FinancialsMay 17, 2024
Richemont Appoints Van Cleef & Arpels’ Nicolas Bos as New CEOThe announcement coincided with its full-year results, with growth driven by its jewelry brands.
Events & AwardsMar 18, 2016
From Baselworld: New from Breitling, Tissot, Waltham Watches
Tissot’s NBA watches, Breitling’s ultra-light 50 mm Avenger and Waltham Watches celebrity style on social media were among the highlights our editor spotted during her first day on the show floor.
From left, the Breitling Avenger Hurricane, Waltham’s XA Purse S and Tissot’s Quickster for the Miami Heat
Basel--Here are a few highlights from our editor’s first day appointments at Baselworld 2016.
Breitling lightens up.
In addition to a smartwatch and a new timepiece with a 100-hour power reserve, Breitling debuted the Avenger Hurricane, a 50 mm watch made using Breitlight, a new trademarked polymer composite reinforced with an undisclosed fiber. (Breitling is so intent on keeping its new formula a secret, in fact, that it didn’t apply for a patent for Breitlight.)
The material is 3.3 times lighter than titanium and nearly six times lighter than steel and, by all accounts, does not feel like a 50 mm watch.
It is powered by the self-winding Breitling Caliber B12, which is officially chronometer certified by COSC. The watch has a power reserve of more than 70 hours.
The Avenger Hurricane retails for $8,390 on a rubber strap.
Tissot and the NBA.
The Swatch Group-owned brand announced earlier this year that it is now the official timekeeper for the NBA and has created a Quickster in the colors of 11 NBA teams so far as well as a special edition T-Touch Expert Solar to mark the partnership.
Tissot has five official NBA partner teams: the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Miami Heat and has watches in six other teams’ colors as well, including the Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors.
The brand also will be launching a smartwatch version of its T-Touch Solar that most likely won’t come out in the United States until early 2017. Called the Smart-Touch, the watch is still in development at this time so prototypes were not available at the show.
Tissot, however, does have a touch-screen display in its booth designed to look like a (much-scaled-down) version of the Swiss Alps that demonstrates some of the Smart-Touch’s functions, including its ability to provide a weather forecast and help the wearer find their way.
Waltham likes Instagram.
Waltham Watches is a brand with an interesting history. It originated in 1850 in Waltham, Mass. and was in operation in the United States until 1957, selling watches to notables including Abraham Lincoln and polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
One of the company’s clocks was in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis when Charles Lindbergh guided the single-engine plane over the Atlantic and Waltham made controls for bombers during World War II.
In the late 1950s, the company disappeared from the U.S. retail landscape, changed hands a couple times overseas and now is back, getting its name out there again in a very modern way--via Instagram.
The brand has gotten, and shared socially, photos of rapper and actor Curtis Jackson (a/k/a 50 Cent), Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and comedians D.L. Hughley and George Lopez wearing Walthams.
The brand’s 47 mm timepieces retail for $5,500 to $9,400 though it is coming out with 43 mm models that will start at $2,900. Waltham also plans to incorporate more color in its designs.
Pictured here is one of the brand’s new XA Pure S models with blue accents ($5,500 retail). The watch is powered by automatic caliber W.DB-001 Dubois-Dépraz 14060 and has a power reserve of 40 to 44 hours.
The case is titanium with a ceramic bezel and the bracelet is Vulcanised VulCarboné genuine rubber.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the fact that it is the New York Knicks that are one of Tissot's five NBA partner teams, not the New York Nets as previously stated.
The brand has gotten, and shared socially, photos of rapper and actor Curtis Jackson (a/k/a 50 Cent), Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and comedians D.L. Hughley and George Lopez wearing Walthams.
The brand’s 47 mm timepieces retail for $5,500 to $9,400 though it is coming out with 43 mm models that will start at $2,900. Waltham also plans to incorporate more color in its designs.
Pictured here is one of the brand’s new XA Pure S models with blue accents ($5,500 retail). The watch is powered by automatic caliber W.DB-001 Dubois-Dépraz 14060 and has a power reserve of 40 to 44 hours.
The case is titanium with a ceramic bezel and the bracelet is Vulcanised VulCarboné genuine rubber.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the fact that it is the New York Knicks that are one of Tissot's five NBA partner teams, not the New York Nets as previously stated.
More on Events & Awards
The Latest
FinancialsMay 17, 2024
Watches of Switzerland’s Fiscal-Year Sales Flat Looking ahead, the retailer said it sees “enormous potential” in Roberto Coin’s ability to boost its branded jewelry business.
Recorded WebinarsMay 17, 2024
Watch: Preparing for Trade Show SuccessJewelry trade show veterans share strategies for engaging buyers, managing your time effectively, and packing the right shoes.
