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India’s watch industry is experiencing a split between high‑volume manufacturers like Titan, which produces tens of millions of watches annually and is moving into premium segments, and a growing group of independent micro‑brands such as Jaipur Watch Company and Bangalore Watch Company that focus on limited‑run,
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Basilia Jewellery & Watch Fair, announced in June 2026, aims to revive a major European gathering for the jewellery industry in Basel after the collapse of Baselworld. Organized by MCH Group and Informa Markets Asia, the fair leverages Messe Basel’s infrastructure and targets over 400 exhibitors, with 280 already
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A consortium led by Montres Journe, together with Chanel and former De Bethune CEO Pierre Jacques, has acquired a 95 % stake in Ebel for US $66.5 million, leaving the remaining shares with the Movado Group. The partnership combines Chanel’s financial resources, François‑Paul Journe’s watchmaking expertise, and
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Accutron’s Autumn/Winter 2026 collection introduces two new proprietary movements, expanding the brand’s technological repertoire. The master‑complication movement powers the Accutron Horizon, a multi‑function watch featuring chronograph, minute repeater, perpetual calendar, moonphase and day/night indicator, with prices starting at $2,190. Additionally, a 262 kHz
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Patek Philippe’s president Thierry Stern reiterated that the historic watchmaker will remain privately owned and independent, dismissing persistent rumors of a sale to larger groups. He emphasized that the family’s 100 % shareholding allows the brand to pursue its own strategy without external pressure, and while no specific timetable
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The Deloitte study reveals that Swiss watch manufacturers are confronting a lasting decline in sales volumes, prompting a shift from short‑term cost‑cutting to longer‑term strategies focused on new product development, market diversification, and research and development. While premiumisation and higher prices have helped maintain revenue, the industry
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Bell & Ross partnered with Defender Rally as the Official Timing Partner for the 2026 season, culminating in the team winning the FIA World Rally‑Raid Championship Stock Manufacturers’ title. The rally team secured victories in all four W2RC events it entered—Dakar, Portugal, Argentina’s Ruta 40, and Morocco—
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Phillips has launched what it describes as the most valuable online watch auction ever organized by its New York Watches team, featuring nearly 90 collectible timepieces available for bidding until October 9. Highlights include a rare Voutilainen 28Sport Limited Edition valued between $120,000 and $240,000, a complete collector’
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Reg Brack has been appointed international director of watches for Bonhams in the United States, where he will oversee business development, client engagement, and strategic growth across the country. Based in New York, he brings over two decades of experience from leading auction houses and digital marketplaces, including roles at
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The Watches of Switzerland Group has opened a 4,505‑square‑foot dual‑brand showroom in Marlton, New Jersey, combining its Watches of Switzerland and Mayors Jewelers locations under one roof for the first time. The store, situated at The Promenade at Sagemore, marks Mayors Jewelers’ inaugural expansion beyond Florida
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The piece highlights the growing significance of jewelry within the Watches of Switzerland Group, noting that while jewelry currently accounts for only 13% of total sales, it represents a key opportunity for future growth. The company’s FY26 report shows an increase from 8.5% in 2020, and recent strategic
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David Edwards oversaw Seiko UK’s final year, delivering revenue of £27 million, slightly below the previous £27.6 million, while an operating profit of £850 million turned into a £215,000 loss. The company ended the year with net assets of £28 million, and Edwards highlighted that sales remained
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Rolex UK reported a 5% increase in top‑line revenue for 2025, reaching £736.7 million, while operating profit fell 10.4% to £87.1 million. The profit decline was mainly attributed to a weaker pound against the Swiss franc, which raised the cost of goods purchased from the Swiss
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Bangalore Watch Company, founded in 2018, has grown its presence to more than 30 countries with roughly half of its sales now coming from international markets. After eight years of self‑funded growth, the brand secured its first external private‑equity investment, providing the capital needed to expand globally, strengthen
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Gallet’s revival, backed by Breitling’s House of Brands, targets the mid‑tier watch segment with prices ranging from about $2,900 to $6,700. By leveraging Breitling’s manufacturing scale and distribution network, the relaunched brand offers Swiss‑made pieces that aim to combine heritage design with aggressive
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Chronext, a Swiss‑based secondary market platform for high‑value watches, has partnered with Nuvei to implement a payment protection system that secures funds in a regulated environment until transaction requirements are met. This protected payment flow gives buyers confidence that their money is safeguarded throughout the process, while sellers
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George Bamford, founder and managing director of Bamford Watch Department and Bamford London, has been appointed joint chairman of JCB, the 80‑year‑old construction equipment giant. The move signals his father’s intention for George, now 45, to succeed as head of the family business, while Bamford assures that
