Swiss Watchmakers Sound Upbeat on US as Long as Stocks Last
A surge in exports in July should shield Swiss watch brands from the full impact of a new 39 percent U.S. tariff
Watches
Audemars Piguet Launches Collab with Travis Scott in Latest Culture Play
In partnership with Scott, Audemars Piguet is set to release a limited-edition version of its Royal Oak watch and a capsule collection of co-branded merchandise from the watchmaking house and Cactus Jack Records.
Richemont Sees Growth Easing as Economic Worries Rise
Shares in the Cartier-owner fell 6 percent after first-half profits missed forecasts.
The DTC Watch Brands With Luxury Ambitions
Timepiece start-ups like Baltic, which went from Kickstarter campaign to producing $50K collector grade watches, and Christopher Ward, who is on track to reach $40 million in sales this year, are leveraging collector communities and innovation to take on high luxury watchmaking.
After Decades of Masculine Marketing, Breitling Tries Talking to Women
With a new campaign fronted by Charlize Theron, the watch brand is deepening its connection with a group it’s still relatively new to: female consumers.
Audemars Piguet CEO Expects to Exit Watchmaker With Record Sales
Strong demand for the Swiss luxury watch brand’s pricey timepieces has put sales on track to hit fresh highs.
Inside the Changing Landscape of Swiss Watch Fairs
At Geneva Watch Days 2023, CEOs of Bulgari and Breitling fuelled the fire of an ongoing rivalry with Watches and Wonders. The comments come as Swiss watchmaking’s calendar fills up with more events both in Switzerland and abroad.
How Richard Mille Became the Cult Watch Brand of the Ultra-Rich
The timepieces priced above $250,000 signal a very specific kind of status.
From Jay-Z to the White Party: How Culture Drives the Swiss Watch Industry
High-profile collectors from sports, music and cinema have helped luxury watches shake off their dusty image and reach younger, more diverse clients. How are brands navigating the shift?
Can Switzerland’s Third-Largest Watch Brand Continue To Rise?
Omega’s sales have recovered and surpassed pre-Covid levels, CEO Raynald Aeschlimann said. But aggressive price hikes, step-and-repeat marketing and an authenticity scandal could challenge the Swatch-owned brand’s ascent.
Louis Vuitton, Jean Arnault, and Big Watchmaking Ambitions
Can luxury fashion’s biggest brand become a fine watchmaking powerhouse? Jean Arnault is betting on the relaunched Tambour model to lead a push upmarket.
Frédéric Arnault’s TAG Heuer ‘Transformation’
The LVMH watchmaker has ‘reached milestones in brand transformation,’ said chief executive Frédéric Arnault in an exclusive interview with BoF.
Bulgari CEO: ‘Less But Better’ Driving Luxury Growth
The LVMH brand is recording ‘more than double digit’ growth, generated by ‘natural upselling requested by clients,’ said chief executive Jean-Christophe Babin in an exclusive interview with BoF.
THE NEWS IN BRIEF
Jean-Christophe Babin Named CEO of LVMH Watches
LVMH has appointed Jean-Christophe Babin to the helm of LVMH Watches, succeeding LVMH-scion Frédéric Arnault, the group announced in a statement on Friday. The role oversees LVMH’s watch brands TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith. Babin will maintain his position as CEO of Bulgari.
Rolex Fined $100 Million for Thwarting Online Watch Sales
Rolex was fined about $100 million by France’s antitrust agency for pursuing an illegal decade-long crackdown on distributors selling the Swiss firm’s luxury watches online.