Pope-Proof Watches And Yacht-Ready Bling

Time moves differently on the docks. At the Miami International Boat Show, we sat with Livio Helfer—founder and CEO of Helfer Watches Geneva—to unpack how a boutique Swiss brand became the show’s official timekeeper and why human connection still beats hype. From designing a turbine-inspired piece for Pope Francis to building 500m-capable dive watches that actually belong on the water, Livio shows how craft, symbolism, and engineering can coexist without losing style.

We explore what Miami buyers really want—color-forward dials, blue-on-blue pairings for sea days, and the right mix of steel, gold, and rose gold. Livio breaks down the differences within his collections, from jewelry-leaning designs to pure mechanical timepieces, and explains the details that matter: screwed crowns, serious gaskets, and thick crystals that handle pressure, not just depth ratings. The conversation turns personal as he shares his path from sketching cars to drawing watches, launching his own brand, and surviving the toughest decade in an industry crowded by billion-dollar groups.

Customization takes center stage with stories of yacht owners commissioning watches for themselves, their crews, and their guests—colors and finishes that echo hull paint, teak, and upholstery to create wearable memories. Livio explains why he refuses the smartwatch lane, doubling down on complications like minute repeaters, tourbillons, and flybacks designed to make an owner pause and admire for five extra seconds. We close by reconnecting Miami’s lifestyle with the industry that powers it: makers who show up, listen, and build. If you care about design, authenticity, and the future of mechanical watchmaking, you’ll feel right at home on these docks.

Enjoyed the conversation? Follow, share with a friend who loves watches or boats, and leave a quick review to help more listeners discover the show.

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Transcript

Miami’s Lifestyle Powered By Industry

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Miami. Global playground celebrated for its beautiful oceans and famous lifestyle. Behind all of the sunshine and success are people, products, and companies powering this magic city. This season, the Wards Way podcast brings you face to face with those who energize Miami's iconic way of life and bring us closer to the water.

Live From The Miami Boat Show

SPEAKER_01 0:27

Welcome to the Miami International Boat Show. This is Wards Way 2026.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

Welcome to the Wards Way Podcast.

Meet Livio Helfer

SPEAKER_02 0:37

I'm here with my good friend Livio Helfer, founder and CEO of Helfer Watches Geneva. Welcome to Miami. How has the Miami show been for you? Oh, we welcome. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Show is amazing. And I'm so happy to be here.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Good, good. So, what brought you all the way from Geneva to Miami?

Becoming The Show’s Timekeeper

SPEAKER_00 0:55

So, first of all, I'm passionate about boating. So, I try to put together my passion for watches and boating and uh to become the timekeeper of this boat show.

SPEAKER_02 1:07

Yes, I was gonna say, welcome for that. You get to be the timekeeping piece for the Miami International Boatshow.

SPEAKER_00 1:12

Hope to be this for the next five years. Okay, I'm about to sign a

Origins In Design And Marketing

SPEAKER_00 1:16

document about it.

SPEAKER_02 1:16

So, how did you get into watchmaking? So again, your passion?

SPEAKER_00 1:20

My passion was first for design and watches.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 1:24

And as I'm a marketing guy, I combine all of this and I created in 2009 Hell for Watches.

SPEAKER_02 1:30

And you chose Geneva, which is the a wonderful place for all the orologists that are out there. It's well known for watches.

SPEAKER_00 1:38

Exactly. It it was just happened to be Geneva, could be some other places like uh Neuchatel, could be like uh Lausanne, but Geneva is representative.

SPEAKER_02 1:48

Absolutely. Now,

The Pope’s Special Turbine Watch

SPEAKER_02 1:49

is it true? You can't believe everything on the internet that you see, but is it true that you you actually were able to provide a watch to the Pope?

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Yes, that's true. I uh so tell me that story.

SPEAKER_02 1:59

You offered? Okay, he didn't take it.

