By Cloé Mugny and Michèle Brunner

After tackling the issue of smart watches over the past couple of years, any watch brand CEO worth his salt now needs an answer ready when he or she is quizzed on the subject of e-commerce. These answers are usually found somewhere along a scale that ranges from “we are looking into it and selling a few products as a test” to “we are already doing it and we think it is the future” (as Bulgari’s CEO Jean-Christophe Babin told me earlier this year).

Smaller, more classic, the new Anonimo timepiece is, as its name suggests, a clean design. Softened and refined compared to the sporty original models, this summer collection adds a touch of robustness with a black cushion case. Available in two versions, the new Epurato Safari makes it possible to explore not only materials but also colours. The attention to detail makes all the difference, the case in steel is covered with a DLC treatment, matte version. With its chic and refined case and sand coloured antelope leather bracelet, the Epurato Safari is reminiscent of trips to African territories and grand vistas.

The 2018 ceremony celebrated women entrepreneurs under the theme “Bold Alchemy” which drove the evening’s conversations and celebrations. Presented for the second year in a row by Sandi Toksvig, the UK broadcaster famed for promoting gender equality in politics and society, the 2018 ceremony set the tone with a video address from Madame Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, Wife of Canada Prime Minister.

The Kentucky Derby is the oldest continually running sporting event in American history. Since 1878, the races have run every single year no matter what the weather was on the first Saturday in May (the coldest day to date was 48 degrees), and despite the World Wars. This year was no different. While the mud and rain just made it all a bit messier, it didn’t affect the timing of the Derby one bit. In fact, the chronometer created by Longines -- the Official Timekeeper and the Official Watch of the Kentucky Derby since 2011 – clearly displayed in big bold numbers the winning horse’s time.

Eterna, Oris and Eberhard & Co. are among the last independent watchmaking companies that remain modest in size, and whose goodwill capital among collectors remains intact. They all boast over a hundred years’ heritage, and historical collections that are made with care and competitively priced. Some will say that’s not much to boast of. But it’s absolutely vital.

Leveraging the latter's marketplace model, technology and logistics network, Zenith will be able to sell the best of its own products to a new global audience in some cases in as yet unconquered parts of the globe. Zenith makes a strong fashion statement by joining the Farfetch marketplace for the first time in Europe, US, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and Australia. Other prestigious names in the new "hard luxury" alliance with Farfetch include jewellery partners De Beers, Chopard, David Yurman, Pomellato and Tiffany & Co- as well as watchmakers Bell & Ross, Girard-Perregaux, TAG Heuer and Ulysse Nardin.

Reuge’s presence in a store just metres from the entrance to Baselworld serves as a great analogy for the company’s special position in the industry, not to mention its CEO’s canny approach to business. While the major watch brands finish their daily business at 6pm, when the exhibition officially closes for the day, Kurt Kupper is free to welcome customers until late at night. “Since I am not bound by the opening hours of Baselworld I can receive customers until 9pm, when they have time after Baselworld has closed its doors for the evening. That is my biggest advantage. We were about to close at 9pm one day and an important person stopped by so we stayed until 11pm. Our products need a quiet environment, which I wouldn’t have if I was inside one of the halls.” 

In the ninth year of its existence, the international competition for young watchmakers is being held under a new name. In honour of the company founder, who died at the beginning of 2017, the competition launched by A. Lange & Söhne in 2010 will be known as the Walter Lange Watchmaking Excellence Award from now on. The training of young watchmakers and the competition were matters especially close to Walter Lange’s heart.

TAG Heuer is unveiling its new advertising campaign, starring Cara Delevingne. It shows Cara, full of confidence, her gaze piercing, with her back against a lion. The image was shot in South Africa by David Yarrow, the illustrious fine art photographer who specializes in capturing the beauty of endangered animals. This unique and disruptive visual, created without any special effects, catches the eye, just like the Swiss watchmaker. 

A chance meeting

In 1990s, Philippe Streiff, who worked for the tourist board of Neuchâtel, criss-crossed the world to raise awareness of his region. Switzerland has a number of iconic landmarks, including Geneva’s water jet, the Matterhorn in the Valais, and the Pont de la Chapelle in Lucerne. But what would help Neuchâtel to stand out from other cities? The answer is watches, and the way the watch industry has influenced the region’s urban architecture (which led to its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on 27 June 2009).

Known as “the most exciting two minutes in sports,” the 144th edition of the Kentucky Derby did not disappoint. Horse narrowly edged out Good Magic and Audible to take the coveted prize money and the wreath of roses. 

It is a watch that is laced with history and emotion, as well as a uniqueness that will make it coveted among a community of collectors of a brand that is already highly collectible. The unique piece 1815 “Homage to Walter Lange” that will be sold by Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo during the spring watch sales on the weekend of 12-13 May in Geneva has a poignancy to it. Walter Lange had long wanted to reproduce in a contemporary watch the patent of his grandfather Emil Lange (one of the first patents to be awarded in Germany) for a “one-second movement with jumping hand”. Sadly, the project only came to fruition after Walter Lange’s death just before the SIHH 2017 and was completed in a record time of just 10 months.

In 2016, Lo Scienziato was the first mechanical timepiece with a titanium case 3D-printed using the technique of Direct Metal Laser Sintering. Lo Scienziato is now available in a new version which still has all the characteristics of its predecessor but with a slightly revised appearance. In the new model the blue of the hands, harmonising perfectly with the metallic tones of the titanium case, is also used on the flange and in the sewing of the black leather strap, giving the watch an even sportier appearance, perfect for this creation with such a high level of technical content.

At Baselworld 2017, Armin Strom surprised collectors by introducing a revolutionary concept for the watch industry, an online configurator. This configurator offers Armin Strom's clients the rare opportunity to imagine and to create their personalized watch. By choosing amongst various options, thanks to a specially conceived web site, collectors can see in real time their compositions come alive. 

Photographic competitions have been around for a long time, and watch awards are dominated by the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève. But until now, there has never been a watch photography competition with an international dimension, open to the general public. We have attempted to remedy this omission by giving mechanical watch lovers a platform for them to photograph their watch, share it on watch-photo-awards.com, and maybe have it selected by the jury for publication by media partners, and be featured in an exhibition at the end of the year.