News
Wednesday, May 16th 2012
The Turbine double-rotor watch is celebrating the year of the dragon by offering a chance to unmask the mythical animal, the only one of its kind in the Chinese calendar, mysteriously perched on the dial of a truly refined creation. In tribute to this long-awaited year, traditionally considered extremely auspicious, the Special Edition features a splendid depiction of the sacred animal, the symbol of the Chinese emperors. It appears in all its splendor when the turbine is set into action, portrayed according to the traditional rules, with an upward looking gaze, a body covered with scales and ending in a fish tail and five-clawed paws. Carved out from hand-colored Polynesian mother-of-pearl, it is encrusted into a naturally white mother-of-pearl dial. This shimmering creature, accredited w…
Communiqué de presse
Echoes
Tuesday, May 15th 2012
In ten years, mechanical watches have seen their share of total exports increase from less than half to almost three quarters. In a rarely seen role reversal, that segment of the Swiss watch industry which came close to extinction in the 1970s and 1980s is now its driving force. Indeed, mechanical watches are enjoying almost fairytale fortunes. While the trend isn't new, a ten-year perspective she…
Quentin Simonet
From our correspondents
Monday, May 14th 2012
Franco Cologni once told me that when he started in the luxury watch business, the culture was a Francophone one, which makes perfect sense. While nationalistic pride compels me to mention that there were some great English watch and clockmakers, the weight of historical and current evidence forces me to admit that the culture of fine watchmaking is a French or French-speaking one. The great names…
Nick Foulkes
Echoes
Friday, May 11th 2012
Opened in 1959, Piaget's Geneva store has adopted the company's new interior design concept. Marked by discreet elegance in a pleasant and refined atmosphere, this environment is an invitation to share the Piaget experience, which now includes acclai…
Christophe Roulet
Points of view
Thursday, May 10th 2012
These five watchmakers are endowed with spirits of curiosity, technical supremacy and progressive thinking. They lead the mechanical industry by example: exploring theunknown while ensuring that stability and accuracy remain the prime elements of the…
Elizabeth Doerr
Echoes
Wednesday, May 9th 2012
The price of exported watches varies from one market to another, often significantly. A look at what the figures reveal… In this ever more global economy, it's almost reassuring to see that differences persist; that a country still wants its shelves …
Quentin Simonet
Echoes
Wednesday, May 9th 2012
Exports of finished Swiss watches for the first quarter 2012 grew 17% overall in value to CHF 4.3 billion and 4% in volume to 6.8 million units, an increase clearly driven by fine watches. Even as Europe limps along, bogged down by public debt, the U…
Christophe Roulet
From our correspondents
Wednesday, May 9th 2012
We've heard and read a lot about China of late, the country every luxury name has in its sights - watch brands no less than any other - and the driving force for this economy worldwide (Chinese tourists account for 30% to 50% of sales in Europe and t…
Pascal O. Ravessoud
Passion
Tuesday, May 8th 2012
The Hublot Antikythera movement has joined the Archaeological Museum of Athens' collection alongside the remains of the original vessel, treasure and Antikythera mechanism, which have been reunited for the first time since their discovery in 1901. On…
Janine Vuilleumier / FH
