Just five generations separated him from the all-powerful French monarch Napoleon Bonaparte.
Jerome Napoleon de Witt is a remarkably unique personality who seems more philosophical than most other entrepreneurs of his stature.
A watchmaker, who acquired skills and expertise, more by a passion for learning something innovative and curious rather late, DeWitt is now an established brand, for the company’s truly creative, elegant and priceless timepieces.
“One could learn something new only when he or she is free and receptive to ideas,” he said, while recalling his single-minded determination in the beginning of this century to learn the art of watchmaking. “All along my life, I have loved to dabble with complicated things and thus I developed a taste for creating mechanical timepieces that the world wanted to look at,” said de Witt.
Now his company, known by his family name, makes between 1,000 and 1,200 watches, each of which has left a lasting impression on his customers, all affluent personalities who alone can afford it.
“Every watch that we make has a series of novel features which would make it perform differently from the other,” insisted de Witt while pointing to a piece that he referred to as “Mathematical” class, displayed at his stall at Alfardan Jewellery pavilion.
De Witt made his first visit to Qatar way back in 1969 as a general contractor and has been a witness to the changes occurring since then in every aspect of life. “I have always noticed that Qataris have all along possessed a passion to excel and secure the best in life. The same or even more enthusiasm  is there in the new generation as well.”
Now in the 14th year of his business of luxury, premium and limited edition watches, de Witt is attending his sixth Doha Jewellery and Watches Exhibition (DJWE), with collections ranging from QR35,000 to QR 200,000, at his stall.
Even while acknowledging that the recessionary trend in the global economy has hit all sorts of businesses everywhere, the watchmaker however felt it will take some more time to realise its impact on the purchasing decisions of the region’s affluent clients.