Salvatore Ferragamo Gancino Charms. Calibre de quartzo. Caixa em aço, de 36 mm, bisel rotativo em vários materiais (ametista, quartzo cinzento, rodolite ou citrino), com um charm na coroa. A versão em baixo tem caixa em ouro e diamantes.
John Travolta volta a participar pela sexta vez na campanha publicitária da Breitling. Apaixonado pela aeronáutica, ele próprio piloto habilitado para vários tipos de aeronaves, vai aparecer agora em cima de um avião, tendo o deserto do Nevada como fundo. A foto é de Patricia von Ah e a sessão decorreu na pista das "Reno Air Races", que a Breitling patrocina. Em primeiro plano, o cronógrafo Navitimer que, graças à sua régua de cálculo circular, é um autêntico instrumento de navegação aérea.
Jean Claude Biver, director executivo da Hublot e Ernesto Bertarelli, presidente do Alinghi, apresentaram recentemente em Genebra o King Power Alinghi, um cronógrafo inspirado nas cores do veleiro suíço Defender, que participará na 33ª America’s Cup.A Hublot, além de patrocinar a equipa Alinghi, é também o timekeeper da prova.
Com caixa de 48 mm, em cerâmica polida e titânio, estanque até 100 metros, o King Power Alinghi tem calibre automático, com pontes em carbono, e é limitado a 333 unidades.
A edição de 2010 de Baselworld coincide com os 275 anos da marca Blancpain, que assinala isso com o lançamento de uma nova colecção Villeret. Eis o primeiro modelo dessa colecção, em antevisão, um calendário completo com fases de lua e calibre automático, calibre automático com rotor em titânio, caixa em ouro rosa, de 40 mm.
There are many reasons why we have an affinity to a particular watch or watch brand.
One might be fascinated by its history and its impact on the world of horology. Examples that come to mind are Abraham-Louis Breguet’s invention of the Tourbillon in 1795 to George Daniels’ Co-axial Escapement, commercialized by Omega Sa. in 1999.
For me, it is neither. My affinity or rather love, for my brand is far more personal. It is a connection to my past and, present, hopefully it will also become a connection to my future.
The brand I speak of is Omega, in particular the Omega Speedmaster Professional, Caliber 861 from 1971. Why? It has always been my father’s grail watch ever since I can remember. Many a times I would walk by as a child with my Dad in front of a Jewelry store that had the “Speedy” on display and see his eyes light up like I probably did when receiving an awaited present. He never said a word but his eyes said it all. After many years of hard work and saving a bid here and there, he finally was able to purchase the watch in 1975. I was but a child , but still I can remember the love and care he had with his watch, especially when winding it every time. Years went by watching this sane ritual until one day he let me do the winding. How in awed I was with this watch, especially with the weight and how smooth it wound, from that moment on it became “our” ritual. Every night we would call me to wind the watch “together”, every night I would ask my father, “Did I do it right Dad?” His smile would say yes.
Then and there, my love of the Omega brand and particularly the Speedy Pro started.
As the years went by my father would wear his prized everywhere he went, always careful though with his baby. As for me, I started to collect vintage pieces from the 40’s and 70’s, always on the look out for my very own Speedy 861. Many opportunities came but always at the wrong time, still I kept at it.
About one year ago, my mother came to visit me from Chile, where my parents now live. To my surprise, she had brought my father’s Speedy as a present. Apparently my Dad decided it way time to pass his most prized possession to his son. I could not believe it. I remember rushing for the phone and thanking him for the watch, promising to take very good care of it. Finally had my grail!!! I waited till it was nighttime before I carefully wound MY SPEEDY and for one instance I heard myself ask, ”Dad, did I do it right?”
My Son is eight years old at the moment, so my winding ritual with him will have to wait a bit. Still, I call him every night and show him how to wind the watch and on occasions, I put it on his tiny wrist and watch his eyes gleam to gleam of my Dad.
Another Omegaphile for the ranks.


There are many reasons why we have an affinity to a particular watch or watch brand.
One might be fascinated by its history and its impact on the world of horology. Examples that come to mind are Abraham-Louis Breguet’s invention of the Tourbillon in 1795 to George Daniels’ Co-axial Escapement, commercialized by Omega Sa. in 1999.
