Author Archive for Joe Thompson

The Man Behind the Brand: George Graham

Sixteen years ago, two young men born and raised in the Swiss watch town of La Chaux-de-Fonds and working in the watch industry teamed up with the notion of getting their own watch brand. The question confronting Eric Loth and Pierre-André Finazzi was which brand? The Swiss names they wanted, they couldn’t afford. The French brands they could afford, they didn’t want.

THE MAN BEHIND THE BRAND: Daniel JeanRichard

(This is the first of a series of articles on historical watchmakers whose names have been revived as contemporary watch brands.)

In 1986, Luigi (Gino) Macaluso, a Swiss watch distributor in Italy, bought the rights to the name Daniel JeanRichard from Lemania, the Swiss movement manufacturer. Daniel JeanRichard was not a watch brand. It is the name of a 17th century Swiss watchmaker, who was an extremely important, if obscure, figure in the development of the Swiss watch industry.

1969: Seiko’s Breakout Year

When it comes to anniversaries, the once generally ignored 40 is the new 50. This year has been marked by a parade of 40th anniversary bashes: Woodstock, the moon landing, and in watches, the legendary Zenith El Primero movement. Now, with two weeks left in the year, there is still one monster anniversary to go for watch lovers.

What Are These Guys Up To?

TechnoMarine made a big splash a decade ago. A new team is hoping to do it again.

The image of (left to right) Christian Viros, Vincent Perriard, and Steven Cohen, nearly up to their necks in water, is designed to make us wonder what these three bobbing Pep Boys are up to. The image is apt because that’s exactly the question lots of people in the watch world are asking.

Summer Reading: Five Great Watch Books

You’ve got about a month to get to that summer reading that you promised yourself you would do. If you are in the mood for a whale of a watch tale, here are five books guaranteed to please.

Rolex Leads U.S. Watch Advertiser Pack

U.S. luxury watch king Rolex was the top watch advertiser by far in the United States in 2008. TNS Media Intelligence, which tracks watch advertising across 17 media categories, estimates that Rolex spent $49.30 million on ad placements last year. The figure is more than $20 million more than the number two advertiser, Breitling, which spent $28.92 million, according to TNS.

Downturn Batters Watch Industry

The evidence is mounting that the long and bitter global recession is taking a severe toll on the Swiss watch industry. With demand for watches down nearly everywhere, Swiss watch firms are cutting production and jobs. So far this year, Swiss watch firms have laid off more than 1,000 people, according to Swiss press reports.

Zeitwerk: Lange’s New Face

Since its launch in 1994, the Lange 1 watch has been the “face” of Germany’s A. Lange & Söhne. The Lange 1, with its offcenter hour and minute dial and its patented oversized, double-disc date indicator inspired by the famous Five Minute numerical clock in Dresden’s Semper Opera House, has taken its place among horology’s design icons. For the past 15 years, that watch has been Lange’s most recognized and most important model.

Now, though, Lange is presenting a watch that it calls its “new face” and its most important launch since the Lange 1.