Watches news and archive

Swiss watch brands making time for India

Swiss watchmakers are increasingly turning their sights towards India thanks to a new free trade agreement that is due to gradually open the doors for luxury timepiece exports. While some brands are already in the starting blocks, others are waiting to see whether India will become a new land of plenty. "India represents enormous potential,"...

Fashion

Patek Philippe chief not worried for top-end Swiss watches

Patek Philippe's chief says he is not anxious about the prospects for top-end timepieces, despite Swiss watch exports slowing overall after three years of spectacular growth. Thierry Stern told AFP he was "not worried about the high end" of the market during the Geneva watch fair, which brings together 54 major brands at Swiss watchmaking's...

Fashion

Chrono24 launches authentication programme

Chrono24, the online marketplace for luxury watches, has launched a new ‘Certified’ authentication programme to provide transparency and a guarantee in vetting pre-owned timepieces for collectors. The programme will be available for pre-owned timepieces above 1,000 euros from professional and private sellers. The certification includes a...

People

The 1916 Company announces leadership appointments

The 1916 Company, launched in late 2023 by merging WatchBox, Govberg, Radcliffe, and Hyde Park Jewelers under one unified brand, has announced new leadership appointments and retail expansion plans for “continued growth”. The watch and jewellery group has named Justin Reis as chairman and John Shmerler as the chief executive officer, while Danny...

Fashion

Casio to celebrate Baby-G anniversary with Hello Kitty

Watch brand Casio is collaborating with Hello Kitty, a character from the Japanese entertainment company Sanrio, on a new Baby-G shock-resistant watch. The collaboration watch marks both the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty and the 30th anniversary of the Baby-G and is based on the BGD-565, which inherits the design of the first Baby-G model. The...

Fashion

Is Shenzhen China's new fashion hub?

As 2023 concludes, China’s largest jewellery wholesale market in Shenzhen has witnesses a substantial surge in consumer interest for gold and jewellery, reflecting an escalating market demand. Located in the Guangdong Province of southern China, Shenzhen is known for its technological innovation, but is swiftly establishing itself as a...

Retail

Rolex faces a 100 million dollar fine for obstructing online watch sales

France’s competition regulator, the Autorité de la concurrence, has imposed a substantial fine of 91,600,000 euros on Rolex France, along with Rolex Holding SA, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, and Rolex SA. The penalty is in response to industry referrals and subsequent investigations from Rolex's prolonged prohibition - exceeding a decade – to...

PeopleFeatured

Chrono24 names Zalando’s Carsten Keller as CEO

Global marketplace for luxury watches Chrono24 has announced that former Zalando executive Carsten Keller will take over as chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2024. Keller will succeed co-chief executive’s Tim Stracke and Holger Felgner, who are handing over the reins to “unlock the next phase of growth” for Chrono24. Stracke said in...

Fashion Featured

Watch brand Fossil rebrands to reach “next generation” of consumers

Watch and accessories brand and retailer Fossil is rebranding with a new brand identity that celebrates its nearly 40-year heritage as it looks to usher in a “new era” of the brand to connect with the next generation of consumers. The rebrand is a complete overhaul of Fossil’s branding across all touchpoints and aims to offer a modernised brand...

Business

Rolex SA to acquire luxury watch group Bucherer AG

In a strategic move, Rolex has announced it will acquire Bucherer, the well-known watch retailer. Despite the acquisition, Bucherer will maintain its unique identity and operational independence. The integration is awaiting approval from competition authorities. The decision comes after Jörg Bucherer, due to the absence of direct heirs, chose to...

Business

Swiss watch exports up 11.8 percent in H1

Swiss watchmaking maintained its steady growth trajectory in the first half of the year, mirroring the trends seen in 2022. Despite a high basis for comparison, exports demonstrated resilience, with most markets experiencing an increase. Notably, China and Hong Kong showed a strong rebound, said the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) in...

Report

Watches of Switzerland posts record FY revenue as profits widen

Watches of Switzerland has hailed a record year for revenue, which was up 25 percent on a reported basis and 19 percent on a constant currency basis from the prior year. The London-listed group made revenue of 1.54 billion pounds in the year to April 30, with sales in its luxury watch division up 28 percent - and representing 87 percent of total...