For me, it is neither. My affinity or rather love, for my brand is far more personal. It is a connection to my past and, present, hopefully it will also become a connection to my future.
The brand I speak of is Omega, in particular the Omega Speedmaster Professional, Caliber 861 from 1971. Why? It has always been my father’s grail watch ever since I can remember. Many a times I would walk by as a child with my Dad in front of a Jewelry store that had the “Speedy” on display and see his eyes light up like I probably did when receiving an awaited present. He never said a word but his eyes said it all. After many years of hard work and saving a bid here and there, he finally was able to purchase the watch in 1975. I was but a child , but still I can remember the love and care he had with his watch, especially when winding it every time. Years went by watching this sane ritual until one day he let me do the winding. How in awed I was with this watch, especially with the weight and how smooth it wound, from that moment on it became “our” ritual. Every night we would call me to wind the watch “together”, every night I would ask my father, “Did I do it right Dad?” His smile would say yes.
Then and there, my love of the Omega brand and particularly the Speedy Pro started.
As the years went by my father would wear his prized everywhere he went, always careful though with his baby. As for me, I started to collect vintage pieces from the 40’s and 70’s, always on the look out for my very own Speedy 861. Many opportunities came but always at the wrong time, still I kept at it.
About one year ago, my mother came to visit me from Chile, where my parents now live. To my surprise, she had brought my father’s Speedy as a present. Apparently my Dad decided it way time to pass his most prized possession to his son. I could not believe it. I remember rushing for the phone and thanking him for the watch, promising to take very good care of it. Finally had my grail!!! I waited till it was nighttime before I carefully wound MY SPEEDY and for one instance I heard myself ask, ”Dad, did I do it right?”
My Son is eight years old at the moment, so my winding ritual with him will have to wait a bit. Still, I call him every night and show him how to wind the watch and on occasions, I put it on his tiny wrist and watch his eyes gleam to gleam of my Dad.
Another Omegaphile for the ranks.
Ele é um dos "magos" da Alta Relojoaria das últimas três décadas. E também produz vinho, este suíço orgulhoso das suas raízes bem rústicas.EN CONFÉRENCE À AGROVINA
JEAN-CLAUDE BIVER: «LE LUXE N'EST PAS FORCÉMENT LIÉ À L'ARGENT»
Michel Darbellay
Invité à s'exprimer dans le cadre d'Agrovina, l'horloger de renom Jean-Claude Biver a donné sa vision du marketing de luxe, «à la sauce» du vin. Pour lui, passion, tradition, authenticité et qualité sont gages de réussite.
Un phénomène! Jean-Clau- de Biver s'est livré à un véritable one-man-show mardi dernier à Agrovina. Le talentueux horloger était invité à s'exprimer sur le marketing du luxe appliqué au vin. Le Vaudois a esquissé quelques pistes, insistant sur l'importance de la passion et de l'authenticité dans toute démarche de marketing.
«Sans qualité, il n'y a pas de luxe»
«Le luxe, c'est beaucoup plus large que des montres, ce n'est pas forcément associé au prix», a-t-il insisté au début de sa conférence, devant une salle comble de plusieurs centaines de personnes. «Tout produit, quel qu'il soit, qui a comme fondement la tradition, l'art, la culture, le savoir-faire, a déjà toutes les prédispositions pour être du luxe. Après il faut encore y ajouter la qualité: sans elle, il n'y a pas de luxe.»
Très à l'aise, le brillant orateur a d'emblée affirmé ne pas connaître le vin. Certainement exagérait-il, lui, le passionné de ce si noble breuvage qui a commencé par déguster les premières «larmes» de vin à l'âge de 5 ans. «Je n'ai jamais eu une cuite avec le vin. J'ai appris à le respecter, à le célébrer», a-t-il lancé, enthousiaste comme à son habitude.
S'inspirer de l'expérience de personnes externes au sérail s'avère judicieux dans bien des cas et apporte un regard différent. C'est sans doute ce qui a motivé les organisateurs d'Agrovina à faire appel au patron d'Hublot. Ce dernier se fie lui aussi à des avis externes: «Parfois l'idée d'un non-connaisseur peut éclairer le spécialiste».
