Archive for December, 2009

Is the Sales Decline Slowing?

The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH reports that November recorded the highest monthly value of the year for Swiss watch exports, and also the most moderate decline at -10.6% compared with November, 2008. The report notes that while the November figures are negative, they represent a marked improvement over prior months. For 2009 overall, levels remain low however, with exports down 23.7% for the first 11 months.

Luminox Sponsors USA Olympic Bobsled and Skeleton Team

The U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Team is well on the way to achieving medal-level victory in the Winter 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, in February, and Luminox is a proud partner in the team’s effort. Both the men’s and women’s teams have been performing with outstanding success on the 2009-2010 World Cup tour. The U.S. team has collected 13 medals to date, five of them gold. Reigning World Champion Steven Holcomb contributed six medals to the overall count after adding four gold medals to his growing resume, and currently leads in four-man standings.

Swatch Group Chairman Wants to Stop Deliveries to Competitors

Reuters is reporting that in a recent interview published in the Swiss daily l’agefi, Swatch Group Chairman Nicolas Hayek said the group plans to stop selling watch parts to other brands. Swatch Group supplies movements and crucial components to many brands through its ETA unit. “We no longer intend to produce or deliver to third-party watchmakers,” Hayek was quoted as saying.

Beyond Tiger: Watches, Celebs, and Scandal

If, in the wake of the Tiger Woods scandal, you were wondering about the status of his endorsement deal with TAG Heuer, you need only check the company’s Web site for the answer. As this is written, the TAG Heuer home page features a statement from brand CEO Jean-Christophe Babin that “The partnership with Tiger Woods will continue,” while acknowledging that the use of his image in certain markets will be downscaled, “depending upon his decision about returning to professional golf.”

Seiko Donates Spring Drive Spacewalk Sale Proceeds to Charities

On September 17, 2009, the Seiko Spring Drive Spacewalk watch that was taken into space by Richard Garriott was auctioned at Antiquorum’s New York sale. The sale generated lively bidding, and the selling price exceeded both the reserve and the pre-sale estimate. Seiko has now donated the sale proceeds to the two charities that Richard Garriott supports, the Nature Conservancy and the Challenger Center for Space Science Education.

Frederic de Narp New President and CEO at Harry Winston, Inc.

Harry Winston Diamond Corporation has announced the appointment of Frederic de Narp as President and CEO of Harry Winston, Inc., its New York-based jewelry and watch subsidiary, effective January 4, 2010. Mr. de Narp previously served as President and CEO of Cartier North America. He succeeds Tom O’Neill who led Harry Winston, Inc. over the last 5 years. Mr. de Narp joined Cartier in 1991, and was named president and CEO of Cartier North America in 2005.

Navy SEALs Test Jaeger-LeCoultre in the Field

When the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum hosted its 24th annual Veterans Day Ceremony (known as the “Muster”) at Fort Pierce, Florida, members of the Jaeger-LeCoultre North American team were on hand to witness and participate in the activities, including a 5K race, a live auction, and a live capabilities demonstration preformed by US Navy SEALs. The ceremony honored several guests including Adm. Eric Olson, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, and guest speaker Capt. Richard Phillips, former captain of the Maersk Alabama, who was held captive by pirates off the coast of Somalia before being rescued by the Navy SEALs.

Hublot Launches Bode Bang With Charity Tennis Event

Four-time World Champion skier Bode Miller recently launched the new Hublot limited edition Bode Bang watch with a celebrity tennis match at Sutton East Tennis Club in New York City. The participants gathered to support Bode’s relationship with the Harlem Junior Tennis and Education Program. Following the Celebrity Challenge, Bode led a basic tennis clinic with 50+ kids and then, along with Hublot, (on behalf of the Turtle Ridge Foundation) donated $10,000 to the organization.

Glashütte Original Senator Chronometer

Glashütte Original’s Senator Chronometer generated strong buzz among collectors and enthusiasts at this year’s Baselworld, and as of December, 2009, the watch is available at retailers. This is GO’s first timepiece to confirm its timekeeping accuracy with an official chronometer certificate from the observatory in Glashütte, issued under German standard DIN 8319. The DIN standard provides for testing fully assembled watches, while the Swiss COSC test involves uncased movements. Like COSC, the German tests involve timing in different positions and at different temperatures, and the basic timing standard is -4 to +6 seconds.

The Senator Chronometer’s redesigned manual winding manufacture Caliber 58-01 movement incorporates a new stop-seconds reset mechanism, illustrated below. The mechanism makes synchronizing the hour and minute hands automatic. Pulling the crown stops the time display and causes the second hand to jump to 12, where it remains; the minute hand moves simultaneously to the next full minute. When the crown is turned to set the time, the minute hand stops only on the indication of the full minute, assuring the correct relationship between the minutes and seconds displayed.

The 42mm Senator Chronometer is available in rose gold ($26,900) or white gold ($28,000) with a silver dial and a black alligator strap with folding clasp.

2009 Filled with Awards for A. Lange & Söhne

2009 proved to be a very successful year for A. Lange & Söhne. With a total of 21 international awards, it is in fact the most successful year in the history of the brand, which was re-established in 1990. Since the presentation of the first collection, the timepieces made in Saxony have won more than 130 prizes, including 81 first prizes.