Brought to you by
Record Gold Prices Have Consumers Undeterred. Here’s Why.Despite the rising prices, consumers continue to seek out the precious metal.
AuctionsMay 17, 2024
Piece of the Week: Cartier’s Ring-Tailed LemurThis little guy’s name is Ricky and he just sold for more than $200,000 at Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction.
Weekly QuizMay 16, 2024
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these seven questions.
AuctionsMay 16, 2024
Christie’s Holds 2 Sales Despite CyberattackThough its website has been down for a week, Christie’s proceeded with its jewelry and watch auctions on May 13-14, bringing in nearly $80 million.
AuctionsMay 16, 2024
Sotheby’s Withdraws 101-Carat Yellow Diamond from AuctionDespite the absence of “The Allnatt,” Sotheby’s Geneva jewelry auction totaled $34 million, with 90 percent of lots sold.
Brought to you by
From Registration to Return: 10 Tips to Protect You Before, During and After a TradeshowTradeshow risks are real. Get tips to protect yourself before, during and after and gain safety and security awareness for your business.
ColumnistsMay 16, 2024
The PR Adviser: What the Designer Should’ve DoneLilian Raji gives advice to designers on how to make the most of great publicity opportunities.
SourcingMay 16, 2024
Lucapa to Shed Stake in Lesotho Diamond Mine The mining company wants to divest its 70 percent holding in the Mothae Diamond Mine in an effort to streamline its portfolio.
ColumnistsMay 15, 2024
Squirrel Spotting: Why Retailers Struggle to Fire BrandsWhy do so many jewelers keep lines that are not selling? Peter Smith thinks the answer lies in these two behavioral principles.
AuctionsMay 15, 2024
Red Diamond Breaks Records at Phillips GenevaThe “Argyle Phoenix” sold for more than $4 million at the auction house’s second jewels sale.
IndependentsMay 15, 2024
David Mann Jewelers in Upstate NY to Close After 35 YearsOwner David Mann is heading into retirement.
FinancialsMay 15, 2024
Brilliant Earth’s Sales Fall Flat in Q1 While overall sales were sluggish, the retailer said its non-bridal fine jewelry was a popular choice for Valentine’s Day.
SourcingMay 14, 2024
Anglo American Confirms It Is Looking to Sell De Beers The mining giant also wants to offload its platinum business as part of an overhaul designed to “unlock significant value.”
AuctionsMay 14, 2024
2 Huge Yellow Diamonds Are Heading to AuctionChristie's is selling one of the diamonds, moving forward with its Geneva jewelry auction despite the cyberattack that took down its website.
MajorsMay 14, 2024
Platinum Born Taps ‘Born Leaders’ for New CampaignThe ad aims to position platinum jewelry as ideal for everyday wear.
GradingMay 14, 2024
Instappraise Adds Trifold Brochure to Appraisal OfferingsRetailers can customize and print the appraisal brochures from their store.
Lab-GrownMay 13, 2024
Lab-Grown Diamond Brand Lightbox Cuts Prices by 25 to 40%The move follows a price-drop test run in Q4 and comes with the addition of a “quality assurance card” from GIA for some loose diamonds.
TechnologyMay 13, 2024
Christie’s Website Brought Down by Hackers, Watch Auction Postponed The site has been down since Thursday evening, just ahead of its spring auctions.
AuctionsMay 13, 2024
Madeleine Albright’s Jewelry, Pins a White-Glove Sale at Freeman’s | HindmanThe late former U.S. Secretary’s collection went for quadruple the sale’s pre-sale estimate.
IndependentsMay 13, 2024
Zachary’s Jewelers Names Mother’s Day Jewelry Contest WinnersThree fifth graders’ winning designs were turned into custom jewelry pieces in time for Mother’s Day.
IndependentsMay 10, 2024
Frank Adams Jewelers Names New CEOKimberly Adams Russell is taking over the role from her father, David Adams, marking the third generation to hold the title.
CollectionsMay 10, 2024
Piece of the Week: Carina Hardy’s ‘Birth of Venus’ NecklaceAs a token of womanhood, this necklace depicts when Venus was born from the sea.
MajorsMay 09, 2024
Watches of Switzerland Pays $130M for Roberto Coin Inc.The deal gives the retailer control over the distribution of Roberto Coin jewelry in the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, and Central America.
TrendsMay 09, 2024
Amanda’s Style File: Shine Bright, Moms Show your mother some love with a piece of fine jewelry.
IndependentsMay 09, 2024
Kyle Edward Fine Jewelry to Close Salisbury StoreThe company’s Easton location will remain open.
