Send us a text Czapek, the renowned Swiss watchmaker, celebrates its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of reviving the legacy of François Czapek, one of the most talented watchmakers of the 19th century. Known for blending contemporary design with classical elegance, Czapek has earned a reputation for exceptional craftsmanship, innovative movements, and refined aesthetics. Over the past decade, the brand has captivated enthusiasts with pieces like the Quai des Bergues, the Place Vendôme, and...
Send us a text The Eighth Annual Swiss Watcher is out! We invited Oliver Müller to break down the key moments of the past 12 months and explore what’s next based on current watch market trends. The result? Our longest piece of content ever—but we simply couldn't leave out this vital insight! 📉 Market Overview: After the post-COVID boom, the market is finally taking a downturn. This shift was anticipated and, to some extent, inevitable—especially in the secondary market. However, the reality ...
Send us a text The watch Oscars, the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève (GPHG), is coming into town! In a matter of days, we will find out who will get the "Aiguille d'Or" and see what the best timepieces of the year are, according to our beloved watch community. Just before the significant event, we sat down with the President of the GPHG, Raymond Loretan, to uncover the secrets of the Grand Prix, the GPHG Academy, and how his diplomatic career has helped him navigate the watchmaking realm. W...
Send us a text This year, the Swiss watch market is facing an unwelcome decline in export figures. However, there's no need to start panicking just yet. In this new episode of Watch Waking, we welcome Antoine Pin, the current Managing Director of Bvlgari Watches, soon-to-be CEO of Tag Heuer, and President of the Geneva Watch Association. He joins us to discuss the upcoming Geneva Watch Days, how the show can divert the challenging marketing trends, and the promising future of contemporary wat...
Send us a text In the new episode of Watch Waking, we met with Alexandre Catton, director of the EPHJ Trade Show - The World of High Precision. Together, we discussed those who are not always in the spotlight but without whom there’s a chance your watch wouldn’t be as nice as it is. ⚙️ Subcontractors and suppliers are not always the ones who come to mind when talking about your perfect timepiece. However, they are the driving force behind innovations and visionary inventions in watchmaking. T...
Send us a text Since their inception in the 1980s, wristwatch auctions have always attracted collectors and enthusiasts with rare and exceptional timepieces, price records and fantastic storytelling. For the new episode of Watch Waking, we met with Daryn Schnipper, Chairman of the International Watch Division and Senior Vice President at Sotheby's, to talk about her first wristwatch auction and how things changed in the past 40 years. Among other topics we discussed: - Recent scandal...
Send us a text In the watchmaking world, Rolex symbolises the essence of Swiss watches: exceptional quality, high desirability, and many secrets. Since the inception of this brand, there has been no academic research done on its strategies, and only a couple of books have been written on its history. For the new episode of WATCH WAKING, we met with Pierre-Yves Donzé, professor of business history at the Graduate School of Economics, Osaka University. He is the person who studied the phenomeno...
Send us a text When we discuss watch collecting, the words "classical" and "investment" most often come to mind. But what if even the process of acquiring the desired timepiece can be unconventional? In this new episode of Watch Waking, we met with Lorenzo Maillard and Maxime Couturier, the owners of the self-proclaimed outcast watch magazine "heist out", to discuss their upcoming one-of-a-kind underground sale with Sotheby's and the new dissident culture of watch collecting. Maillard and Cou...
Send us a text We enjoy our watches every day, revelling in the intrigue of which timepiece to select for a particular outfit or event. The excitement of sharing the story behind your watch or its mechanism with a fellow aficionado, or knowing that your time-telling piece is unique or part of a limited edition series with an exceptional complication beneath its simple dial, is unmatched. However, have you ever considered who is responsible for the design of your watch, making it appear precis...
Send us a text According to the Morgan Stanley report for 2023-2024, customers becoming more attentive to prioritising the environmental and social impacts of their purchases, prompting luxury brands to reevaluate not just their end products but their entire supply chains. This shift towards eco-consciousness is reshaping the industry, though progress can sometimes feel slow. The term "sustainability" can, at times, be misused for marketing purposes, leading to accusations of greenwashing rat...
