Australian Market Focus: Part 3
Sep 05, 2005
The Swatch Group Within the Swatch Group stable of famous brands, Omega, Longines and others originally made their own branded movements revealing their own distinctive design and calibre numbers. As part of the rat-ionalization of the Swiss industry caused by the advent of the quartz watch in the 1970s, it was surely more economical to have the (now)....

Learning to love sports watches
Jul 02, 2005
I felt my first twinge of affection for sports watches a few years ago when I was invited to Florence to attend a Panerai event. I stayed in a wonderfully picturesque hotel on the banks of the Arno, visited a museum and was generally royally wined, dined and entertained. I believe that St. Tropez with Omega and Ellen MacArthur came next when we sailed on a....

Magazine contents June - July 2005 issue
Jun 20, 2005
Editorial With a little constructive criticism and better recall – watchmaking could only be healthier Cover Story 360 degrees of total innovation by TAG Heuer Haut de Gamme – Haute Horlogerie Patek Philippe’s first chronograph movement The Golf Master Time of the newcomer: Romain Jérôme ....

Consolidation
Jun 13, 2005
2004. Having reached their critical mass and having digested their acquisitions, the large groups are finally enjoying the fruits of their labour and investment, especially in the gradual verticalization of their production. The mergers and acquisition game seems to have reached its maturity. The markets are now where the competition is being played out.....

Villemont – a classical name for a sophisticated collection
May 31, 2005
After much brainstorming, Oliver Müller, the founder and President of this very new and exciting brand decided that the Villemont name perfectly evoked what he was trying to do in watchmaking … classical looks with a contemporary interpretation, traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques and viable and functional complications that are also....

Market Focus China: Shanghai watch market
Jan 14, 2005
Market characteristics Watch sales in Shanghai amount to Rmb 550 million (55 million euros) a year and 1.5 million watches are sold in the city annually. In terms of sales value, 45% are imported. Although Shanghai produces around 2 million low-end watches and clocks mainly for export, the demanding local consumers look for imported watches. In Shanghai,....

Juvenia maintains its inimitable image
Jul 01, 2004
Founded in 1860 by Jacques Didisheim in Saint Imier, Juvenia finally established itself in La Chaux-de-Fonds where it remains today. One of Switzerland’s leading exponents of luxury watch design, Juvenia is also one of the few Swiss watch companies to have manufactured watches without interruption since its creation. Today, the brand is in the hands....

Colour, railways and legends
Apr 30, 2004
As is their wont, Omega has introduced three new models for BaselWorld. The stuff of legends, these latest creations offer a kaleidescope of colour, an outsize timepiece dedicated to the railways and a respectful tug of the forlock at Michael Schumacher, an extraordinary champion. Aquarella Colour takes centre stage in Omega’s latest creation....

Special Market Focus - India / Distribution: India’s evolving work of distribution....
Mar 24, 2004
About 35 to 50 Swiss and European watch brands are present in India. Few among them, if any at all, are making any money for the moment. However, those companies that are working to slowly build up their presence will be the major players of tomorrow in this potentially lucrative market. The efforts by various watch brands to establish themselves here are....

FrontRunners: Ace of Bass
Jul 01, 2003
Bass. Lotsabass. The kind of bass low-riding hip-hop gangstas dream about does not even begin to describe the rumble that emanates from the Basshorn, Avantgarde Acoustic’s ( www.avantgarde-acoustic.com ) latest subwoofer. The Basshorn works with the company’s flagship Trio Omega speaker system, introduced in 2000, and is a fully self-powered....