Europa Star

Founded by an anonymous collective in the “street-luxury” segment, Verax is offering its first timepiece combining the codes of urban culture with those of Swiss watchmaking. Its objective is to reconnect the entry-level Swiss made watch with new generations.

Canadian brand Charles Simon is a luxury luggage manufacturer that started designing cases for watches after the outbreak of the pandemic. Founded by two aeronautical engineers, the start-up aims to combine traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering technologies. We met one of its co-founders, Charles Girard Tremblay.

As Certina continues to boost its profile in automatic watches, it is asserting its legitimacy in the popular niche of diving models. The affordable brand is also building a presence in the United States and China, the two most important markets for Swiss watchmaking, where it still has a low profile. We interviewed the new CEO of Certina, Marc Aellen.

Finnish master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen has come a very long way from southern Lapland, where he was born and raised, to the vertiginous eyrie known as Le Chapeau de Napoléon (Napoleon’s Hat) where he has recently installed his new workshop. There, perched at the very top of a sheer mountain face, he has a panoramic view over the Val de Travers and Fleurier, with their assorted watch manufactures: L.U.C Chopard, Parmigiani, Vaucher Manufacture and, almost exactly opposite in the distance, the chateau above Môtiers where Bovet resides. It’s enough to give any fine watchmaker a Napoleon complex. But that’s not Kari Voutilainen’s style. A portrait.

Arnold & Son, launched more than 25 years ago under the name of British watchmaker John Arnold, and backed by the renowned La Joux-Perret manufacture, is seeking its rightful place within the inner circle of Haute Horlogerie. It has just established a presence on the Chinese market and found a new manager in the person of Bertrand Savary, who brings with him considerable experience in the field. He shares with us his ambitions for Arnold & Son and its sister brand Angelus.

Digital tokens or “non-fungible tokens” (NFTs), located on the blockchain, have been the subject of considerable hype since a virtual work of art was sold for $69 million. They are also making an appearance in watchmaking. Louis Erard is using them for its new collaboration with Alain Silberstein and has set up a loyalty programme in collaboration with Swiss blockchain start-up qiibee.

While the lifespan of many timepieces has been extended, thanks to the booming pre-owned market, the concept of recycling is also increasingly being applied to the very materials that make up watches. Swiss company Panatere has its sights set on producing recycled steel for the watch industry by recovering materials from nearby factories in the Jura. It has even started relying on solar energy to process the steel. Among its new clients is master watchmaker Kari Voutilainen. We met Panatere CEO, Raphaël Broye.

Carl F. Bucherer has released its first model combining minute repeater, tourbillon and peripheral rotor. We take a look back at how this manufacture specialising in “peripheral technologies” has patiently built up its capabilities, with the help of Chief Technology Officer Samir Merdanovic.

Alexander Bennouna, former CEO of Victorinox watches and an expert in the challenges facing the most affordable segment of Swiss watch production, is launching a Swiss-made brand priced under CHF 400 – DecideAndAct – positioned around “21st century values”. He is betting on the engagement value of a brand with “social meaning”, at a time when the entry-level segment has been struggling with structural problems for several years. Go. to article.

With Luxury Venture Group, Deependra Pandey wants to create an incubator and venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to supporting new companies in the luxury industry. After a first summit in 2020, the entrepreneur is organising a second edition in October 2021 in Geneva, which will reward the most innovative luxury start-ups and has the support of the cantonal authorities. Go to article.