Charles Simon is a Montreal-based brand that creates exceptional watch accessories. Founded by two engineers, Charles Simon blends advanced engineering, contemporary craftsmanship, and minimalist design. Each piece is handmade in Canada and shaped by an unwavering commitment to quality and care. With an extensive Personalization Service and dedicated one-on-one client support, Charles Simon delivers a bespoke experience tailored to every individual.
01 Origin. What problem, frustration, or quiet conviction made your company/product(s) necessary? Take us back to the moment the idea wouldn't leave you alone.
In 2013, while managing a business unit for a consulting firm in Paris, Charles G. Tremblay, one of the co-founders of Charles Simon, was frequently traveling across Europe for work. Standing in a train station in Belgium, he made a striking observation: people were impeccably dressed, from tailored suits to beautifully crafted shoes and designer bags; yet, everyone was traveling with luggage that seemed to lack the same level of quality and design.
He realized that this category had been overlooked. There was no luggage brand that truly delivered quality craftsmanship and refined aesthetics at the highest level. Charles saw this as an opportunity to reimagine travel accessories with the performance and precision engrained in his engineering background.
The idea stuck with him. Soon after, he shared it with his longtime university friend and fellow engineer, Simon Maltais. Aligned in their shared passion for innovation, the two set out to found Charles Simon, applying over a decade of engineering expertise to create luggage and accessories with an elevated approach.
02 The constraint that shaped it. Every well-made object is defined as much by what it isn't as what it is. What was the hardest constraint you worked within, and how did it sharpen the final product?
The nature of watch accessories is one of our defining constraints. As our company evolved from luggage to watch accessories, we entered a world where the timepiece itself naturally remains at the center of attention. Our products exist around that passion.
Some might question whether collectors care enough about accessories to seek out a luxury piece. However, we believe that watches—objects that can hold both immense monetary and emotional value—deserve accessories that are crafted with an equal level of refinement and care. Over time, we’ve discovered that people who truly love watches often share a broader appreciation for craftsmanship, thoughtful design, and well-made objects.
That constraint continually pushes us to go above and beyond, both in the quality we deliver and the experience we create. Every detail is carefully considered in order to elevate the experience of collecting, storing, and traveling with exceptional timepieces.
03 A design decision you defended. Walk us through one choice that was questioned, debated, or pushed back on, and why you held the line.
Very few brands offer a truly comprehensive Personalization Service. Given the level of complexity that it involves, this is understandable. While the feasibility of maintaining such an offering was sometimes questioned, we felt strongly that our clients should have the opportunity to create pieces that feel deeply personal to them, whether through unique color combinations, custom initials, or fully bespoke configurations.
From an operational perspective, it would have been far easier to limit ourselves to standard offerings. Personalization demands an enormous amount of effort from the entire team. Clients work one-on-one with a Personalization Assistant to develop their ideas through consultations, material selections, and custom renderings. On the production side, it requires maintaining a wide range of options available without always knowing what will be needed. More advanced requests can even involve entirely new layouts, sketches, and custom development.
There were moments when we questioned whether this level of customization was sustainable. But we held the line because we believe luxury should be personal. Our clients are deeply connected to the objects they own, and it’s incredibly meaningful to give them the opportunity to create something uniquely tailored to their personality, tastes, and needs. Seeing the reaction when someone receives a bespoke Charles Simon piece, knowing it was made specifically for them, continually reminds us why the effort is worth it.
04 What you removed. Form and Function lives in what's left after the cuts. What did you take out, leave on the cutting room floor, or refuse to add?
Despite operating in a high-end market, we consciously refused to add ostentatious branding from the beginning. In luxury, value is often communicated through large logos and other design choices meant to signal status. However, we chose to take a different approach.
We refused to rely on flashy branding or decorative excess to justify our product’s value. Instead, we wanted Charles Simon pieces to reveal themselves through their materials, functionality, and quality. The experience begins the moment you handle the object—the opening mechanism, the tactility of the leather, the impeccable attention to detail.
Rather than making products that loudly announce themselves, we focused on developing a distinctly minimalist design language. Even without prominent logos, a Charles Simon piece is immediately recognizable beyond a doubt.
05 What's next, and what stays the same? Where is the brand going from here, and what will never change about how you make things?
Right now, our focus is on continuing to establish Charles Simon as the reference in luxury watch accessories for collectors, luxury watch brands, and independent watchmakers who are seeking exceptional private label collaborations.
Looking ahead, we also envision a gradual return to our roots in travel as well as an expansion into adjacent categories, such as interior objects. The common thread will always remain the same: we create refined objects reimagined through the lens of engineering and contemporary craftsmanship.
We will never change our commitment to excellence and our belief in continuous improvement. No matter the scale of the company, we want every Charles Simon piece to retain the same level of handmade care, precision, and attention to detail that defined the brand from the beginning.
06 Who's next? Name one or two founders, makers, or studios you think is making products that beautifully marry form and function right now. Someone we should be paying attention to, and why.
In the world of horology, which we’re naturally connected to, one independent brand we greatly admire is Petermann Bédat. Founded by the young watchmaking duo Gaël Petermann and Florian Bédat, the brand creates timepieces that combine technical precision with timeless elegance.
What makes their work so compelling is that nothing feels purely performative. Every detail serves the watch as a whole, and the level of craftsmanship is extraordinary. Their pieces have deservedly become highly sought after among collectors, and it’s encouraging to see creations rooted in true watchmaking expertise receive that level of recognition.
We’ve also had the pleasure of creating bespoke accessories for them, which makes the admiration even more meaningful from our perspective.
Lightning Round
An object you'd never replace
The watch I inherited from my grandfather.
A book, film, or album that shaped how you think about design
Back to the Future. It reinforced the idea that the best design transcends trends and stands the test of time.
A daily ritual
First thing in the morning: a small glass of room-temperature water followed by an espresso.
The last thing you bought that surprised you
A Japanese chef’s knife.
A piece of advice you'd give to someone making their first product
Think about your go-to-market strategy first.
Coffee order
Short espresso.
FORM & FUNCTION — Issue 001.
The quarterly print magazine about things worth keeping. Matte, printed, made to be held. Ships July ‘26.