Two facts tell a lot about how Rolex deals with quality and precision. First, Rolex tests the accuracy of its Superlative Chronometers with tolerances that are twice those for the COSC official certification (to which the Rolex movements are systematically submitted anyhow). Second, in 2015, the brand set a new industry benchmark by offering a […]
Baselworld has been through difficult times recently, drawing criticism and seeing more than half of the exhibiting brands leaving the show. The main announcement was, of course, when Nick Hayek decided that the whole Swatch Group was leaving the 2019 Edition – which we now know to be a definitive decision. While the 2019 edition […]
The world’s largest luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy) is the first of the major groups to report its quarterly sales for 2019 – a good indicator of the state of the industry. Overall, LVMH recorded revenue of EUR 12.5 billion for the first quarter 2019, an increase of 16% compared to the same […]
Citizen was founded in 1918 and to celebrate its 100th anniversary the Japanese manufacturer unveils 3 limited edition watches named after its new Caliber 0100. Based on Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, this new movement delivers an impressive precision of +/- 1 second per year, making it the most accurate autonomous light-powered wristwatch. And while we don’t […]
As we’ve explained already, compliant mechanisms offer huge innovation potential for mechanical watchmaking. As another proof of this revolution, the latest version of the Ulysse Nardin Freak is packed with innovative applications of flexible parts, including a revolutionary flying oscillator whose tridimensional architecture is based on flexible silicon blades. Meet the latest model in a long lineage of innovative watches, the Ulysse Nardin Freak NeXt. And if it is still a concept watch for now, it might make it into production in a very near future.
In August 2018, Swatch Group, in collaboration with Audemars Piguet, announced the development of a new, paramagnetic compensating alloy made from a titanium base called Nivachron. If this may sound a bit arcane, Nivachron signifies a real breakthrough in the fight against magnetism. Aiming at optimizing the resistance of the watch to magnetic fields, it […]
Following Richemont ahead of SIHH and LVMH earlier this week, it is now Swatch Group’s turn to communicate on its performance. Even though the overall results are positive, with net sales and profitability on the rise, the end of the year 2018 has been more difficult. The Swatch Group, however, anticipates healthy growth in 2019.
LVMH, the world’s leading luxury group based in Paris, has just announced its full-year 2018 results, including those of the Watches & Jewelry division, which comprises among others Bvlgari, TAG Heuer, Zenith and Hublot. After an already impressive growth in 2017, the group again reports record growth for 2018. LVMH, for the full-year 2018, recorded […]
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FHS) reports exports up 6.3% at 21.2 billion CHF in 2018, back above the 20 billion Swiss Francs mark. Exports have now climbed for two consecutive years as demand had bounced back in 2017 (19.9 billion CHF, +2.7%), after two years of decline. The performance achieved in 2018 is still inferior to that of 2015.
Jaeger-LeCoultre or “La Grande Maison” has, just like some of its sister brands inside the Richemont Group, seen some changes at its head recently. A new CEO, Catherine Rénier (previously at Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels), often means a new strategy. Rather discreet until now, we thought the SIHH 2019 was the right time to […]