Usain Bolt couldn’t end his track career with a victory in the World Championships this week, but he will remain a legend long after his retirement, according to his long-term watchmaking partner Hublot. Hublot says it “intends to pursue the strong partnership linking it to Usain Bolt, the man, after the champion’s retirement from sport, […]
Posted inOthers
IN PICTURES: Tissot keeps the faith with oversized dials for its Chrono XL
Tissot is keeping faith with a larger case size for its 45mm Chrono XL. The over-sized dial has an urban aesthetic with a face punctuated with Arabic numerals at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock. The watch quartz chronograph is offered with a brown leather strap or with case and bracelet in matt stainless steel, grey […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Jean Marcel creates side-by-side day and date feature for its latest automatic
German watchmaker Jean Marcel has revealed its latest addition to the Somnium collection, which features a side-by-side day and date aperture at 4 o’clock. The watch, which is limited to just 300 pieces worldwide, will retail for €1250 (£1000). The Somnium comes in a 43mm steel case housing the JM A35 calibre based on an ETA 2836-2 […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
GfK ANALYSIS: Growth continues, but challenges lie on the horizon
They say a week is a long time in politics, which might explain why the EU Referendum in June 2016 feels like a lifetime ago. But only a year has passed, and finally we will start to compare year-on-year monthly sales figures to post-Brexit months when the pound had fallen in value by over 20%. […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Citizen updates Promasters for thrill-seekers who need precision timekeepers
Citizen is urging its customers to go higher, deeper and further this year, with a new Promaster sports watch keeping time in the most extreme conditions. Since its original launch in 1989, Promaster has been used by professionals who challenge their limits. For 2017, the watch has been re-issued in three different variants specifically designed […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Braun’s legendary designer will re-launch classic watches from the archive at a London event
In 1989, Braun launched its first analogue wristwatch, the AW 10. Legendary German designers Dietrich Lubs and Dieter Rams wanted the AW 10 to reflect their vision of creating a watch that displayed the time in the most functional way possible and embodied all their design principles. 1991 then saw the release of the AW […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, FEATURES, IN MAG, INTERVIEWS, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
THE BIG INTERVIEW: Noel Coyle unveils Fraser Hart’s fresh concept
It has been only 10 years since Fraser Hart was acquired by the Anthony Nicholas Group, and the group’s chief executive is firing up a major refurbishment programme — moving its stores upmarket at the same time as investing in its digital-to-physical shopping omnichannel proposition. The cost of just standing still in a rapidly changing […]
Posted inEXHIBITIONS, NEWS, UK
Larsson & Jennings hopes to build bridges with independents at CMJ buying meeting
Larsson & Jennings, which began life as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce watch business, is hoping to expand its distribution network this year. The company recently appointed Paul Nolan as head of sales to watch retailers, and he will be at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole Hotel this weekend pitching Larsson & Jennings to Company of Master Jewellers […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Rox delights in arrival of Hublot Art of Fusion timepieces in tartan
There can have been few happier moments than when Hublot unveiled an Art of Fusion timepiece in tartan to the co-founders of Rox, Scotland’s largest partner for the brand. The watches, which are part of Hublot’s Classic Fusion Italia Independent collection, feature a tartan created by the Italian tailor Rubinacci across the dial and strap. There are […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Visconti creates limited edition titanium and bronze version of its Pro Dive
Visconti has unveiled a limited edition titanium and bronze model to its Pro Dive 3000 Abussus Pro line. 133 pieces are being made of the watch, which retails for £6750 in the UK. The Pro Drive was first introduced in 2014 after research and development in conjunction with Italy’s Cooperativa Nazionale Sommozzatori (CNS) one of […]
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Scottish auctioneers puts ‘dirty dozen’ of World War II watchmakers’ pieces up for sale
