Passion and expertise, from Vevey to Lausanne

After acquiring Breitling’s Lausanne boutique in 2020, Lionel Meylan seized the opportunity to add the renowned Guillard brand, which has been operating in the capital of Vaud for over 160 years, to his network. Located in the historic center, on the Place de la Palud famous for its automaton clock, the boutique has been renamed Guillard by Meylan. From now on, it will benefit from the family’s expertise in watchmaking and jewelry, as well as Vevey’s tried-and-tested services. The aim: to pamper customers as much as possible.

Watchmaking…
An experienced watchmaker is on hand to respond to all customer requests for watch maintenance and servicing. In “quick service”, he replaces batteries in quartz watches and analyzes malfunctions in mechanical watches. In the case of the latter, if the watch is of recent production, any intervention is entrusted to the brand concerned – this is a general requirement for benefiting from the guarantees offered on the purchase of a model. The boutique’s watchmaker then ensures follow-up and keeps the customer informed of the nature and duration of the work. His skills, on the other hand, are fully applied to antique watches. Provided he can find the spare parts, if necessary, he is capable of repairing a large number of watches. Whatever the brand. And let’s not forget clocks, which can always be repaired by Mr. Meylan Sr.

…at
Guillard by Meylan also benefits from the expertise of a gemmologist. Not only can she tell you about the stones set in the jewels for sale in the boutique, but she can also help you create a bespoke piece. She selects the stones herself with the greatest care according to their value and the emotions they evoke, and she knows how to bring them to light. With her, the choice of stones and the jewels that wear them is a journey of discovery that can lead to a far more personal result than originally imagined. The gemmologist is also an excellent advisor when it comes to transforming old pieces of jewelry. Of course, Guillard by Meylan also responds to requests for refurbishment or repair, monitoring their execution by the brands or by carefully selected service providers. Generally speaking, personalization is a watchword, through the relationships that the staff maintain with customers and through a number of specific services. In addition to the creation of custom jewelry, Guillard by Meylan offers the possibility of singularizing products through engraving. Initials, date, dedication, decorative motif… just let your imagination run wild. For watches in particular, it’s possible to go a step further by requesting an original leather strap, with the skin, color and stitching of your choice. It can make a big difference.

Christina Argenti, gemmologist in Lausanne

A Gemmologist qualified by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) in 2002, Christina Argenti has been working with Guillard – now Guillard by Meylan – for the past 5 years. She began her career in the jewelry watchmaking industry in 1991, and since 1998 has been teaching apprentices in French-speaking Switzerland. She is also trained in lithotherapy. She is attracted by stones with exceptional color and transparency, which “fill her eyes”. According to her, women are increasingly guided by the effect stones have on them, by their magnetism.

Florence Agier, gemmologist in Vevey

Florence Agier joined Lionel Meylan in 2010 and has held a diploma in gemmology from the HRD Institute in Antwerp, Belgium, since 2014. Sensitive to the color, cut and provenance of a stone, to the story it tells, she nonetheless trusts her first impressions… and those of her customers. She likes to encourage them to listen to their emotions and take them off the beaten track. It’s not easy,” she says. It’s a gradual process,” she explains.

Vintage without unpleasant surprises

As in the Lionel Meylan boutiques in Vevey, Guillard by Meylan offers second-hand pre-owned watches, jewelry and other accessories, including writing instruments. These are generally pieces offered by customers or selected during the appraisals carried out by Maison Lionel Meylan specialists. To meet the quality criteria inherent to the brand, they are duly inspected, overhauled and, if necessary, repaired. There’s no risk of unpleasant surprises for those who purchase them.