Send us a text Hi everyone, Watch Waking is here! In the new episode of Watch Waking, we met Oliver R. Müller, the man behind numerous reports by Morgan Stanley on the state of the industry. He is a columnist and, most importantly, an expert in the watch business and luxury. Among other topics, we discussed the annual report of the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, attempting to discern why India might not emerge as the new China for Swiss watch exports. We explored the current trend o...
Send us a text Welcome to Watch Waking, the best Podcast for watch collectors, enthusiasts, and industry professionals looking to delve deeper into the fascinating world of horology. Watch Waking is an expert show broadcasting watchmaking in a way you’ve never heard before. It is designed for those who appreciate the precise art of watchmaking, the dynamics of the watch industry, and the timeless allure of meticulously crafted timepieces. Join Lisa and Inès on a captivating journ...
Send us a text A new year and a new season of our Podcast for the pleasure of your ears! This time we are planning to share with you not only PRIMETIME stories but also interviews which you can see on our YouTube, and even special reports available only in audio format. We hope you will enjoy this horological journey with us in 2024. And to begin.... Meet the extraordinary Daryn Schnipper – a powerhouse of brilliance, a horological connoisseur with a professional gaze, a diplomat par excel...
Send us a text Welcome to the festive edition of the PRIMETIME Watchmaking in the news. As 2023 draws to a close, we contemplate the significant watch scandals of the year, encompassing recent developments, and anticipate what 2024 holds, particularly with regards to price adjustments and new mergers and acquisitions. The positive note is that Swiss watch exports have once again achieved record-breaking figures, showcasing numerous exceptional timepieces and collaborations. But above all, we...
Send us a text Hello, and welcome to the PRIMETIME Watchmaking in the News where you can learn about the industry, watch events, watch scandals, and of course, new timepieces. October was rich on the news, and so will be November. But in this edition, we're talking about the obvious "elephant in the room" - the OnlyWatchgate. We discuss the upcoming auctions of Christie's, Phillips and Sotheby's with their fantastic lots and watch fairs worth visiting in November and onwards. And, of c...
Send us a text In this interview with Deloitte, we continue to monitor the latest trends in the Swiss watch industry and market for 2023 and provide a preview for 2024. Deloitte's most recent report, published on October 12th, comprehensively analyses the current dynamics influencing the industry, including the impact of sustainability, the political environment, and evolving consumer preferences. While 2023 is going to be another record-breaking year for Swiss watchmaking, signs of a poten...
Send us a text Hello and welcome to Primetime, Watchmaking in the news and this is our 80th edition! We still can’t believe this number ourselves, but we would like to thank all of you who support us and inspire us to provide you with the most important news from the industry and reviews on the latest watch releases. In today’s edition: Outcomes of the epic acquisition of Bucherer by Rolex 🧐Pop-up Sotheby's section at Bucherer store in ZurichSwatch & Blancpain and our thoughts on t...
Send us a text We know you missed us and we are back with our August edition of PRIMETIME Watchmaking in the news. Despite some extreme temperatures in Geneva, quite a lot has happened during this holiday period, so quite a few things to be shared with you. However, they will be mostly business-related as brands are holding to their new timepieces for the upcoming shows, including the Geneva Watch Days happening here at the end of the month. We’ll also talk about a few interesting au...
Send us a text Hello and welcome back on a pretty juicy edition PRIMETIME Watchmaking in the news with business news, plenty of new timepieces, a bit of EPHJ summary with some interesting innovations seen there, a bit of Only Watch and much more. In this edition, we are talking about the EPHJ, the professional trade show for the watchmaking, jewellery, medical and microtechnology industry and the super cool innovations of 2023. We touch upon the problem of the shortage of workforce, which lo...
Send us a text Hello and welcome back on PRIMETIME Watchmaking in the news. In this intense May edition, we talk about the results of the latest Geneva watch auctions, and it looks like things are getting back to some kind of normality. We discussed the impacts of this on the primary market and the state of the second-hand market, we touched upon one important event in the UK and finally got the official information concerning the rumour on the alleged deal between LVMH and Cartier. Spoiler...