Baselworld 2012 Closes with Strong Results, Upbeat and Confident

Business was brisk at Baselworld 2012 and the attitude of both exhibitors and buyers was upbeat and confident.

A fractured arm kept me from attending Baselworld this year Fortunately, veteran watch journalist, William George Shuster, kindly agreed to take time from his busy schedule to write a few stories from the tradeshow. Below is his fourth and final report.

By William George Shuster

Vacheron Constantin Sponsors Major Art Event and Unveils New Timepieces

Art lovers and watch lovers mingle inside the Vacheron Constantin Fifth Avenue boutique.

NEW YORK — Vacheron Constantin’s jewel box of a boutique was on a recent cool, crisp evening. Inside, art enthusiasts mingled with timepiece lovers within the lightly colored space highlighted with dark wood tones, straight lines and minimal furnishings.

The March 2 gathering then moved a couple blocks

China is Number 1 In Luxury Watch Demand

Omega is a favorite luxury watch brand in China.

China has surpassed the U.S. as the country with the highest demand for luxury watches based on Internet searches, according to a survey released Wednesday.

China represents 23 percent of all watch-related searches, according to the WorldWatchReport, published by Digital Luxury Group. Gaining the most attention in China is Omega (20.2 percent

Girard-Perregaux Hires Legendary Watchmaker Dominique Loiseau

Dominique Loiseau at work

Legendary watchmaker Dominique Loiseau has joined Girard-Perregaux as part of the Swiss luxury watch brand's manufacturing team.

Loiseau has worked at the highest levels of complex horology for more than 30 years and is the creator of several remarkable timepieces, including six Montres de Sables, the Rose de Temps clock, the Renaissance or Capriccio pocket watches

Montblanc Honors Princess Grace with a Sparkling Collection

Princess Grace

There may be no greater symbol of royalty, style and fashion than Grace Kelly. The Philadelphia-born actress was thrust into the international spotlight when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, and became known throughout the world as Princess Grace. It was a role she was born to play and till this day she is looked upon as one the world’s great fashion icons.

With this

Jean Claude Biver Resigns as Hublot CEO

Jean Claude Biver and Ricardo Guadalupe

Jean Claude Biver, one of the most influential persons in the Swiss watch industry, is stepping down as CEO of Hublot. 

He is being replaced as CEO by Ricardo Guadalupe, former Hublot managing director and personal friend of Biver with whom he has been working with for nearly 20 years. The change became effective January 1.

The company in a statement

Andrea Bocelli Foundation to Host Benefit Gala with Girard-Perregaux

Andrea Bocelli 

Classical singing sensation Andrea Bocelli will launch his new foundation with a benefit gala on Friday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles. Bocelli, David Foster, Heather Headley and Anna Maria Martinez will perform at the event.

The Andrea Bocelli Foundation seeks to raise funds and awareness for its efforts to fight poverty around the world and to help people

Hublot and Ferrari Become Partners

Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of Hublot (left), and Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, president of Ferrari S.p.A, seal the deal at the Mugello International Circuit. Photo credit: Raphael Faux.


Luxury Swiss watch brand Hublot says it has entered into a “comprehensive agreement” with the Italian sports car manufacturer, Ferrari, merging the brand images and the commercial activities of both companies.

Chopard’s Spring 2012 Collection Warms the Autumn Chill

Imperiale Full Set ladies watch.

The mid-point of autumn seems like an inappropriate time to talk about spring collections but the fashion industry moves to its own schedule—even when it comes to high-end watches and jewelry. And in this realm of what is known as “hard” luxuries there are few more fashionable companies than Chopard.

The Swiss luxury brand recently released its spring

Jewelry and Watch Sales Sparkle for LVMH

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world’s leading high quality products group, said revenue for the first nine months of 2011 rose 15 percent year-over-year to 16.3 billion euros ($22.3 billion). Organic revenue growth was 15 percent after the currency impact was compensated by the June 30 consolidation of Italian luxury jeweler, Bulgari, into the LVMH structure.The third quarter continued

Jewelry and Watch Sales Drive Global Luxury Consumption

Double-digit growth in jewelry and watch sales, strong demand in China and Latin America, and resurging U.S. and European markets have all contributed to what is expected to be a growth of 13 percent in worldwide luxury consumption in 2011, according to a recently released report.

