Swiss watch brand Carl F. Bucherer is looking to capitalise on festive spending with the release of two new colour options for its Manero Peripheral range. The brand has unveiled its Manero Peripheral timepiece in two limited edition colour offerings: blue and green. The timepieces were designed to combine the best of the Swiss manufacture […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS
Raymond Weil unveils timeless offering for women on the go
Independent luxury Swiss watch manufacturer Raymond Weil has unveiled a watch to bridge the gap between work and social life for women on the go. The stainless steel Freelancer Ladies, which is available in 26mm or 29mm cases, comes in a choice of black or mother-of-pearl dial options. The wristwatch is available in stainless steel […]
Posted inUK
A. Lange & Sohne’s CEO takes centre stage at Salon QP
German watchmaker A. Lange & Söhne’s CEO is stepping into the spotlight during Salon QP this week. Wilhelm Schmid will deliver a speech at this year’s “Blue Crafts” installation during the luxury watch brand event. A. Lange & Sohne is exhibiting at the show and will showcase its latest collection, which was created in collaboration […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS
Piaget honours its heritage with limited edition pocket watch
Piaget is celebrating 60 years since the ultra-thin Altiplano made its debut with the release of a new twist on the classic design. Valentin Piaget made a significant leap forward in 1957 when he unveiled the ultra-thin 9P manual-winding movement at the Basel watch fair. At 2mm thick, the 9P enabled a broader 20.5 mm […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS
Q&A: Rolex’s Mayfair manager describes how he puts the store on the map
Hot on the heels of the news that a Rolex Daytona, owned by Paul Newman, has shattered the world record for the highest price ever paid for a wristwatch, Mike Hudson, Rolex boutique manager on Old Bond Street, has come forward to give the industry an insight into the running of one of the UK’s […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Patek Philippe and Hublot anchor new Watches of Switzerland Manchester showroom
Watches of Switzerland has officially opened its new showroom in Manchester after completing a move from King Street to St Ann’s Square. The two floor space is considerably larger than the King Street unit, giving space for an in-house Patek Philippe boutique as well as branded areas for Swiss watch brands including Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, and […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Loomes auctions unique British timepiece that has been to the summit of Everest and back
British watchmaker Loomes is raising money for the Mountain Trust charity by auctioning a one-off wristwatch that made it to to the summit of Mount Everest and back earlier this year. The auction, run by Bonhams, opened this week and runs until November 7. The watch comes with a long history and pedigree. The base […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Marloe Watch Company adds Swiss-made mechanicals to its British-designed line up
British watch business Marloe Watch Company has revealed its first Swiss-made collection. Marloe, based in Oxfordshire, was launched with the aim of introducing affordable hand-wound mechanical timepieces at affordable prices. Designed in Britain, the new Haskell collection is the first to be made in Switzerland. It uses the ETA 2804-2 manual winding mechanical movement in […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
G-Shock works with fashion sportwear brand Pigalle on limited edition DW5600
Casio G-Shock has created two limited edition digital watches in collaboration with French streetwear brand Pigalle. The two models, based on G-Shock’s DW5600 bring Pigalle founder Stéphane Ashpool’s sports chic style to the range, which are being produced in a run of just 1800 pieces. The DW5600PGW-7 has a white rubber strap with hints of pink on the […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS
BREAKING NEWS: Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona smashes world record price at auction
A Rolex Daytona owned by Paul Newman has shattered the world record for the highest price ever paid for a wristwatch. Phillips auction house in New York, which has been marketing the story of the timepiece around the world all year, took just 12 minutes to bring the hammer down on a price of $15.5 million […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEWS, UK
Swiss watchmakers cleared of abusing their positions in limiting distribution of spare parts
Richemont, Rolex and The Swatch Group have been cleared of breaking any competition laws relating to restrictive practices in the repair and servicing of their watches. The EU General Court has upheld a decision by the European Commission that found the servicing and repair market to be sufficiently competitive, and that requirements for third party […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Parmigiani produces timepiece to wear with world’s most powerful road car
Parmigiani Fleurier has been a partner with luxury car manufacturer Bugatti since 2004, and is paying homage to its Chriron supercar with a brand new timepiece. The Chiron was created by Bugatti as the follow-up to the famous 250mph Veyron. The only instruction given to its creators by Bugatti chief executive Wolfgang Dürheimer, was: “Be […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, OPINION, UK
CORDER’S COLUMN: Aurum off the block
I last sat down for a ‘Big Interview’ with Aurum Holdings CEO Brian Duffy on September 8 this year. The interview was scheduled to appear in the October edition of WatchPro, but I was asked to hold it because, I assumed, a deal to sell the group was about to be announced. Be under no […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Festina watch retailers set to benefit from £100,000 advertising blitz
Festina’s UK distributor Unique & Co is committing £100,000 to a major advertising blitz during the build-up to Christmas. The campaign will feature Hollywood actor Gerard Butler, who continues as a Festina brand ambassador for a second year. My Butler is currently starring in Geostorm, which is in cinemas now. Alicia Aylies, a model and […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
EXCLUSIVE: Apollo takes Aurum Holdings off the market
Aurum Holdings is officially no longer for sale, the group’s chief executive revealed exclusively to Watchpro. Aurum’s private equity owner Apollo Global Management has spent the past year preparing the group for sale and speaking to potential buyers, but has decided there is more value in keeping the business for now. “Apollo feels, correctly, that […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Rapport London lists its luxury watch winders, safes and cabinets on Mr Porter
Venerable British manufacturer Rapport London is listing on Mr Porter, an online ecommerce store for stylish gentlemen. Rapport London products on sale at Mr Porter include watch winders, cases and cabinets. The company, now run by the great grandson of its founder, also produces safes, jewellery boxes and a range of leather goods. “Rapport London is […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Hugo Boss creates signature collection of mechanical automatics to its AW17 family
Hugo Boss has added a range of classic automatics to its Boss Signature Timepiece Collection for Autumn/Winter. The watches are the only automatics in the Boss Watches collection. They use 3-hand Miyota movements in stainless steel 44m cases with glass backs. They are designed, manufactured and distributed under license by Movado Group. The sunray finished dials […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Urban Jürgensen pays homage to uncle great uncle Alfred with its latest masterpiece
Few watchmakers sweat over the tiniest details like Urban Jürgensen. It speaks with reverence about the teardrop shape lugs on the 42mm stainless case of its brand new Alfred, perhaps because it is named after Jacques Alfred Jürgensen, the last watchmaker of the Jurgensen family. The dial, also rewards the closest inspection. It is made […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Chisholm Hunter celebrates bringing Parmigiani Fleurier to its luxury boutiques
Chisholm Hunter, which opened one of the UK’s largest luxury watch boutiques in the UK this year, has forged a new partnership with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier. The new store in Edinburgh gives Chisholm Hunter a platform to welcome some of Switzerland’s most prestigious and historic brands, and the company is delighted to welcome Parmigiani […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Kronaby extends its connected watch family for Autumn/Winter season
Swedish watchmaker Kronaby has added nine new models to its AW17 collection of connected timepieces. Sekel and Carat families have both been updated with rose gold cases, solid link bracelets, Italian leather straps with a croc skin pattern and a gun metal dial colour option. All models use the Kronaby Connected Movement, which turns a […]