Lyam Chenaux, ANDERSEN Genève's first Classical Music Ambassador
The young cello prodigy Lyam Chenaux will be wearing one of just 12 Jumping Hours 40th Anniversary watches made in rose gold
We're delighted to share news of a partnership that feels particularly natural to us: we are now working with the acclaimed young Swiss cellist Lyam Chenaux as the brand's first Classical Music Ambassador.
Lyam, just 16, is a serious watch fan as well as a prodigiously gifted musician, international soloist and now the reigning champion of France's hugely popular Prodiges TV show. As such, he's formed a close friendship with ANDERSEN Genève.
What drew us to Lyam isn't just his talent – though there's plenty of that. It's the way he approaches his playing: dedication, passion, incredible technical skill and profound respect for craft and tradition, while still finding his own distinctive voice. These are things we understand well in our atelier.
Lyam is now proudly wearing the Jumping Hours 40th Anniversary in rose gold, featuring a BlueGold dial with a radiant 'losanges magiques' pattern. Announced in 2020, this was the first watch in the modern Jumping Hours series, which concluded last year having become a real fan favourite for us.
The rose gold 40th Anniversary edition was limited to just 12 editions; Lyam is now wearing #10, worn on his right (bow-holding) wrist while playing, and on his left wrist for daily life.
A Cello Superstar in the Making
On New Year's Day 2026, Lyam Chenaux became the overall winner of the 12th season of Prodiges, the French TV show showcasing exceptional young classical music performers. The final, in which Lyam was crowned champion while sporting his ANDERSEN Genève watch, was viewed by an audience of almost 3 million people. This has enabled him to record his first album in Paris – a significant milestone for any young artist, which he is currently working on.
Born in 2009 and raised near Lausanne, he chose the cello at age five and made his solo debut at ten with the Budweis Philharmonic Orchestra in Biel. A four-time winner of the Swiss National Music Competition across all categories, he has also received top honours at the Classicalia competition in Vienna, the David Popper International Cello Competition, and the Geringas International Cello Competition in 2025, among others.
He has performed as soloist with orchestras including the Pforzheim Chamber Orchestra, the Vienna Opera Ball Orchestra, and the Hungarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, and became at 12 years old member of the LGT Young Soloists. Since then, he performs on major stages across Europe, Asia, Australia and South America. He has worked in masterclasses with leading cellists including D. Müller-Schott, T. Grossenbacher, A. Gastinel, O. Gaillard, W-S. Yang, X. Phillips, J-P. Maintz, and F. Helmerson. He is currently studying with Denis Severin at the University of Music Geneva–Neuchâtel.
Lyam is one of the youngest endorsed artists of Thomastik-Infeld – one of the classical music world's most revered makers of strings for instruments. He plays a cello built by Antonio Guadagnini in Turin in 1881, loaned by the cultural and philanthropic initiative "Adopt a Musician".
Beyond his classical training, Lyam maintains a broad range of interests – from improvisation and jazz, to composition, chess, cycling, political science, sound production, and audiophilia.
"When I first discovered ANDERSEN Genève's watches," says Lyam Chenaux, "I felt a real connection. In music, precision and technical mastery are what you use to create emotion, and that's really what I see in these watches too."
Pierre-Alexandre Aeschlimann, owner and director of ANDERSEN Genève, agrees. "Lyam is an extraordinary artist, and a charming young man with whom we've found a real affinity for artistry, excellence and soul. He has these in abundance, and with a humility and grace that's rare. We are proud to support his remarkable journey."