Son expérience époustouflante, avec tout d'abord la renaissance de la prestigieuse marque Blancpain, puis Hublot, prouvent le talent de ce magicien du marketing. Mais quand bien même on brille dans l'horlogerie, on ne s'improvise pas promoteur de vins. Jean-Claude Biver le sait.
«Si l'on exploite trop ceux qui nous livrent la matière première, un jour on risque de ne plus en avoir»
De manière spontanée, il a néanmoins formulé certains conseils à la branche vitivinicole, l'encourageant à la recherche de la spécificité, à la recherche de la qualité. «Le luxe, objet matériel relié à l'argent, est devenu presque trop commun. Par contre, la vraie qualité de la terre devient exceptionnelle. Elle devient rare!» Et l'horloger de se réjouir: «Heureusement que certains pays font du mauvais vin, dit-il hilare. Ça nous permet d'être différents, de nous distinguer». Le patron d'Hublot suggère de davantage parler du vigneron: «On évoque souvent les noms de païen, heida ou rèze, mais trop peu celui des vignerons!»
Interrogé au terme de son discours sur la façon de mieux répartir la valeur ajoutée du sommet au fond de la chaîne vitivinicole, Jean-Claude Biver parle de rééquilibrage et se réfère à l'horlogerie. «Si l'on exploite trop ceux qui nous livrent la matière première, un jour on risque de ne plus en avoir, prévient-il. L'année dernière, durant la crise horlogère, certaines maisons ont décidé de couper les commandes à leurs sous-traitants. D'autres ont continué à leur passer des commandes bien qu'elles n'avaient pas besoin de cette matière première. Cela, pour maintenir en vie une corporation, pour conserver le savoir-faire.» S'il était en charge de la promotion des vins suisses, Jean-Claude Biver travaillerait sur les images, sur l'histoire, sur l'aspect subjectif du vin. «Je jouerais sur son côté irrationnel.»
Bien qu'il ait emballé une partie de l'assemblée, le Vaudois a en revanche déçu plus d'un encaveur qui attendaient davantage d'astuces de sa part. «C'était comme certaines bouteilles: un bel emballage, mais sans grand contenu», regrette un auditeur, tandis qu'un autre se montre plus positif: «On n'a pas vraiment appris du nouveau, mais on semble sur la bonne voie, surtout quand on est passionné de ce qu'on fait et qu'on s'efforce d'obtenir de la qualité, comme Monsieur Biver!»
O Teatro Maria Matos, em Lisboa, dedica a temporada Janeiro / Abril à temática do Tempo. No folheto de programação de Janeiro, um temporizador de cozinha (para marcar períodos de cozedura de ovos, de pratos no forno, etc.) Marcado o tempo desejado (até 60 minutos) o relógio começa a contagem decrescente e, quando chega à posição 60, acciona um alarme.
Interessante análise do Richemont Group (líder mundial no sector de Alta Relojoaria), feita por Alessandro Pasetti e Jamie Miyazaki na edição de hoje do The Wall Street Journal, onde se especula sobre a possível tomada de posição no capital da Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. e da Salvatore Ferragamo:The luxury goods industry still looks broadly cheap, assuming Asian demand will help it regain the multiples it sported back in the halcyon days of 2001-2007, and this suggests it’s time for a strategic move by cash-rich Compagnie Financiere Richemont.
What about considering minority stakes in fashion houses Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. andSalvatore Ferragamo as possible alternatives to the names that have already cropped up on the rumor list?
So far, Richemont has been cited as looking at Germany’s Rodenstock or Italy’s Prada S.p.A., and even a tie up with France’s LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, but this chatter has elicited denials or a no-comment response from the Swiss-South African conglomerate.
Bolt-on acquisitions to beef up Richemont’s underweight presence in apparel would certainly help it to diversify from its core, and more cyclical, ‘hard luxury’ business of watches and jewelry.
And it isn’t short of capital to play with. As at September 2009, it had a net cash position of EUR902 million that could be put to work, and there are plenty of privately owned luxury apparel brands with $1 billion-plus in revenue that could be used to bulk up the company’s ‘soft luxury’ presence.
