Industry New: Richemont Reports Sales up by 8% For Third Quarter, Jewellery Taking the Lead over Watches
Switzerland-based luxury conglomerate Richemont Group has just issued its trading update for the nine months ended 31 December 2023. The group, which includes brands such as Cartier, IWC, JLC and Vacheron, reports sales up by 8% at constant exchange rates and by 4% at actual exchange rates to EUR 5.6 billion for the last quarter of 2023. At EUR 15.8 billion, sales over the nine-month period ending December 2023 increased by 11% at constant exchange rates and by 5% at actual exchange rates.In an uncertain macro-economic and geopolitical environment, Richemont reports growth for the last quarter of 2023 in almost all regions, business areas and channels at constant exchange rates. The growth was led by Japan (+18%) and Asia Pacific (+13%), Middle East & Africa (+10%) and the Americas (+8%) but contracted by 3% in Europe. The retail network had sales up +11% versus +4% for the wholesale network while online retail had sales down -5%.By business area, Jewellery Maisons (Bucellati, Cart

Introducing The New Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III
Introduced in 2013, the Jazzmaster Face-2-Face brings Hamilton’s innovative watchmaking expertise and flair for unconventional design to the fore. Today,?Hamilton introduces the third chapter in its fascinating Face-2-Face saga with a swivelling case and two dials with chronograph functions on one and measurement scales and an openworked movement on the other. ?In a departure from the large oval-shaped cases of the preceding models, the new?Hamilton Jazzmaster Face-2-Face III?comes in a more compact 44mm round case at an even more accessible price. An out-of-the-ordinary watch, the double-faced Jazzmaster is a limited edition of 999 watches.Quirky designsHamilton, the American watch brand that became a Swiss subsidiary of Swatch Group in 2003, revolutionised the watch scene by producing the world’s first electrical battery-operated watch in 1957, the Ventura. That might have been enough to secure its place in the annals of watch history, but it also stood out with its odd s

IWC Launches Low-Impact TimberTex Paper-Based Straps
Throughout over 150 years of history, IWC has had a long tradition of innovation in materials. Think for instance about its early use of titanium together with Porsche Design, or the 1986 Da Vinci Chronograph Perpetual Calendar, which was the?world's first pure ceramic watch. Even recently, the brand introduced Ceratanium, a innovative blend of titanium and ceramic. Today, the brand unveils another material innovation, however, the spirit behing this creation is different. Today is all about?responsible watchmaking and low-impact, yet?high-quality alternatives to animal leather. Here are the new IWC TimberTex straps. Green initiatives are now flourishing in all industries, and for good reasons. More and more people are concerned about the environment or questions such as animal welfare and even the luxury industry has to find answers to such issues. Soucing materials without impact our planet is more than important, it is crucial for our future. This is why IWC h

Weekly Watch Photo - IWC Big Pilot's Watch - Monochrome Watches
IWC totally understands how to promote their watches. I think they’ve been looking closely at what watch fans have been doing at forums and what Monochrome also does once a week… sharing beautiful photos of beautiful watches.For the launch of the new Pilot’s watch collection, IWC created a set of very cool photos of their newest timepieces. We already showed you photos of the new Pilot's Watch Chronograph Top Gun Miramar and the Pilot’s Watch Mark XVII. Today we show you the Big Pilot’s Watch ref. 5009 and the Top Gun and Top Gun Miramar Editions.When IWC released the first Big Pilot’s Watch (ref. 5002) in 2002 it was, together with Panerai, THE watch that changed the fashion of the watch world from what we call now-a-days ‘medium-size’ to BIG. In those days, any watch larger that 40/41 mm in diameter was considered large. I still recall people saying my TAG Heuer Monaco (square case, 38 x 38 mm) being very big. Imagine how much the perce

Video - Moon Landing 50 - How The Omega Speedmaster Professional Became the Moonwatch, By James H. Ragan
Exactly 50 years ago, mankind accomplished an impressive journey. For the first time in history, a human being walked on soil that wasn’t Earth, on an astronomical body that wasn’t its natural habitat. On July 20th 1969, two men walked on the Moon. Their names: Armstrong and Aldrin. Their mission: Apollo 11. On their wrists, a watch that would become a legend, earning its name as the “Moonwatch”. This is the story that made the Omega Speedmaster Professional an icon.Two years ago, in partnership with Omega, we produced one of our most ambitious series of videos, “The Speedmaster Chronicles” in which five men shed their light on one of the most iconic watches ever created: the Omega Speedmaster Professional “Moonwatch”. Since we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing today, we thought it was the perfect time to take a look back at some of these episodes. Ad - Scroll to continue with article