Author Archive for Mark Bernardo

Geneva Unconventionals

Every year, Richemont Group’s luxury watch brands, plus a handful of large, independent brands, exhibit their new watches at SIHH in Geneva’s labyrinthine Palexpo Center. This year, 38 small, independent watch brands put on their own show called the Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE) at the International Geneva Conference Center, in the heart of downtown, near the famed Place des Nations.

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.”

Omega President Stephen Urquhart: The WatchTime Interview

With its marketing blitz for the 40th anniversary Moon Watch, the opening of its own boutique on New York’s fashionable Fifth Avenue, and the long-term renewal of its official Olympic timing deal, 2009 has been a big year for Swiss-watch powerhouse Omega. WatchTime recently conducted an exclusive interview with the brand’s president, Stephen Urquhart, in the New York boutique, shortly after the Olympics announcement, to discuss that and a variety of other topics of interest to watch aficionados.

Scenes From Inside Basel-Geneva 2009 New York

If you were looking for reasons to be more upbeat about the U.S. economy this week, there were a few to be found. You could have watched Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke on the TV news proclaiming that the recession is over. Or you could’ve had a lot more fun by attending this year’s largest-ever “Inside Basel-Geneva” watch collectors’ event in New York, hosted by WatchTime and noted watch expert Jeff Kingston.

Inside Basel-Geneva 2009 New York, page 2

IBG 2009 New York guests…

Dinner gets under way

Joe Thompson introduces Jeff

Jeff’s presentation begins..

That’s the end of this show. You can still catch IBG 2009 in Chicago on September 29, and in Dallas October 1. Click here to register. We hope to see you there!

Click here to return to the WatchTime.com home page

Thirty Minutes with Richard Mille

In 1999, Richard Mille left his position as CEO of the Mauboussin watch and jewelry house to launch his own watch brand. His first model, the groundbreaking RM 001 — with its ultramodern design and technically fascinating movement made by Renaud et Papi — set the stage for the line, which has since become one of the leading “artisan” watch brands on the market.

Riding the Shock Wave

When attending gala events at glitzy venues like Cipriani at historic 55 Wall Street in New York City, it is not uncommon to see ice sculptures among the décor. However, the ones at last week’s “Shock the World 2009” event, hosted by Casio, would’ve given most anyone pause: inside them were watches, frozen in place like flies in amber.

A Rose Gold by Any Other Name…

An oft-discussed topic among watch aficionados – and one that arises for us reporters each year during Basel and Geneva – is what differentiates rose gold from pink gold from red gold. I’ve been looking into how the brands use these terms, and this year, as in the past, the answers I come away with are: Everything. Or nothing. Clear?

Ulysse Nardin’s Smartphone: Where Tech Meets Mech

As exciting as it is to experience all the new watches at the Baselworld watch fair, there is always the risk of “watch overload” setting in, which is why the occasional, rare foray into Accessories Land is often a welcome diversion. Usually, these items are limited to devices such as winders and clocks, but I found this year’s most intriguing accessory gleaming under a spotlight behind one of the porthole-shaped vitrines of Ulysse Nardin’s nautical-themed booth: namely, the company’s new Chairman Smartphone.