A logical alternative to Prada, which has denied reports about selling a stake, would be Ferragamo, which has been mulling an IPO for a couple of years. The Italian company offers an opportunity for diversification–with a portfolio ranging from footwear and clothes to perfumes and accessories it could complement Richemont’s strengths.
Across the Atlantic, Ralph Lauren could also make an interesting fit. The two companies already have commercial ties having operated a watch and jewelery joint venture since 2007, and, given minimal product or geographic overlap, further cooperation would help them expand in markets where they lack meaningful presence.
Ralph Lauren generates the vast majority of its revenues in North America, a soft spot for Richemont. For the twelve months ending March 2009, the U.S. company generated 72%, or $3.6 billion, of its net revenue in the U.S. and Canada.
Richemont, on the other hand, chalked up just 15.5%, or EUR246 million, of total sales in the quarter ended December 2009 in the Americas. The U.S., despite the headlines of heady Chinese growth, remains the world’s largest luxury goods market by revenue.
Indeed, Ralph Lauren has a long-term target of generating a third of its revenues from the Asia-Pacific region, and a tie up with the Swiss-based company could accelerate its expansion plan in the region.
Last financial year, Japan was the only substantial revenue contributor from the region, responsible for 7.8% of Ralph Lauren’s net revenue. The impact of China, the industry’s oft-touted growth engine, on the company’s top line was negligible. By contrast, 31% of Richemont’s sales in the last quarter of 2009 were from Asia-Pacific ex-Japan; fold in Japan and the company pulls in 43% of revenue from Asia.
A capital tie-up or a merger would enable Ralph Lauren to tap into Richemont’s established presence in the region. That said, while making full blown acquisitions for large fashion houses is not unheard of, these tend to occur when the brand is in crisis, as shown by LVMH’s 2000 acquisition of Donna Karan. Ralph Lauren and Ferragamo are not in this position, so negotiating a minority stake sale with the founding families–who are controlling shareholders–while looking to make them equity affiliates is probably more feasible.
Richemont should also consider trimming some non-core brands to rationalize its portfolio, although it probably wouldn’t raise much cash. The company has been tinkering with some of its apparel, leather and accessories brands such as Dunhill and Chloe by rebranding and overhauling their design teams, but efforts have yet to yield big payoffs on revenues and earnings.
Segundo o "Manuel des branches 2010" do Credit Suisse, três sectores posicionam-se claramente no campos dos que vão comportar-se melhor: químico-farmacêutico, tecnologia aplicada à medicina e relojoaria.L’économie suisse devrait progresser de 0,6% en 2010, évalue le Credit Suisse. Cette prévision dissimule toutefois de fortes variations dans les différentes branches pour l’année en cours. Trois secteurs se classent très nettement dans le camp des vainqueurs: la pharma/chimie, la medtech (technique médicale) et l’horlogerie, durement pénalisée par la récession en 2009. «Grâce à leur leadership technologique, ces branches sont particulièrement compétitives sur le plan international», relèvent les économistes de la banque helvétique. D’importants facteurs d’inquiétude subsistent néanmoins pour l’économie suisse. De très gros employeurs apparaissent en effet parmi les secteurs encore souffrants, comme le commerce de détail, le bâtiment, l’impression et l’hôtellerie/restauration. Les télécoms semblent, elles, exposées à un risque de stagnation des affaires. Exportateurs mieux placés Dans l’ensemble, les branches exportatrices profiteront les premières des prémices de la reprise (Credit Suisse prévoit une croissance des exportations à hauteur de 5%). Cette tendance favorable sera davantage supportée par la demande de pays émergents (Chine, Inde, Brésil…) que par celle des partenaires traditionnels du commerce extérieur helvétique (France, Allemagne, Etats-Unis…).
A Baselworld é a maior feira mundial do sector de Relojoaria, Joalharia e máquinas-ferramentas relacionadas. Em tempo de crise, a feira garante que os expositores privilegiaram ainda mais este ano a presença em Basileia, escolhendo o certame em detrimento de outras aparições em eventos semelhantes.
