Recommended Reading: Piaget CEO Chabi Nouri Talks About Being One Of The Few Women At The Top Of Richemont

As you may know, there have been some major shake ups at Richemont lately. George Kerns was announced as the new Head of Watchmaking, Marketing, and Digital and Jerome Lambert was announced as the Head of Operations – both gentlemen getting board seats in the process. In addition, back in February, Richemont announced that Chabi Nouri would be the new CEO of Piaget. This is huge news, not only because it represents a continued change at Richemont, but also because Nouri is one of very few women to hold a global CEO position at any Richemont maison.

9 years ago

Business News: Latest FH Figures Show Continued Decline In Exports And A Not-So-Optimistic Outlook

According to the latest figures reported by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), February 2017 showed a continued decline in exports, year over year. The FH report states, “Watch industry exports declined further in the month of February. At 1.5 billion Francs, their value was 10% lower than in February 2016, still in line with the downturn reported for the whole of last year.” In addition, analysis of 2016 overall showed significant forces continuing to weigh on Swiss watch exports.

9 years ago

First Look – Ultra-Cool, Affordable and Very Omega – The New Railmaster Master Chronometer Collection

At Baselworld 2017, when arriving on the Omega Watches booth, there was the 1957 Trilogy (Speedmaster, Seamaster, Railmaster). Believe us, these watches are insanely desirable, perfectly executed, highly faithful, and… sold out. We’ll have a closer look at them in a few days. Still there was another watch full of interest, a watch that truly represent what Omega was, is and should be, the new Omega Railmaster Master Chronometer Collection: affordable, toolish, greatly powered, well proportioned and overall, just cool. A discreet star of the show, that we’re about to look closer.

9 years ago

Introducing: The Third Generation Bell & Ross Vintage Collection, Including Two Three-Handers And A Chronograph

Vintage-inspired watches are nothing new for Bell & Ross, which has been way ahead of that trend for years. In fact, this is the third generation of the Vintage collection, and it’s far and away the most sophisticated yet. There are two three-hand models, one sportier than the other, and an awesome twin-register chronograph to round things out, and the entire collection perfectly captures that old-school pilot’s watch aesthetic that never seems to be out of style. That these are budget-friendly tickers only adds to the appeal.

9 years ago

HANDS-ON: And now for something completely different – the Hublot Big Bang Rainbow Sapphire

The Hublot booth at Baselworld is a busy place, a multi-level monolith that’s more akin to a mini city than a trade show stand. We spent a few hours there, taking photos, shooting video and generally getting acquainted with the new collection. We had the door of our little room open, and we could hear the constant, polite hubbub that, in a lot of ways, defines Basel. One French phrase made its way repeatedly to our ears – ‘La Rainbow’. Curiosity got the better of us and we asked to see this rainbow everyone was talking about. A few minutes later a covered tray appeared in the room, and La Rainbow was unveiled. The Big Bang Unico Sapphire Rainbow, to give this piece its proper name, is one heck of a watch. Like the rest of Hublot’s sapphire-cased watches it’s housed in a 45mm Big Bang case, crafted from ice-like sapphire, with a composite resin dial which allows a clear view of the HUB1242 flyback chrono movement. So far so sapphire. The bezel though is something else entirely. The base is 18K white gold, and it’s set with 48 baguette cut stones – sapphires, rubies, topazes and tsavorites – in all the colours…

The post HANDS-ON: And now for something completely different – the Hublot Big Bang Rainbow Sapphire appeared first on Time and Tide Watches.

9 years ago

Introducing: The Sinn EZM 12 ‘Einsatzzeitmesser’ (Live Pics & Pricing)

There very well might be no watch company more devoted to the creation of purpose-built tool watches than Frankfurt-based Sinn. And there are definitely no Sinn watches more purpose-built than those in the Einsatzzeitmesser series. Einsatzzeitmesser means “mission timer” in German, and Sinn has now devoted a dozen watches to timing various specific missions (fire rescue, SWAT teams, military divers, etc.), the latest being this year’s new EZM 12, which was designed to suit the very unique needs of air rescue professionals. I got to check it out at Baselworld last week, and boy was I impressed.

9 years ago

Introducing: The Patek Philippe Aquanaut Travel Time Ref. 5650G Advanced Research

One of the most interesting technical presentations this year came from Patek Philippe, whose Advanced Research Program announced two new innovations. This is the sort of thing that, unfairly or not, tends to take a back seat to more quickly graspable hot news. However, it’s something worth paying attention to. The two innovations announced aren’t necessarily super sexy at first glance, but they offer, on the one hand, a new system for activating a complication that uses no conventional pivots; and as well, a new method of forming a balance spring that allows Patek to offer shockingly good stability rate stability: just -1/+2 per day, in general production watches. That’s news.

9 years ago

Baselworld 2017 – Porsche Design 1919 Datetimer Eternity All Titanium, now in Blue

This year, at Baselworld 2017, Porsche Design adds a significant new timepiece to the collection in the form of the Porsche Design Monobloc Actuator 24h Chronotimer. Apart from this major novelty, the brand also expands existing collections. While the Monobloc Actuator is inspired by the classic 1970’s titanium chronographs with the pushers integrated in the case, the new addition to the 1919 collection is a more subtle one. Nothing innovative, but still worth mentioning: the Porsche Design 1919 Datetimer Eternity All Titanium Blue.

9 years ago

In The Shop: A 1960s Omega Genève ‘Admiralty’ Reference 135.015, A 1940s Gallet MultiChron 30M ‘Clamshell’ Chronograph, And A 1974 Piaget Dress Watch In White Gold

There is truly something for everyone this week – we’re firing on all cylinders over here. For sporty chronographs we have a Breitling Top Time reference 2002 with a gorgeous reverse panda dial and a wonderfully hefty Heuer Autavia reference 11630. On the other end of the spectrum, in the realm of dress watches, we’ve found a stunning white gold Piaget. A beautiful ladies’ Rolex Oyster Perpetual reference 6917 in impeccable condition and a fun military-inspired Omega Admiralty round out our return from Baselworld this week.

9 years ago