Share |

watches

February 20, 2018

Enzo Ferrari would have celebrated his 120th birthday this week, but his namesake supercar company is one of several major family businesses looking to the future and new technologies.

Enzo Ferrari would have celebrated his 120th birthday this week, but his namesake supercar company is one of several major family businesses looking to the future and new technologies.

Pioneering watchmaker Raymond Weil dies

January 29, 2014

Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil, who founded the family business that bears his name, has died in Geneva, aged 87.

He had established the luxury brand in 1976, when the Swiss watchmaking industry was in disarray due to the so-called “Quartz crisis”.

Swiss watchmaker Raymond Weil, who founded the family business that bears his name, has died in Geneva, aged 87.

Weil founded the luxury brand in 1976, when the Swiss watchmaking industry was in disarray due to the so-called “Quartz crisis” – during which electronic watchmaking methods resulted in a decline in traditional mechanical timepieces, which had been the speciality of Swiss craftsmen.

Precious Time

November 21, 2013

Luxury timepieces often become heirlooms passed through the family, and likewise the craft of watchmaking is often a family affair. CampdenFB reports on some of the industry’s most respected family firms

In what must be the luxury industry’s best-known advertising campaign, a father and son are shown engaging in bonding activities – driving a boat, fixing a vintage car, sitting in dad’s office – in which the watch on the father’s wrist is apparently incidental. “You never actually own a Patek Philippe,” the ad famously advises. “You merely look after it for the next generation.”

Watches, wines and jewels fetch record prices at Christie's Geneva

November 21, 2011

Fears of another global recession appear to be doing little to dampen sales at some auctions, with buyers recently flocking to Christie's Geneva to splash out on diamonds, watches and fine wines.

New world record prices were set at the auction house’s last sale of the year, which took place between 14 November and 16 November.

Family luxury continues strong performance

October 14, 2010

LVMH, the luxury retailer, said third quarter sales rose 24% on an annual basis to €5.11 billion, as demand for high end watches and handbags remained strong.

LVMH, the luxury retailer, said third quarter sales rose 24% on an annual basis to €5.11 billion, as demand for high end watches and handbags remained strong.

The company said the first nine months of the year "confirmed its confidence" for full-year results.

The group's watches & jewelry business group recorded revenue growth of 29% in the first nine months of 2010. The fashion & leather goods business group achieved a 20% revenue rise in the same period.

Jean-Claude Biver: no time for succession

July 7, 2010

Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver has bought and sold some of the world’s most famous watch brands, but says he has no plans to put his time and effort into succession planning, writes Margie Goldsmith.

Hublot CEO Jean-Claude Biver has bought and sold some of the world's most famous watch brands, but says he has no plans to put his time and effort into succession planning, writes Margie Goldsmith.

The death last week of family-controlled Swatch Group founder Nicolas G Hayek saddened Biver, who knew him from his time as a board member of Swatch from 1992 to 2003.

Bremont: time for a new breed of watchmaker

April 27, 2009

Family tragedy followed by family passion led to the birth of a luxury brand currently taking the world of watches by storm. Claire Adler meets two brothers who abandoned the City of London long before anyone even mumbled the words credit crunch

As children, Nick and Giles English could routinely be found tinkering in their father's aeroplane workshop in the east of England, repairing planes, making clocks, models, musical instruments and fixing anything mechanical they could lay their hands on. Their father Euan was a World War Two RAF aerobatic champion and it was hardly a surprise when Nick and Giles grew up to become professional pilots and aviation junkies.

Richemont’s timely new acquisition

August 12, 2008

Luxury goods group Richemont has acquired a controlling interest in watch company Manufacture Roger Dubuis in a private transaction with Carlos Dias, one of the founding shareholders.

The Swiss-based watchmaker will continue to manufacture and distribute watches under the "Roger Dubuis" name and will operate as an autonomous "Maison" within Richemont. It will benefit from the family-owned business's superior distribution channels.

Time up for Hublot as it is acquired by LVMH

April 24, 2008

LVMH, the luxury group owned by Bernard Arnault and family, has acquired Hublot group, the Geneva-based luxury watchmakers.

LVMH, the luxury group owned by Bernard Arnault and family, has acquired Hublot group, the Geneva-based luxury watchmakers. Hublot was founded by Carlo Crocco in 1980, and LVMH will acquire it from both Crocco and a company controlled by Jean-Claude Biver, which has managed Hublot since 2004.

"I am happy that Hublot, an innovative brand since its creation, is joining the LVMH group, the world leader in luxury goods, whose creative passion is without any doubt a value that I have always shared," said Crocco.

The timekeepers

March 1, 2008

Founded in Switzerland, the home of luxury watches, Rotary has been providing timepieces for its clientele for over a century. Claire Adler finds out about the brand’s focus on fashion,the introduction of diamonds and an elaborate treasure hunt

Founded in Switzerland, the home of luxury watches, Rotary has been providing timepieces for its clientele for over a century. Claire Adler finds out about the brand's focus on fashion,the introduction of diamonds and an elaborate treasure hunt

Despite its 113-year history, Rotary watches is refreshingly grounded in the present. Fourth-generation chairman Robert Dreyfuss is trend savvy, fluent about his market positioning and hungry for new ideas.