SPEAKER_00 2:02

Yes, I had the privilege to meet the Pope Francis in person during uh private meeting, and uh I prepared a watch for him. I was reading his books, and uh I prepared something special and he was touched.

SPEAKER_02 2:18

Now, what was special about it?

SPEAKER_00 2:20

Tell us there was a turbine, and um in one of his books he said that uh time doesn't exist because God is time, and uh I created a Helfer Turbune watch for him, and I was telling him that uh this watch is moving with the gravity of the earth and measuring the time, so the connection between uh time and earth is God, and he deserved to wear this watch. So I tried to make some kind of metaphor, and he loves it.

SPEAKER_02 2:51

I can imagine the pressure of having to create something for the for the Almighty Pope. Was that any different than perhaps some of the other timepieces that you've had to create? I'm sure you put the same passion into it.

SPEAKER_00 3:03

I'll tell you why. Because my dream was to be like uh a challenge, of course, and uh I wanted to have this like a beautiful story, and I tried to do my best, together with my team, to find out something to make him happy to follow the colors of

Collections, Movements, And Design Choices

SPEAKER_00 3:20

Vatican, and uh, you know, this uh the the beautiful uh outfit of a pope, which is white and gold, but not too much gold, it's just to keep sober. And now in this moment, we prepare the watch for the new Pope. You did Leon Fortune.

SPEAKER_02 3:36

Okay, now how is that one gonna be different?

SPEAKER_00 3:38

A little bit different. Okay. Uh, you can't tell us.

SPEAKER_02 3:42

Maybe it's secret yet.

SPEAKER_00 3:44

Still in production, but uh next month I'll be in Vatican offering this.

SPEAKER_02 3:49

Well, well, we'll have to watch it, look out for that YouTube video for that. So in making watches, what what's the difference between because you have such a beautiful display and I see many, many watches out there. What what are the differences between them? Just style? Are they all using the same, you know, because I know that there's um they're all automatic, I assume. Yes. So they have the same gems and the same No, it's totally different.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

Okay. Depends on the Let's Educate. Yeah, depends on the design, depends on the collection, and what you like to transmit. You know, we want to uh have a watch which is more jewelry, or you want to have a mechanical timepiece? So depends on the collection type and the moment of the inspiration of the designer. So uh yeah, they are totally different.

SPEAKER_02 4:37

What have you been seeing from consumers here in Miami?

Miami Tastes And Color Stories

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Okay, I'll tell you something. In Miami, people like also flashy watches. I was gonna say, but they like everything what is uh stylish, uh matching with an outfit, uh they like colorful watches, and of course, in the boat show, everything what is to do with the water, like a blue, white, uh light blue, dark blue, so we can combine with the gold, rose gold.

SPEAKER_02 5:06

Okay, that's beautiful. Pretty now you mentioned

Real Dive Performance Explained

SPEAKER_02 5:09

water. Are any of your watches something that are, you know, dive or time pieces? All of them are okay.

SPEAKER_00 5:16

All of them, but uh, you know, the performance is to go over 100 meter, is not only the depth of the water, but it's the pressure, of course. So um we have our watches, they have um uh possibility to go under 500 meters. So they are 100 500 meter water resistant.

SPEAKER_02 5:34

Okay, and that's important that's very good.

SPEAKER_00 5:37

For this, you need a special glass, you need a special crown, screwed, very, very good gasket inside. So this is the whole procedure.

Custom Watches For Boat Owners And Crews

SPEAKER_02 5:45

So has a has a boat maker come to you and said that they want a signature watch, you know, because I see some of the other watchmakers that are that are you know similar to your caliber, um, that that are um the timepieces of an event, they tend to do something special, you know, for certain builders. Has anybody approached you about doing that?

SPEAKER_00 6:04

Uh in the show, I had privilege to meet a boat owner. He wants a watch customized for him and the crew.

SPEAKER_02 6:14

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 6:15

So now that's interesting, not producer, but boat owner.

