Business News: Why LVMH Has Bought Tiffany & Co., And What This Might Mean For Watch Collectors
The $16.2 billion deal doubles the size of LVMH’s Watches & Jewelry division.
Just Because – A BIG Shout-Out to IWC and Kurt Klaus (About Smartwatches…)
A few days ago an email from the IWC marketing team dropped into my inbox. Nothing unusual and like always I have a quick look at what the brand plans to communicate now. Maybe a new watch, another limited edition, or an update on the Silver Spirit Spitfire that is on its flight around the globe? Nope, the email was about three videos featuring legendary watchmaker Kurt Klaus and… a smartwatch.
Industry News – LVMH Reaches Agreement to Buy Tiffany & Co. for $16.2 Billion
The World Is Not Enough does not only apply to James Bond… It could also work for Bernard Arnault, the CEO of the world’s largest luxury group: LVMH. Already the owner of some of the most prestigious fashion, leather goods, hotels, vineyards, perfumes, department stores and watch/jewellery brands, the French group has just announced a […]
Bulgari CEO drops an Octo Finissimo Chronograph on the ground to make a point
I like interviewing Jean-Christophe Babin. There is a playfulness to the Bulgari CEO; in fact, I’d go so far as to say there’s a wickedness to his personality that makes the exchange unpredictable. You don’t know what’s going to happen, or what direction the conversation will take. But wherever it goes, it’s almost always with the element of surprise. Take this last conversation. We were reflecting on a previous interview, where he’d – what do you know – startled me with a twist in the script. In terms of moments in interviews I’ve never forgotten, it’s up there. The interview was focused on the Octo Finissimo Tourbillon shortly after its release. The meeting was in Shanghai, at a boutique within the Bulgari Hotel Shanghai. It was an interesting discussion, and centred on Bulgari’s goal – to make high complication watches as comfortable and therefore as wearable on the daily as possible. How did he demonstrate this point? You’ll just have to watch to find out.
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Dubai Watch Week WSTD – Julian's Doxa SUB 300 Professional
While wandering the booths of Dubai Watch Week, any enthusiastic eye can spot Rolex, Patek Philippe and the rest of the usual suspects on the wrists of other attendees, but it was a surprise to see a flash of orange pass by one afternoon. Sure enough, after stopping and speaking with Julian briefly, I confirmed it was indeed a Doxa SUB 300, and that not only was it one of four in his collection but he was also a diver who happily used it while exploring the murky depths. When did you first see/hear about it? I first came across Doxa as a watch brand shortly after I decided to focus my small watch collection predominantly on dive watches. This made sense to me as I’m a scuba diver and this “DNA” for a collection had an authenticity that I liked. When reading up on the topic I discovered the very long and significant history of Doxa with dive watches. The fact that Doxa had both real credibility in the dive watch field (akin to Blancpain & Rolex) together with relative anonymity, even with “watch guys”, was an irresistible combination. Any story behind the purchase, and the deciding factor? I…
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#JayDay: Jay-Z just used a bunch of solid gold Rolex Daytonas as VIP invitations
We’ve all heard of a wrist flex, but what about an invitation flex … is that a thing? Well, if it wasn’t before, it is now, because hip hop heavyweight, music producer and entrepreneur Jay-Z has gone and sent out Rolex’s eponymous Daytona as VIP invitation gifts to his inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala. In case you were wondering, the Rolex Daytona in question was the solid 18k Everose gold example with the black and pink dial, ref. 116505. Just to clarify … this pink gold Daytona has a recommended retail price in Australia of $49,750. What on earth! And while we’re not sure how many Daytonas were sent out, it was at least two, because both Meek Mill and Swizz Beatz posted about their “boujee” gifts from Hov (Jay-Z) in their Instagram stories. Mr Mill must’ve been so ecstatic that he forgot which way to place the Daytona in the box, writing in his story: “Hov sent these as VIP passes, SMH this rich shit getting out of control lol”, with the artist adding, “I’m not joking lol.” Mr Beatz concurred with Mill’s sentiments, writing on Instagram: “Levels. Hov is on another level with the invite game, it came…
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Real watch lovers of Sydney turn out for second launch of Doxa in Australia
If I could offer one piece of advice for anyone who is ever asked to speak at a watch event, it is this: know your stuff. At the second launch of Doxa watches in Australia in a week, this time in Sydney at the home of Oscar Hunt tailors in York Street, I spoke about 1967. It was the year Doxa released the SUB 300 to the public, a watch that brought superior submarine attributes to everyday divers. It was lucky I had my facts straight. The ice had barely clinked my glass in a final cheers before getting back to the watches after the proceedings before I was approached by a Sydney guest. He presented me with a magazine called Triton, which incorporated another publication, Diver International. The date of the magazine was 1967. The cover featured an incredibly overwrought looking pair of scuba tanks with ‘Diving on liquid air’ the headline. The first double-page advertisement was for the Doxa SUB 300. The ad, written beautifully like all advertising from the ’60s, listed the “27 incontestable advantages” of the SUB 300. It also promised that all models would be delivered in a “…luxury box which you can later use…
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Sunday Rewind: Sibling Chime-alry With Two Unique And Strange Minute Repeaters From Patek Philippe
A bad pun (not sorry) and two awesome vintage Pateks.
What is Dubai Watch Week, and should you go?
Dubai Watch Week is in its fourth year, and is hitting a scale that should be making the other watch fairs around the world take notice. In the context of Baselworld being in some of the worst trouble it has experienced in its 100+ year history and SIHH (now called Watches & Wonders in 2020) losing the commitment of some of its largest brands, and both of the fairs changing their dates in an attempt to make them more convenient to attend (though this was cited as the reason for both Seiko and Grand Seiko pulling out of the 2020 fair), Dubai Watch Week is gaining significant traction and attention. But what exactly is Dubai Watch Week? Is it a trade show like Baselworld or SIHH, where new watches are released? And if it isn’t, what’s the point in going, and who is it for? Baselworld and SIHH have always traditionally been trade shows, where brands can meet with their retailers, retailers can place their orders for the year having seen the new watches, and members of the press can attend to offer coverage and commentary on latest releases. They aren’t designed for members of the public (SIHH was an…
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Keeping it classic: 3 of the best Hublot Classic Fusions
It’s fair to say that Hublot is mostly known for their iconic range of Big Bang timepieces. And that’s completely understandable, as the Big Bang is the brainchild of the Swiss watchmaking doyen, Jean-Claude Biver. Furthermore, the timepiece itself is credited with saving Hublot from an uncertain future when it was first released in 2005. However, for those looking for something that is perhaps a little more left field from the disruptive Swiss marque, Hublot’s range of Classic Fusion timepieces represent a compelling blend of svelte sophistication and signature innovative design. Here are three of our favourites: Hublot Classic Fusion Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinski Green Ceramic Representing one of the latest creations born from the ongoing collaborative works of Hublot and French artist and sculptor Richard Orlinski, the Aerofusion Chronograph Orlinski Green Ceramic is striking to say the least. It’s a watch that permeates Hublot’s expertise in material innovation, and the angular 45mm solid green ceramic case offers a truly unique proposition for buyers looking for a watch that pushes the boundaries of form and function. $24,800 Hublot Classic Fusion Ferrari GT Titanium What we love about Hublot’s newly released Classic Fusion Ferrari GT Titanium is that, for once, Ferrari…
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