Interview

Anyone with a passion for A. Lange & Söhne's mechanical watches will know of Dutchman Anthony de Haas as well as CEO Wilhelm Schmid. As Director of Product Development, he is personally responsible for many of the brand's 72 in-house movements. Whether it was the Zeitwerk, Grand Complication or the first steel watch Odysseus, he…

When you talk to Catherine Rénier about watches, you immediately sense the enthusiasm, deep respect and humility that the CEO of Jaeger-LeCoultre feels for watchmaking. We met Catherine Rénier in Munich on the occasion of the new boutique opening on Munich’s prestigious Maximilianstrasse, the world-famous shopping street that counts Chanel, Hermès, Ralph Lauren and many…

In Italy, la mia famiglia is the most important thing in life – food is a close second. Powerful blood lines such as the Florentine Medici and Roman Orsini families have historically dominated art, religion and politics across the centuries. Even today, generations of Italian families are woven together by strong emotional connections and infallible support networks. The Italian Swiss manufacture…

A couple of shots as a car backfires abruptly break up our interview. With a smile, Wilhelm Schmid apologises: "James Bond sends his regards." Next door, collector Fritz Burkard is showing off one of the most famous Aston Martin Coupés in the world: an original from the film set, a DB5, which was intended to…

Following the launch of Breguet’s new civilian and military Type XX models last month, Swisswatches caught up with recently installed CEO Lionel a Marca to find out his take on the brand’s new pilot’s watches, which caused quite the stir. He explains the thought process, execution, and plans for the future vis-à-vis the brand’s all-important pilot’s watches. …

Swisswatches recently had the honour of meeting once again with the CEO of Breitling, Georges Kern, following the launch of the brand’s first own boutique located in Munich, Germany. Spanning over 220 square metres and two floors, the boutique in many ways embodies Breitling’s plans for the future – as Kern explains to our very…

Ben Küffer, CEO and co-founder of the Norqain brand, is the wunderkind of Swiss watch start-ups. No other young watch brand has been able to establish itself so successfully so quickly. Only founded in 2018, Küffer was already able to secure an exclusive partnership with the renowned movement manufacturer Kenissi in 2020. A short time…

At the beginning of April, we made our way to the French luxury ski resort of Courchevel, where Richard Mille gathered brand ambassadors such as professional skier Alexis Pinturault, biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø and snowboarder Ester Ledecká as part of their "Ski Clinic". Tim Malachard, CMO of Richard Mille, was also there, of course. The…

A name to pass on through the generations: Jean-Claude Biver Having lunch with the man who bears this name is a sensation in itself. Not because Jean-Claude Biver doesn't take the time. The grand master of the Swiss watch industry has always made time for the media, and even at the age of 74, and…

It was exactly five years ago that Zurab Zazashvili, founder of Swisswatches, first met Raynald Aeschlimann, then newly appointed CEO and President of Omega, for an interview. He had been in office for 22 months and the brand was celebrating its 170th birthday. The planned interview became an extended lunch date and was published that…

Patek Philippe is taking things to a whole new level Swisswatches enjoyed a personal encounter with Patek Philippe owner Thierry Stern and Kim-Eva Wempe, managing partner of Gerhard D. Wempe GmbH & Co. KG, at the inauguration of the new Patek Philippe boutique in Hamburg. Patek Philippe operates only three salons across the globe: one…

Nicola Andreatta has a calm, collected persona, despite leading the most fast-paced and disruptive horology house in the industry: Roger Dubuis. Following on from our time spent together at Goodwood Festival of Speed last year and our catch-up during the extraordinary year of 2020, we sat down once more to chime in 2023 with lunch at Il Mirtillo,…