SPEAKER_02 6:19

Okay.

SPEAKER_00 6:20

So we had this discussion.

SPEAKER_02 6:21

So so he wants to have watches that not only he gets to have, but also his crew. That's fantastic.

SPEAKER_00 6:26

Yes, wow. And he can offer to the friends they come aboard, so he can say, Look, this is a watch customized for my boat. I'm happy to offer you one.

SPEAKER_02 6:35

Now, is that something that if other boat owners and other yacht owners came to you, you would you would be willing to do that?

SPEAKER_00 6:41

Of course. Okay, naturally. We can speak about everything about colors, customizing. So this will be a customized helfer watch made for somebody.

SPEAKER_02 6:49

What's unique about the the the helfer watch that um because

Why Helfer: Personalization And Creator Access

SPEAKER_02 6:53

they all seem to they're just so beautiful and almost like pieces of artwork, but what where do you get the inspiration for that?

SPEAKER_00 7:00

Okay, first of all, what is special to those watches is you know uh Helfer is not Rolex, of course. I I'll give a name Rolex because everybody likes it. But you know, sometimes some brands, I'm not saying Rolex or some, they are like kind of uniform, you know. Everybody wears it. If you want to be different, if you want to be unique, I can customize a watch. And you know what is okay. I must I must tell you this. No, that's most of most of the people said I don't know the guy behind that brand, but I know the guy who's behind Helfer, and that's you and your story. And sometimes, have you seen? I have a photo call, and the people come take a picture, buying a watch, take a picture, and they said, Oh, I will remember I bought this watch from the creator.

SPEAKER_02 7:47

So that's you know what? I really like that story because you're right, it does put it's the human contact and it puts that face behind it. And so people are they're buying a relationship as well. So, do you offer any kind of um like trade-in, for example? Can somebody say, I want to upgrade? Do you resell? Do you have it? Do you have that yet?

SPEAKER_00 8:04

I know that that's uh we can we can we are very flexible, we can we can do that. But you know, the the most beautiful moment is when I'm sitting there, I just let people walk in, and I hear somebody say, Wow, wow, wow, look at this beautiful watch.

SPEAKER_02 8:19

Absolutely. This makes me and you know they're talking about you.

SPEAKER_00 8:22

Double happy is my piece and is my design. It was my idea, and so they admire the watch, but they admire in the same time my creation, my idea.

Reconnecting With The U.S. Market

SPEAKER_02 8:32

So, on that on that note, the US market's important to you.

SPEAKER_00 8:36

US market is very important. Actually, I came here to reconnect with this market because you know there are a lot of changes every day between all these uh trade relations. But for me, it's very important to understand the market, to understand the needs, and to create the new ways to bring the watch to the customer, you know. So uh the most important is to understand because in Europe the business goes very well, but uh I have friends here, they tell me, Oh, I would like to have this watch, this one. But I prefer to come me personally to meet them and to make some plans for the future.

SPEAKER_02 9:18

So, why don't you give everybody, um, our audience a a story? What is your story? How did you get into this business? How did you start? How did you

Livio’s Path From Sketches To Brand

SPEAKER_02 9:27

Okay?

SPEAKER_00 9:27

I'll I'll tell you in Switzerland there is a there is a tradition of watchmaking. My gift, the gift maybe from God, was to design. Okay. To draw. I never studied this, I studied marketing, but I love drawing. And then I said, okay, I will transform my passion in my work. And I start to draw. First idea was to draw cars, but then I started to draw watches. And with another brand, I cannot give the name now, sure, that's right. I designed a watch, and this watch became famous. And then I start to say, okay, the next step is to create my own brand. And if you ask me what is more difficult, is to resist 10 years. The first 10 years are are up and down, and uh a lot of people who say, Who are you to fight against the big groups? You know, this is billions and billions. And you are just a guy with a watch. And after 18 years, 17 and a half.

SPEAKER_02 10:28

I was gonna say you're almost doubled that 10 years, you're getting there.

