Category: Industry News

Interview – Tom van Wijlick from Lebois & Co about a New Watch and a Surprising Collectors/Shareholders Project

A few years back, Dutch entrepreneur and watch enthusiast Tom van Wijlick decided to relaunch an old watchmaking name: Lebois & Co. What started as a one-off project founded on Kickstarter quickly moved to the next level with multiple re-launch (here and here) editions and now, Lebois & Co is what we could call a “microbrand”. Today we talk with Tom van Wijlick about two important topics. First is the launch of a new watch, the Venturist, which will soon be reviewed on MONOCHROME but that you’ll already see in this interview. Second is the introduction of a new (and truly interesting) business model, where clients and watch enthusiasts will have the opportunity to become a shareholder of the company… Let’s hear all the details.

7 years ago

Interview – Tom van Wijlick from Lebois & Co. about a New Watch and a Surprising Collectors/Shareholders’ Project

A few years back, Dutch entrepreneur and watch enthusiast Tom van Wijlick decided to relaunch an old watchmaking name: Lebois & Co. What started as a one-off project founded on Kickstarter quickly moved to the next level with multiple re-launch (here and here) editions and now, Lebois & Co is what we could call a “microbrand”. Today we talk with Tom van Wijlick about two important topics. First is the launch of a new watch, the Venturist, which will soon be reviewed on MONOCHROME but that you’ll already see in this interview. Second is the introduction of a new (and truly interesting) business model, where clients and watch enthusiasts will have the opportunity to become a shareholder of the company… Let’s hear all the details.

7 years ago

Industry News – The Exodus Continues as Maurice Lacroix Leaves Baselworld 2019

After having participated 30 years in the Watch and Jewelry trade-show, Maurice Lacroix just announced pulling out of Baselworld 2019. This is another blow for Baselworld that faces great challenges with the withdrawal of numerous exhibitors over the past years. Late July, Nick Hayek caught the industry by surprise announcing that Swiss watch giant Swatch Group would not attend in 2019. More recently it was the turn of Raymond Weil and Corum to take similar decisions.

7 years ago

Industry News – Audemars Piguet and Richard Mille Will Leave the SIHH as of 2020

While it became quite common to hear brands leaving Baselworld and complaining about the show (Swatch Group a few weeks ago, Raymond Weil this morning), the Geneva-based, Richemont-controlled Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie – or SIHH – was still in safer waters… As of today, as it’s time for the SIHH to also face non-neglectable departures. […]

7 years ago

Industry News – Raymond Weil Also Announced Leaving Baselworld in 2019

The haemorrhage continues for Baselworld, as another mainstream brand has just announced its departure in 2019. According to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps (here, in French), Raymond Weil, which was exhibiting in Hall 1.0 (where all the big brands are located), won’t be present at Baselworld 2019. After Swatch Group took the lead earlier this year […]

7 years ago

Industry News – Appointments at LVMH: New Head of Watchmaking Division and Frédéric Arnault Head of Strategy at TAG Heuer

In an article published yesterday by French business magazine Challenges (see the article here, in French), it seems that the Watchmaking Division of LVMH (TAG Heuer, Hublot, Zenith) is about to be reshuffled. The article mentions (without sources or quotes) two important appointments: Frédéric Arnault, the 23 years old son of Bernard Arnault (CEO of LVMH), gets a new position at TAG Heuer and Stéphane Bianchi is appointed at the head of the Watchmaking Division.

7 years ago

Interview – Marco Tedeschi of RJ Watches About The Brand’s New Strategy

RJ Watches – previously RJ Romain Jérôme – has never been classical, conventional or traditional. Whether the watches or the communication strategy, things have always been “out of the box”. For over a year, the brand has a new CEO as well as a new name and, as expected, new watches. Today, we talk with Marco […]

7 years ago

Industry News – Chanel Takes a 20% Minority Stake in F.P. Journe

Chanel, a high-fashion house known for its women’s haute-couture and ready-to-wear clothes, luxury goods, and fashion accessories, has been investing in the watchmaking industry – and for quite some years already. This surprising move, initiated in 1998 with Bell & Ross and in 2011 with Romain Gauthier, now goes one step further with the addition of F.P. Journe in the portfolio of brands supported by Chanel.

7 years ago