Philipp Riehr

With 35 international branches and around 800 employees, luxury watch and jewellery retailer Wempe is one of the largest of its kind. Given its size, it’s no surprise that the retailer also sells its own creations in order to save on margins, so to speak. But without a coherent story, business for Wempe would probably…

It’s been another extraordinary year for us all, and the watch world is no exception. That is why the Swisswatches team sat down once more to comprise a list of our top watches of 2023. From anniversary models to world firsts, we are presenting you 24 special highlights to emerge from the ever-surprising Swiss watch…

The Wempe branch on Munich’s Weinstrasse has been an integral part of the city for half a century, and has been managed by Marc Autmaring since 2009. Over the past 14 years, the engaging and determined manager has succeeded in further developing the location, tapping into new target groups and promoting close cooperation with renowned…

McDonalds, Connected Cannabis, Dior, and now... Audemars Piguet? At first glance, this string of companies seemingly has very little to do with one another. Yet they all have one thing in common: they have all collaborated with Travis Scott's Cactus Jack brand. Audemars Piguet is the latest brand to become part of this very unusual…

The RM S14 Talisman Origine looks like something from a bygone era, with only the characteristic tonneau case hinting that this is indeed a Richard Mille timepiece. The piece is a tribute to the ‘Talisman Origine’; a talisman which, according to Richard Mille, was discovered in the heart of the Swiss Jura, and said to…

On 6 November, Christie's held what the auction house described as one of the most significant private collections it has ever auctioned. Exceptionally rare and historically important: this is the best way to describe the impressive collection of Mohammed Zaman, a collector from the Sultanate of Oman, who amassed the pieces over the last 40…

Only Watch is one of the world's most prestigious watch auctions, taking place every two years under the patronage of Prince Albert of Monaco. Shortly before the charity event was due to take place for the tenth time, demands for more transparency on social media set developments in motion that ultimately led to the auction…

The year 2022 was an impressive one for the Swiss watch industry. Exports set a new record of CHF 24.8 billion, an increase of 14% on 2019 figures, and the MoonSwatch embarked upon its unprecedented success story, with more than three million pieces now sold. But what about 2023? Which markets are strongest, which trends…

Over 220 years ago, in 1801, Abraham-Louis Breguet realised that he needed to balance gravity to achieve a more consistent beat in his pocket watches. The master watchmaker therefore set out to use his extensive understanding of mathematics and physics to reduce the rate deviation to an absolute minimum. He found that the key lay…

Even for those who think they have already discovered everything in the fascinating world of watches, here’s a truly astonishing piece. The Midnight Planétarium by Van Cleef & Arpels from 2014 is not only an extraordinary men's watch, but also a true work of art on the wrist that marries the art of watchmaking and…

In the late 1970s, Porsche Design developed the stainless steel military chronograph. The timepiece, which was characterised by reliability and optimal readability, attracted the interest of the aviation industry. Soon, international air forces, such as the pilots of the US Air Force, wore a Porsche Design chronograph on their wrist. Today, more than 40 years…

When Swatch announced its unprecedented collaboration with Omega last year, it triggered criticism, curiosity, but above all, surprise. Surprise that Omega, a brand that usually stands for watches in the higher-priced segment, was launching a significantly more affordable watch. The MoonSwatch, a €250 watch made of bioceramic and inspired by the famous Omega Speedmaster Professional,…