McTears Auctioneers in Glasgow is hosting a sale dedicated entirely to watches with a military history next month. The firm hopes that the online auction will draw a world-wide audience of collectors thanks to the specialisation, rarity and vast number of items being offered. Twelve watch manufacturers were selected during Second World to make watches specifically […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Tissot takes inspiration from 1948 timekeepers for this year’s Heritage collection
Tissot retailers will start receiving the Heritage 1948 collection this autumn. The range, first unveiled at Baselworld, is inspired by a Tissot watch that dates back to 1948 and which is part of the brand’s museum collection. At the time, Tissot produced numerous chronograph gents’ models designed for engineers, technicians, doctors and sports men who needed […]
Posted inNEWS, UK
Watch strap specialist LBS scores triple victory at Hertfordshire business awards
Watch strap specialist LBS has been recognised for 30 years supplying the industry at the annual SME Business Awards for its home county of Hertfordshire. Winning three awards overall, including the prestigious Hertfordshire Business of the Year, LBS has also won Enterprising Business of the Year and East Herts Business of the Year, making this a triple victory […]
Posted inNEWS, SMART WATCHES, UK
Kronaby pitches to independents with debut at this week’s CMJ buying meeting
Kronaby will be making its debut appearance at this weekend’s Company of Master Jewellers buying meeting in Birmingham. The Swedish connected watch business will introduce four collections, which combine the quality materials, style and long battery life of traditional watches with sensors and Bluetooth technology that is hooked to smartphone apps. “Kronaby is most importantly […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, FEATURES, IN MAG, INTERNATIONAL, INTERVIEWS, NEWS, UK
Australian watch brand Panzera reaches out to UK retailers
Panzera, an Australian watch brand established in 2009, specialises in the production of mechanical watches at an affordable price. One of the brand’s co-directors, Roger Cooper, tells WatchPro about the challenges and opportunities of being an Australian brand trying to make a mark in the global watch industry. WatchPro: How hard is it to be a […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, NEWS, UK
Kate Hudson promotes special Michael Kors smartwatch as part of Watch Hunger Stop fundraising
Hollywood actress Kate Hudson is seen sporting a Michael Kors Access Sophie smartwatch in photographs publicising her support for the fashion brand’s Watch Hunger Stop campaign to fight global hunger. Watch Hunger Stop, established in 2013, raises funds and awareness to help eradicate hunger, with brands partnering with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, Research, UK
Harry Winston’s prime central London boutiques increase sales by 33%
Harry Winston’s prime positions on London’s Bond Street and in the Harrods Fine Jewellery Room gave the business a perfect opportunity to benefit from high-spending visitors to the UK last year as they took advantage of a slump in the value of sterling. The Swatch Group-owned luxury jewellery and watchmaker saw sales spike to £18 […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, LEAD STORY, NEWS, Research, UK
Breitling UK sales rise but profit hit by Brexit weakening the pound
Turnover for Breitling UK Limited increased by 14.4% in 2016 to £42.2 million, but profit dipped due to a weaker pound making imports of Swiss watches more expensive for the London-based subsidiary. “The consolidated wholesale network continued to grow and benefited from enhanced above the line marketing throughout the territory,” says Breitling UK managing director […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS
Sub-£3000 Chinese tourbillon shortlisted for Oscars of Swiss watch industry
Beijing Watch Company has managed to get a timepiece through the first round of voting for the prestigious Grand Prix D’Hologerie De Geneve (GPHG) awards. All watches pre-selected by the jury are invited to take part in a travelling exhibition that this year touches down in Milan, Dubai, Geneva, Taipei and Mexico City. The Beijing State […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEWS
Unique Jacob & Co watch sells for $750,000 at Leonardo DiCaprio charity auction
A customised Jacob & Co. Astronomia Sky has sold for more than $750,000 at a charity auction organised to raise money for the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. The normal price for the limited edition watch is a cool $580,000, so the unnamed buyer at the star-studded charity auction paid a significant premium for the unique piece. The […]