Entretanto, a Baselworld inaugurou um novo site: www.baselworld.com. O primeiro comunicado da edição de 2010:
The World Watch and Jewellery Show will be opening its doors for the 38th time in Basel from March 18 - 25, 2010. Given that the economic setting is still posing challenges, it is all the more important for exhibitors and also the specialist buyers to be able to rely on proven values: it is only in Basel that the "Who’s who" of the global watch and jewellery industry all meet up to experience the innovations, new products and trends for some 2000 brands and engage in successful business transactions.
Reinforced as the leading show through concentration
The objective resolutely pursued by the show management in the past, of only presenting the most important, strongest and best brands at BASELWORLD, has paid off especially for the forthcoming show. Show Director, Sylvie Ritter, is convinced that "this year, in particular, the World Watch and Jewellery Show will be able to establish itself as the competence centre for the sector”. Since the industry is currently in the throes of a streamlining process, this will be reflected at BASELWORLD too. Its role as the leading show, however, and one which provides stimulus for the luxury goods sector is being reinforced precisely through the crisis. On this, Sylvie Ritter states: "Our exhibitors are not making savings at BASELWORLD but are cutting back on other expenditure worldwide, refraining from taking part in other events. We have thus been able to establish, in positive terms, that our show has even gained strength through the crisis: many of the brands are concentrating on their participation in the World Watch and Jewellery Show in Basel, since it is only here that they meet up with the key buyers from all over the world. "
The newly launched news platform: www.baselworld.com
The revamped BASELWORLD website has now gone online. This provides visitors and also journalists and exhibitors with all the information on the event, presented in an even clearer fashion. In addition, the website now offers a comprehensive news platform for the watch and jewellery sector, aimed at both specialist dealers and final consumers. Here, the user will find an excellent overview of the new products in the brands on show, the full spectrum of the watch and jewellery sector, and also the specialist online and print media from all over the world.
Strong show concept firmly established
The show concept, which is clearly structured according to the individual sectors, thus ensuring that buyers can optimise their visit to the show, gives exhibitors the opportunity to present their products in high-calibre surroundings. The concept has now become established at a very high level and, this year too, marks the perfect response to market needs. This is because the economic climate has slowed down the changes that are taking place in the market structures, and the organisers have thus been able to retain their tried-and-tested concept. Over a surface area of 160,000 m2, specialist buyers will find a broad-based selection, unrivalled anywhere in the world, of what the watch and jewellery sectors and related fields have to offer.
À esquerda, Jean-Claude Roustant, Secretário-geral da Fundação de Alta Relojoaria (em 2007), com a delegação portuguesa: Carlos Cunha, António Machado e Salomão Kolinski.
O que é a Alta Relojoaria? Define-se pela qualidade do mecanismo ou da caixa? Pela tradição do fabricante ou pelo preço elevado da peça? E a partir de que valor? Quem define as regras num sector em ebulição, onde marcas de moda ou recém-nascidas no mercado vendem relógios a preços muito elevados, entrando no território das velhas e respeitadas manufacturas? A Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie pretende dar respostas a estas e outras questões, como a formação profissional ou a cultura relojoeira junto do consumidor final.
A Foundation de la Haute Horlogerie (FHH), existente desde finais de 2005, realizou recentemente em Madrid uma sessão de apresentação dos seus representantes e embaixadores ibéricos. Jean-Claude Roustant, Secretário-geral da instituição foi o anfitrião.
Herdeira da defunta Associação Interprofissional de Alta Relojoaria (AIHH, segundo o acrónimo francês), e também ela fruto da iniciativa do Richemont Group e do histórico Franco Cologni, a FHH tem uma espinhosa mas declarada missão pela frente: definir o que é ou não Alta Relojoaria. Adivinham-se fortes controvérsias num sector onde “legitimidade” é hoje um conceito muito vago.
A FHH opera em dois campos distintos e complementares: actividades culturais e institucionais, não lucrativas, levadas a cabo por um Centro Cultural da Alta Relojoaria (CCHH); e actividades de natureza lucrativa, como exposições e eventos dedicados à Alta Relojoaria, sob a marca HH Events, com esta última a ser um dos principais financiadores da fundação. O Salão Internacional de Alta Relojoaria (SIHH, segundo o acrónimo em francês), que se realiza todos os anos em Genebra, é o seu principal evento.