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Richard Mille has become the official timekeeping partner for GB1, the British America’s Cup Challenger, supporting the team’s campaign toward the 2027 race. The collaboration highlights both brands’ commitment to innovation and performance, aligning Mille’s cutting‑edge watchmaking with GB1’s competitive sailing ambitions. The article also
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The Caran d’Ache × MB&F GorillaSharpener transforms a classic Swiss pencil‑sharpening device into a 150 mm tall, knuckle‑walking desk sculpture, limited to 300 pieces in Alpine Frost blue. Designed by Maximilian Maertens, it combines zinc alloy, steel, chrome‑plated components and muscular gorilla limbs, while still
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TimeVallée, the multibrand luxury watch concept created by Richemont, has opened its first store in Cairo, expanding the brand’s global network to more than 50 locations. The new boutique, located in Downtown Katameya, offers a 2,500‑square‑foot showroom featuring brands such as Baume & Mercier, Cartier, IWC
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Norqain is expanding its UK and Ireland distribution through a new partnership with the Watches of Switzerland Group, launching its watches at Goldsmiths stores in the Trafford Centre and Lakeside, and making them available online via Watches of Switzerland, Goldsmiths, and Mappin & Webb. The partnership marks the first time
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Bucherer’s UK sales grew by 11% to £109.2 million, while operating profit more than tripled to £3.5 million in the latest financial year. After losing its ground‑floor concession at Selfridges in January 2025, the retailer shifted its focus to its Covent Garden store, which has delivered
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Swiss watch exports have turned positive for the first time in two years, with overall sales rising by 1.7% year‑to‑date and the twelve‑month moving average increasing after a 9.1% surge in August. While the United States remains the largest market, exports there fell 8.3%
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Northern Ireland‑based entrepreneur Nico Leonard van der Horst is rebranding his pre‑owned watch business, Pride & Pinion, under his own name as Nico Leonard Watches. The company, incorporated in December 2025, will replace the original brand that launched in 2019 and currently offers around 150 watches ranging from
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The Watch & Jewellery Initiative 2030 report reveals that consumers hold around 97,000 tonnes of gold and 790,000 tonnes of silver in watches and jewellery, a quantity exceeding the output of most active mines this decade. By leveraging recycled metals, repair, resale, and take‑back schemes, the industry
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The Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) has entered a strategic partnership with the Gemological Institute of America’s (GIA) School of Gemology and Jewelry Arts to expand educational opportunities in watchmaking and jewelry. Leveraging GIA’s extensive global infrastructure, the collaboration will create new certification programs, training courses, and instructional resources
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Watches and Wonders 2027 will expand its roster to 75 brands, adding ten newcomers such as Berneron, Porsche Design, and Singer Reimagined. The event, scheduled for April 5‑11 in Geneva’s Palexpo, will showcase a diverse mix of established houses like Rolex, Cartier, and Patek Philippe alongside fresh entrants,
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The 2026 Emmy Awards showcased an impressive array of luxury timepieces, with celebrities opting for both classic and avant‑garde designs. Highlights included Matthew Rhys’s diamond‑encrusted Hublot Classic Fusion, Noah Wyle’s newly revived Cartier Tank à Guichets, and Michael J. Fox’s Omega Constellation Observatory, each reflecting
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Rado celebrated the opening of its first Australian standalone boutique on Melbourne’s high street, located at 298 Collins Street. The event on August 27 2026 featured brand ambassadors Cameron Green and Ash Barty, Rado’s CEO Adrian Bosshard, Australian Brand Manager Michael Graham, and Melbourne’s Lord Mayor Nicholas
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Ming has introduced an affordable “diffusion line” called Donut Watch Company, expanding its reach to value‑conscious consumers. The inaugural model, the Glazed, is a 35 mm automatic watch featuring polished stainless steel, distinctive flying‑blade lugs, and a translucent frosted dial that reveals a Japanese movement beneath. Its design
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Christophe Claret has emerged from insolvency through a strategic joint venture with Lotus Singapore Group, creating a new Swiss entity, Lotus Two AG, that acquired the brand’s name, assets, and intellectual property while leaving the original company untouched. This partnership provides the financial and organizational backbone needed for the
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Antoine Pin, formerly of LVMH, has taken the helm at De Bethune, aiming to grow the independent watchmaker by emphasizing artistry, craftsmanship, and the philosophical vision of founder Denis Flageollet rather than relying on scarcity. Pin believes that genuine desire stems from showcasing the brand’s applied‑art approach and
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Timex is expanding its traditionally affordable range with the Atelier line, a Swiss‑made collection that pushes the brand into the entry‑level luxury segment with prices approaching $2,000. Launched in 2025, the sub‑brand showcases mechanical movements, sapphire crystals, exhibition casebacks and refined case and bracelet designs, positioning
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The theft at the Hôtel Plaza Athénée in Paris involved two men who accessed a seventh‑floor room by climbing the building’s façade and entering through an open bay window. Inside, they stole a Richard Mille watch valued at approximately €639,000 and additional jewelry, bringing the total loot
