Swiss Watch Industry

FEATURE

Chronomania: The 50+-Year History of the Automatic Chronograph

Fifty years ago, the consortium of Heuer-Leonidas, Breitling, Buren-Hamilton and Dubois Dépraz vied with lone wolves Zenith and Seiko in the race to launch the world’s first automatic chronograph movement. How did these brands keep their developments secret? And how did the watch world change? We searched the past for clues.

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Jul 16, 2021 by WatchTime

FEATURE

On the Cusp: A Brief History of the Zenith El Primero

Zenith’s El Primero automatic chronograph caliber — unveiled to the world 50 years ago this year, in 1969 — is regarded as one of the world’s best and most accurate movements. In this historical feature from the WatchTime archives, contributor Thomas Gronenthal takes a look at its development.

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Jul 12, 2021 by WatchTime

It’s Official: WatchTime New York Returns to Gotham Hall in October

With the world, and the watch industry, finally beginning to emerge from a year-plus period of pandemic-driven lockdowns, business closures, and gathering restrictions, WatchTime is proud to announce that its popular autumn collectors’ extravaganza, WatchTime New York, will return this year as a live, in-person event after being removed from the calendar in favor of...

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Jul 1, 2021 by WatchTime

Bucherer USA President Ira Melnitsky on Re-Opening Plans, New Logo for Re-Branded Time Machine Stores

Switzerland-based Bucherer, Europe’s leading retailer for watches and jewelry, announced the acquisition of Tourneau LLC, the largest luxury watch seller in the United States, back in January 2018. Since then, the watch industry and those who follow and cover it have anxiously awaited what this merger of timepiece titans will mean for both companies and...

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Jun 28, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

Vacheron Constantin & WatchTime Pop the Champagne At NYC Flagship Opening Event

Last week, Vacheron Constantin welcomed WatchTime Magazine and its readers to one the first viewings at its new New York City flagship boutique. The event was hosted by Vacheron Constantin President of the Americas Alexander Schmiedt, and included a cocktail hour followed by a presentation and discussion between Schmiedt and WatchTime’s Senior Editor, Mark Bernardo....

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Jun 28, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

Sponsored: How Chrono24 Elevated the Status of Online Secondhand Watch Buying

Have you noticed that the watch collecting community is rarely whispering about the so-called “gray market” these days, and has instead become deeply engaged with discovering valuable pre-owned watches, hunting down prized “unicorn” timepieces, and embracing the thrill of side-stepping the impossible wait lists for certain new models? Chrono24 has not only been at the...

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Jun 23, 2021 by WatchTime

Highlights from WatchTime’s May-June 2021 Issue, On Sale Now

The May-June issue of WatchTime is available at retailers (and in our online store) today. Among the highlights of the issue are our cover feature showcasing the new IWC Big Pilot’s Watch 43, an in-depth review of the first Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch equipped with the revived Caliber 321, a comprehensive analysis of how the COVID-19...

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May 12, 2021 by WatchTime

Running On Air: The History of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Atmos Clock

Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Atmos clocks, whose ingenious, near-perpetual mechanical movements are driven by air temperature changes, have been pushing the boundaries of horology and design since the 1930s. We explore their fascinating history and avant-garde evolution in this feature from the WatchTime archives. Before wristwatches came pocketwatches, and before pocketwatches came clocks. All the venerable watchmaking maisons...

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Apr 27, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

TimeOut With WatchTime Returns This Thursday, March 18!

This coming Thursday, March 18, at 12:00 PM EST, WatchTime hosts the third in our series of “TimeOut” virtual presentations, presented on Zoom, in which WatchTime editors and contributors discuss, debate, and shed light on all subjects related to watches and the watch industry. In the upcoming session, WatchTime Editor-in-Chief Roger Ruegger and Senior Editor...

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Mar 15, 2021 by WatchTime

Breitling Launches #BreitlingSelect, a New Mono-brand Watch Subscription Program

On March 9, Swiss watchmaker Breitling unveiled its latest initiative in the new #BreitlingSelect program, a mono-brand watch subscription service. The program, which according to Breitling is the first subscription service to be offered by a singular independent brand, is the company’s latest effort towards expanding its reach to a larger audience, after its previous...

