frequently Asked Questions about Genus
- Are there really living organisms inside a Genus watch?
- Genus has explored incorporating bioluminescent bacteria and micro-organisms within the dial ecosystem, creating a watch that is literally alive — though production has been extremely limited.
- What makes Genus unique?
- Genus is the only watchmaker attempting to merge haute horlogerie with biological science, creating timepieces that contain living ecosystems alongside traditional mechanical movements.