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The 2026 WatchPro USA Awards celebrated the American watch industry’s top performers across 28 categories, honoring both retailers and brands for excellence in presentation, customer service, innovation, and marketing. Retail accolades highlighted standout stores such as Larchmont Jewelers, TIMELUXE in Miami, and London Jewelers, while brands like Rolex, Omega,
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Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduces a new S11 processor and Health Sensing System that deliver highly accurate heart‑rate monitoring, measuring heart rate every five seconds and increasing heart‑rate variability readings up to 24 times. The device adds a Readiness score that combines activity, training load, sleep and vital
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Arnaud Michon, who served as Omega’s USA brand president and Swatch Group’s country manager, is leaving the watch industry to become president and CEO of Americas for the jewelry brand Messika. His career includes seven years at Cartier, three at Chaumet, and a progression at Omega from managing
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Nico Leonard, a prominent Instagram influencer and secondary‑market watch trader, sparked controversy by labeling Christopher Ward watches “an embarrassment” and “a copy machine with a logo on it.” His harsh criticism triggered a swift backlash from the brand’s dedicated fan community, many of whom defended the British maker’
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Anton Rupert has been appointed non‑executive co‑deputy chairman of Richemont’s board, taking responsibility for the Strategic Product and Communications Committee across the group’s brands. In this role he will oversee creative and commercial direction, ensuring continuity and reinforcing the family’s long‑term succession plan, while
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Reliance on Switzerland’s short‑time working (RHT) scheme has sharply declined as watch manufacturers and component suppliers shift toward permanent cost‑cutting measures, including reduced investment, lower production capacity and staff reductions. After peaking at around 120 companies in early 2025, usage fell to just over 20 by April
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The Temporis International Awards 2026 invites watch enthusiasts worldwide to vote for their favorite timepieces among 78 finalists spanning 13 categories. Highlighting the theme “Time, Unwritten,” the competition showcases a blend of established maisons and independent creators, with brands such as A. Lange & Söhne, Parmigiani Fleurier, Armin Strom, Cartier,
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Hublot has announced a partnership with renowned contemporary artist Jeff Koons, appointing him as the brand’s Global Ambassador. The collaboration merges Hublot’s “Art of Fusion” philosophy with Koons’ iconic style, emphasizing shared interests in material innovation and transforming everyday objects into cultural symbols. Their joint effort celebrates a
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The piece highlights the most notable timepieces showcased at the U.S. Open, beginning with Jimmy Fallon’s display of an ultra‑rare Rolex Daytona “Paul Newman” Ref. 6239. This vintage model, distinguished by its panda‑dial configuration and stainless‑steel case, is renowned for fetching between $100,000 and
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Phillips raised CHF 115,500 for watchmaking education at its fourth annual charity auction during Geneva Watch Days, with all proceeds supporting the Pierre Amstutz Fund and scholarships for apprentices facing financial hardship. The auction, held on September 3, featured 16 unique lots, including a standout piece by Konstantin Chaykin
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Breitling’s private equity owner Partners Group is racing against a €6 billion debt refinancing deadline, with the bulk of the obligations tied to three portfolio companies—including the Swiss watchmaker itself. While the firm stresses that the businesses are not under stress and remains confident in its financial position,
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Rolex will auction four uniquely crafted Daytona watches, each representing a different season and featuring rare gem‑setting, on September 28 in London with Phillips. The proceeds are pledged to the Federer Foundation and Leonardo DiCaprio’s re:wild, supporting youth development and environmental conservation. The set, valued at roughly
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Robert Pattinson has been appointed as the new Global Ambassador for Jaeger‑LeCoultre, joining the Swiss watchmaker in a campaign centered on the Master Control Chronometre, a recent addition to the brand’s collection. The partnership highlights a shared appreciation for authenticity, craftsmanship, and creative storytelling, with Pattinson emphasizing that
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Czapek & Cie celebrated the opening of its new flagship boutique at Quai des Bergues 27 in Geneva, a historic address linked to the brand’s origins in 1839. To mark the occasion, the house launched two special editions: the Quai des Bergues Midnight, a 40.5 mm stainless‑steel
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Czapek & Cie celebrated the opening of its new flagship boutique at Quai des Bergues 27 in Geneva, a historic address linked to the brand’s origins in 1839. To mark the occasion, the house launched two special editions: the Quai des Bergues Midnight, a 40.5 mm stainless‑steel
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The warning from F.P. Journe highlights a surge in counterfeit watches, especially the Élégante line, which has seen prices sky‑rocket on the secondary market. Counterfeiters are producing “super fakes” that closely mimic genuine models, using high‑quality materials and sophisticated movements, making them difficult to detect. Recent data