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Mar 15, 2021 by Caleb Anderson

The WatchTime Q&A: Parmigiani Fleurier Founder Michel Parmigiani

Master watchmaker Michel Parmigiani, founder of Parmigiani Fleurier, turned 70 in 2020, and the eponymous maison he founded in 1996 is commemorating this milestone birthday with the Toric Heritage, a limited-edition timepiece that takes its design cues, appropriately, from the first wristwatch that he ever designed. We spoke with Parmigiani about his trailblazing career in...

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Jan 29, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

Sponsored: 5 Reasons to Secure Your Watch Collection with HODINKEE Insurance

Launched in late 2020, HODINKEE Insurance is designed to take the complexity out of insuring a watch collection — streamlining the process, eliminating paperwork, and providing peace of mind. That peace comes from knowing your watches are fully protected by two of the most trusted names in their respective industries — leading watch media and...

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Jan 29, 2021 by WatchTime

The WatchTime Q&A: Chrono24 Founder and Co-CEO Tim Stracke

Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic, leading online luxury-watch marketplace Chrono24 achieved a wildly successful year in 2020, generating a 25 percent increase in volume and $2.4 billion in transactions. How did the company, which offers a platform for watch dealers, private sellers, and enthusiasts in more than 100 countries, pull off...

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Jan 15, 2021 by Mark Bernardo

WatchTime Live 2020: View All The Panels and Presentations

From October 21 to October 24, WatchTime hosted its very first WatchTime Live virtual event, an unprecedented online festival including the industry’s top brands, leaders, writers, and collectors for four days of presentations, panels, and discussions. Below you can find each of these videos, with more highlights planned for the weeks and months to come....

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Oct 31, 2020 by WatchTime

The Show Must Go On(line): WatchTime Launches its First All-Digital Event

We knew this year would be different. We just didn’t know how different. A renamed and re-scheduled SIHH; a smaller and struggling Baselworld; LVMH, Seiko Group, and Movado Group branching off with their own events — we who follow and cover the watch industry were prepared for a crazy, unpredictable 2020, but little did we...

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Oct 6, 2020 by WatchTime

The Watchmakers’ Award: How the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève Became the Industry’s Gold Standard

Created in 2001, the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG) has established itself as the most important award show in the industry. Here's a look back at how the event started, the performance of the competing brands and, just as important, how much the event has evolved over the last two decades.

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Sep 26, 2020 by Roger Ruegger

Sponsored: HODINKEE Launches Revolutionary New Digital Insurance Platform for Timepieces

Ever wish that insuring your high-end timepieces was less of a hassle, without all the appraisals, receipts, and conversations with an agent who might not know a Rolex from a Timex? Thanks to the enterprising watch experts at horological media and retail platform HODINKEE, that wish is now reality. To reimagine the watch insurance experience,...

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Sep 17, 2020 by WatchTime

Norqain Launches the Independence 20, Its First Watch with an Exclusive In-House Caliber

Following its partnership with mechanical movement manufacturer, Kenissi, the independent Swiss watchmaking brand, Norqain is presenting its first timepiece fitted with its exclusive Manufacture Caliber...

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Jul 30, 2020 by Corey Vlahos

The WatchTime Q&A: Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Catherine Rénier

Jaeger-LeCoultre, like most every luxury watch brand, has faced unprecedented challenges in 2020, but the Le Sentier-based manufacture has managed to capture accolades for the new models released under its “Sound Makers” theme, launched on the Watches & Wonders digital platform in April. As she enters her third year at the helm, Jaeger-LeCoultre CEO Catherine...

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Jun 26, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

The WatchTime Q&A: Officine Panerai CEO Jean-Marc Pontroué

In an interview conducted shortly after Watches & Wonders 2020, Jean-Marc Pontroué, CEO of Officine Panerai, spoke to WatchTime about how the company is planning to emerge from the worldwide health crisis, its continuing dedication to bringing new high-tech materials to watchmaking, and its commitment to environmental sustainability.

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Jun 9, 2020 by Mark Bernardo

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