About
The Story of the Storyteller
​My name is Alex Goetschi and I am the founder and the designer behind MANTEIO.
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​​Since I was young, I’ve been fascinated by how things are made and how stories can give objects a kind of presence and meaning. Over time, this turned into the idea of creating something that brings some of my favourite things together. Greek mythology, traditional watchmaking and craftsmanship. And so in 2022 MANTEIO was born.
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The name MANTEIO comes from the Greek word for oracle. I chose it because I see these watches as more than just instruments for telling time. They are objects that tell a story and ask to be looked at a little longer. They are made to last and to mean something to the person who wears them. Like the prophecies given to the heroes, they are meant to be personal and a companion for future endeavours.​​
Each model is based on a figure, a symbol, or a part of a myth. The goal is not to decorate the watch with a theme but to design every part of it in a way that reflects the story. The choice of materials, the shapes, the finishing, and even the movement itself are all thought through from that perspective. Nothing is rushed, and each piece is developed slowly and carefully, with the help of people who are truly skilled at their craft. This makes every part unique for each model, meaning that you will never see the same case, dial, hands or movement on a different model.
​For the first model I chose ZEUS. It has taken almost five years from the first idea to the finished watch. From the bold case design to the engraved dial and the structure of the movement, every part of it connects back to the character and symbolism of the father of the gods.​ You can learn more about this on the dedicated page.
​This is only the beginning. Every future model will follow the same idea. Different stories, different techniques, always made with care and purpose.
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Alex Goetschi
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the BRAND & The Logo
As mentioned above, the name of the brand is Greek and translates to oracle. To complete this identity, we designed a logo in the same way we design our watches, to carry meaning and tell a story.
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The starting point for the logo was the floor plan of a tholos, a circular temple where oracles were believed to receive their prophecies. This blueprint was simplified and slightly restructured so that it could be applied to any surface, while still retaining its symbolic power.
The lines in the logo represent the inner and outer walls of the tholos, and the dots mark the positions of the columns.
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With both the name and the logo, we wanted to hint at something more. In the future, MANTEIO will not only continue to explore mythology but also branch into a second collection: the Architecture Line. There, the designs will be inspired more directly by ancient buildings, proportions, and structural beauty, while still holding true to the same values of meaning, craft, and restraint.
The partners
Chronode, led by Jean-François Mojon is our partner for the movement
developement as well as for the final assembly of the timepieces. They have created the caliber MYHT-001 for Manteio which is based on the C101.