“Don’t overdo anything, but enjoy everything!”
Georges Auguste Dubois is born in 1921 in the Eaux-Vives district of Geneva, the second child in his family. He grows up in a happy environment, surrounded by the extraordinary love of his parents, and has a very close relationship with his sister.
Fascinated by the technology of watchmaking and with a natural talent for craftsmanship, Georges Auguste Dubois decides to attend watchmaking school in Geneva. However, he has to interrupt his training due to the war and is unable to graduate. Although initially unsettling, his experience in the army helps him to mature. After the war, he takes his exams and works for three years at the Rolex watch factory.
A serious illness forces him to undergo major surgery. Weakened, he leaves his job and chooses an unexpected path: he joins a farm as a volunteer, refusing any pay and accepting every task with humility. In this laborious solitude, he gradually regains his strength and, above all, his self-esteem.
At the age of 27, back in top form, Georges Auguste Dubois resumes his career as a watchmaker and begins working for Patek Philippe. During this period, when his own life is getting back on track, he loses his sister, which shook him deeply. His sister dies of leukemia at the age of 33.
Georges Auguste Dubois works at Patek Philippe for 38 years as workshop manager until his retirement. He loves his job and finds enormous satisfaction in making exceptional watches. It is at this company that he met the love of his life: ‘We were the Patek couple!’ The two get married in Petit Lancy in 1956 and enjoy a long and happy marriage. Together they have two daughters, to whom he is very close and with whom he shares a great love of nature.
In 1991, he loses his wife to cancer. The wound is immense, unforgettable. Despite everything, Georges Auguste Dubois remains tireless, both before and after retirement. He travels extensively and visits over 30 countries. He is friendly and warm-hearted and has a good social circle. He enjoys spending time chatting, making new acquaintances and regularly welcoming visitors. He says that he inherited his love of people from his father.
Georges Auguste Dubois also has an incredible curiosity for modern technology: at 103 years old, he uses his iPad and iPhone with ease. He is fascinated by advances in communication. ‘When I was little,’ he says, ‘you had to walk to invite friends over. Now my daughter sends me live photos from the United States!’
After defeating aggressive cancer at the age of 84 Georges Auguste Dubois is healthy and fitter than ever. At 103, he hardly feels the weight of the years and lives alone in the bright little house he inherited from his parents. His most important advice for a long and healthy life is simple: “Don’t overdo anything, but enjoy everything.”