Consulting firm, Bain & Company, which created the report, revised its overall 2011 growth projections from the 8

Update: Swatch Group Ends Partnership with Tiffany

The Atlas Chronograph watch in 2009, one of the first watches created by Tiffany Watch Co. Ltd.

Updated at 2 p.m. with a statement from Tiffany & Co. disputing the claims of the Swatch Group. See below.

In a terse statement Monday, the Swatch Group said it will end its partnership with Tiffany & Co. to make and distribute branded watches for the luxury jeweler and will seek compensation for

Richemont Reports Widespread Sales Growth Led by Jewelry Sales but Cautions on Future Profits

Cie. Financiere Richemont SA said Wednesday that sales for the five-month period ended August 31 increased 29 percent year-over-year, led by strong growth for all of its brands throughout all regions. At constant exchange rates, sales increased by 35 percent. However, the company cautions that the rising Swiss franc and uncertain economic conditions make the remainder of the year difficult to

Hermès Watches Reinterpret the Passing of Time

Arceau Temps Suspendu in a steel case and opaline silver dial with herringbone motif.

In the world you and I inhabit it may seem that time moves in a linear fashion. But in the world of Hermès time can be suspended and days can disappear while hours can travel at an unpredictable pace.

The famed Parisian luxury house, the apple of Bernard Arnault’s eye, recently introduced two watch lines

Boucheron’s Wild and Crazy Ladies Watches

Héra Tourbillon

For more than 150 years, Boucheron has held an esteemed place in the rarified world of haute joaillerie. Early this year, the Parisian jewelry house introduced its “Cabinet of Curiosities,” a jewelry and timepiece collection based on animals and presented in a wildlife setting.
At Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry tradeshow in Basel, Switzerland, held in

Hublot is Still Making Noise with its Big Bang Watches

Mathilde Krim, amfAR chairman, and Jean-Claude Biver, Hublot CEO, at the opening of the Hublot New York boutique on May 11. Krim is holding the Big Bang Magic amFAR timepiece.
A few years ago Swiss luxury watch company, Hublot, introduced its Million Dollar Big Bang watch, a tourbillon timepiece covered with diamonds. It was big hit, generating a great amount of press and interest and leading

MB&F Unveils New Exotic Frog Time Machines

HM3 Chocolate Frog features a "chocolate" PVD coated Grade 5 titanium case and a 22K red gold rotor. It is available in a limited edition of 10 pieces.
Its protruding eyes and its mouth-like front are actually instruments and complications that differentiate the “horological machine” from the frog where it gets its inspiration.

The HM3 frog, as it is known, was actually released a year ago

Chai Schnyder, Patrik Hoffmann Take Control of Ulysse Nardin

Chai Schnyder has been named president of the board of directors and Patrik P. Hoffmann was appointed CEO of the luxury watch brand Ulysse Nardin. They replace Rolf W. Schnyder, who died unexpectedly on April 14. He held both positions.

Chai Schnyder is the widow of Rolf Schnyder (both pictured left). She holds a Master of Science in Manufacturing Engineering from Queen's University Belfast, U.K

Jacob & Co. Tourbillon and 5 Timezones Watches

BASEL, Switzerland – U.S.-based Jewelry and timepiece company, Jacob & Co., presented several watches that challenged conventional watchmaking methods in terms of design and technical advancements. Three of the watches that represent a sampling of what was shown to me at the Baselworld trade fair follow.
Cyclone Tourbillon
This unusual watch (pictured above) is receiving a great deal of play in

Milla Jovovich is the Face of Jacob & Co.

Milla Jovovich and Jacob Arabo


BASEL, Switzerland – Jacob & Co. announced that the new face of its global advertising campaign is actress and model, Milla Jovovich. The unveiling was held March 27 during a party at the Jacob & Co. booth during Baselworld, the world’s largest watch and jewelry tradeshow.
I was unable to attend the event but earlier did get a tour of the new high-carat,