Os fundadores da FHH, que estão representados no órgão máximo da instituição, o Conselho, são os independentes Audemars Piguet e Girard-Perregaux, bem como o Richemont Group, com o seu vasto port-folio de marcas (Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Piaget, A. Lange & Sohne, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Panerai, Baume & Mercier…). Jasmine Audemars, Luigi Macaluso e Franco Cologni são os respectivos representantes nesse Conselho, com o último como seu Presidente.
O CCHH dá prioridade a dois campos essenciais – o treino e informação dirigidos aos diferentes participantes no sector da Alta Relojoaria e está dividido em dois órgãos: o Comité de Aconselhamento e o Centro de Estudos e de Pesquisa da Alta Relojoaria. O primeiro agrega figuras de reconhecido mérito, a nível internacional, independentes, e que têm por missão definir o perímetro exclusivo do que é ou não Alta Relojoaria, uma tarefa difícil, bem como definir os seus principais actores – os fabricantes, os vendedores, os comunicadores (jornalistas) e os consumidores finais. António Machado, da Machado Joalheiros, do Porto, é o único português nesse órgão, e representante da FHH em Portugal. A estes “Chefe de Missão” cabe depois escolher os Embaixadores da fundação nos respectivos países. Carlos Torres, da Torres Joalheiros, de Lisboa, Carlos Cunha, da Joalharia Cunha, de Valença, e Salomão Kolinski, da Tempus Internacional/Boutiques dos Relógios são membros fundadores da secção portuguesa da FHH.
Quanto ao Centro de Estudos e Pesquisa, trata-se de um observatório que se dedica à produção de informação detalhada, quantitativa e qualitativamente, sobre o sector da Alta Relojoaria. Promove estudos, eventos, fóruns, viagens temáticas, etc. e produz documentação escrita resultado das suas pesquisas, versando o passado histórico da Alta Relojoaria e o futuro potencial do sector nos seus diferentes aspectos. O site www.hautehorlogerie.org também está sob a sua responsabilidade. Iniciado há pouco mais de um ano, é já hoje considerado como um dos melhores sites do sector, com os seus artigos de análise, os filmes didácticos sobre os vários métiers d’art, dicionários, etc.
Mas a missão do Centro Cultural não se esgota aqui: o combate à contrafacção e a formação profissional estão também nos seus objectivos. Quanto ao treino específico, a fundação já está a patrocinar cursos de aperfeiçoamento nas várias áreas, para relojoeiros e vendedores e emite um certificado de “Assessor Perito” a quem tenha tido aproveitamento num exigente curso que tem provas sobre relógios mecânicos, técnicos e preciosos; técnicas de venda; manejo e ajuste do relógio; prova escrita sobre um tema definido. A criação de um círculo internacional de Alta Relojoaria, certificado e reconhecido por todos os agentes do sector, é um dos principais objectivos da FHH, talvez a missão mais difícil de ser atingida, dada a natural concorrência entre as marcas e grupos económicos presentes no mercado.
*Artigo publicado no Casual (22.06.07), Semanário Económico. O Secretário-Geral da FHH foi entretanto substituído.

IWC Pilot. Conjunto em estojo especial, para pai e filho. O modelo grande tem calibre de manufactura e indicador de reserva de corda para uma semana, caixa em platina. O modelo pequeno tem calibre automático e caixa em aço. Os fundos podem ser gravados, para personalização. PVP: 34.700 € (modelo grande) e 3.400 € (modelo pequeno)
A polémica em torno das declarações recentes de Nicolas Hayek, Chairman do Swatch Group (deixar de fornecer calibres em bruto - ébauches - à concorrência) é analisada por Joel A. Grand na mais recente newsletter do site horlogerie-suisse.com. Poder ler aqui.
A Maurice Lacroix tem um novo embaixador, Sir Bob Geldof. O making off do primeiro anúncio desta parceria pode ser visto aqui.
Já está disponível aqui a newsletter de Janeiro da Cote des Montres. O Panerai Radiomir Tourbillon GMT Ceramica 48 mm Lo Scienziato é uma das vedetas deste número.