Manufacture is the magic word!
“To Manufacture or Not To Manufacture, That Is The Question!”, writes Alon Ben-Joseph on the WatchFreaksBlog today. Read this interesting blog posting over at WatchFreaks, click: Should watchmakers become a true Manufacture? The Montblanc Collection Villeret 1858 is made by what was once the Minerva company. Photographs by watchinghorology.com.
(More about ‘Manufacture is the magic word!’…)
Loading ...War Veterans Watchmaking Technician Training Program
The War Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, in conjunction with the American Watch Guild, will be launching The Watchmaker and Technician Training Program for Disabled War Veterans and War Veterans.
With the number of practicing watchmakers at an all-time-low of 4,400, the goal of the program is to help replenish the shortage of watchmakers and watch technicians.
So far, the program has accomplished the following:
* Bob Filotei, national director of the program, is in communication with 11 U.S.
(More about ‘War Veterans Watchmaking Technician Training Program’…)
Movado Group Scaling Back Distribution Channels
“The Movado Group plans to reduce its Movado brand U.S. wholesale distribution from 4,000 stores to to 2,600 stores by Jan 31, 2009.” This sounds like a good strategy that should help increase the perceived value of the brand. Less stores equals more exclusivity. Movado says they expect to take some losses from the decrease in volume. However, by making their brand more exclusive I would think they should be able to offset the decrease in volume with an increase in price.
George Clooney pressures Omega Watches on Darfur
London—Actor and Omega Watches ambassador George Clooney is putting pressure on the watch brand to speak out over China’s foreign policy in Sudan, an area where genocide is taking place, according to The Associated Press.
Omega Watches is one of the worldwide partners for this summer’s Olympic games in Beijing.
Clooney is no stranger to speaking out about Darfur, Sudan, an area where the government-sponsored Janjaweed militia has been killing, raping, starving and displacing non-Arabs since 2003.
(More about ‘George Clooney pressures Omega Watches on Darfur’…)
15300ST on a custom strap
I really like the Audemars Piguet stainless steel bracelet on the Royal Oak models, although it tapers a bit too much to my taste. However, I can hardly imagine someone would want to replace this incredibly genius piece of art with a leather strap. VikenB over at the Audemars Piguet forum did. This customized strap makes it a ‘different’ watch, although I clearly prefer the classic all-stainless steel look of the Royal Oak. Photograph by VikenB.
(More about ‘15300ST on a custom strap’…)
‘McDreamy’ gives JeanRichard star treatment
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland—Actor Patrick Dempsey, who recently played a modern-day prince charming in the film Enchanted, and is best known to TV viewers as “Dr. McDreamy” on the hit show Grey’s Anatomy, will be back on the big screen in the upcoming comedy Made of Honor. Sharing screen time with Dempsey as his character finds a way to win back the girl of his dreams is a tourbillon from Swiss watch brand JeanRichard.
(More about ”McDreamy’ gives JeanRichard star treatment’…)
ZeroPointZero Wristwatch Handcuffs
The ZeroPointZero concept handcuffs wristwatch is a very cool design. It looks more like a bracelet than a watch, but I bet women will really like that. Luis Beruman is the designer and you can see this and other designs here.
(More about ‘ZeroPointZero Wristwatch Handcuffs’…)
Professional Skyracer by BREITLING
Here is the Breitling Professional Skyracer Chronograph. This one retails for about five grand. I like almost all the Breitling models, but I think the Breitling Blackbird has a better looking dial and bracelet. It is hard to go wrong with any Breitling you buy, but for five grand I would definitely have to opt for the Blackbird over the Skyracer.
(More about ‘Professional Skyracer by BREITLING’…)
Court Approves Friedman’s Auction Request
The U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del., on Feb. 22 approved Friedman’s Inc.’s request to sell the leases to its stores and other assets at an auction set for March 6, the Houston Chronicle reports. Friedman’s and subsidiary Crescent Jewelers Inc., which is also under Chapter 11 protection, operate more than 470 stores across the country. The jewelry retailer asked for a quick sale process before its $17.5 million bankruptcy loan from Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I Ltd.
(More about ‘Court Approves Friedman’s Auction Request’…)
Charles & Colvard Sales Down 35%
Charles & Colvard, Ltd., the global source of moissanite, a created jewel available for use in fine jewelry, reported Thursday that net sales in the fourth quarter decreased 35 percent to $7.9 million year-over-year. Gross profit fell 42 percent to $5.4 million year-over-year.
Gross profit margins decreased 830 basis points to 68.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2007 from 76.9 percent in the comparable quarter of 2006 primarily, as a result of higher production costs during the period being relieved from inventory, the Morrisville, N.C.-based company said.
Its domestic sales for the period, ended Dec.
(More about ‘Charles & Colvard Sales Down 35%’…)