SPEAKER_00 10:32

I I can tell you that my passion really became my my work, and uh, I feel like in the last 17 years I never work because I just live my passion.

SPEAKER_02 10:41

That's wonderful. So, what's new on the horizon? I know that you said you're you're doing some designs and some new things. Is there is there new technology and watches? For example, are do you have any interest in doing uh something like a smartwatch type thing?

SPEAKER_00 10:56

No, no, no, no. We'll keep on tradition. Okay, we go on uh complications because you

Staying Mechanical Over Smart Tech

SPEAKER_00 11:02

see those minute repeater, uh double turbulence, uh flybacks. I I want to go into this, but I always said I designed the watch when the owner looks at the time, I keep five, six seconds to admire the watch. And now my next generation will be like uh collector, have already 49 watches, and the 50 will be a helfer.

SPEAKER_02 11:32

Your watch is the one that's gonna complete the kind of the exactly.

SPEAKER_00 11:35

I'm I'm thinking about this kind of watch, somebody who knows about what we're talking to

Collectors, Complications, And The 50th Piece

SPEAKER_00 11:41

collect the next helper watch.

SPEAKER_02 11:43

That's wonderful. So, when is your next show in the in the United States, or when is your next show anywhere in the world?

SPEAKER_00 11:48

The next show around the world will be Top Mark in Monte Carlo. Okay, there is a place to be because um it's very selective. This is about cars and watches, and uh it's almost the same like here. People are coming for cars, but

Next Stop: Top Marques Monte Carlo

SPEAKER_00 12:03

they fall in love with the watch. Guy comes here for a boat, and he said, Wow, this watch match with my boat.

SPEAKER_02 12:10

There you go.

SPEAKER_00 12:11

But in Monte Carlo is a little bit different, audio. But um, to be honest with you, I will stay here forever.

Miami Moments And Returning Customers

SPEAKER_00 12:20

Oh, Miami, you would stay in Miami?

SPEAKER_02 12:22

Well, we would love to have you here forever.

SPEAKER_00 12:24

And you know, I go, I was yesterday in the restaurant, and the guy to the next table said, excuse me, sir, may I ask you, what what brand is your watch?

SPEAKER_02 12:33

That has to be exciting. Is that the moment?

SPEAKER_00 12:35

The most beautiful brand.

SPEAKER_02 12:36

And and what did you say it was me?

SPEAKER_00 12:38

I invited, I invited him today here. Oh, you did?

SPEAKER_02 12:41

You did? Well, you should bring him by because I think that that would uh that would be wonderful, and hopefully he's able to to buy a watch. Have you run into anybody here that already had your watch?

SPEAKER_00 12:50

Yes. That's wonderful too. That's amazing. People come back and yes, they wear the watch and they come back. It's a relationship. Hey, I have a health for watch.

SPEAKER_02 12:59

It's the it's the human interaction, it is the relationship. It's it's that's what you think about.

SPEAKER_00 13:03

They just met the guy after ten years. And he he came and he said, you know, we met ten years ago in the Boch Yacht show in in Monaco, and now I'm here, and you know, I think I consider to buy a new health for watch.

Miami Lifestyle Meets Maker Industry

SPEAKER_02 13:20

Well, I would say that um, you know, the theme of our our podcast or it during this show has been that Miami is a lifestyle, but powered by industry. You're an industry, and and you are creating that lifestyle, but you're a designer, you're producing, you're marketing, you're all over the world, and and all of that is is part of

Farewell And Subscribe

SPEAKER_02 13:38

that lifestyle. And so we appreciate you being the official timekeeper of the Miami International Boat Show, and thank you for taking your time to sit with us.

SPEAKER_00 13:45

I thank you so much, it was a pleasure.

SPEAKER_02 13:46

It was a pleasure as well. Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 13:49

Thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_02 13:51

Make sure you subscribe to the Wards Way podcast. We're just getting started.