orologeria Archives | gioiellis.com

Six exceptional jewel watches by Piaget

Published on April 16, 2024

Orologio-gioiello con quadrante in opale e bracciale con diamanti, zaffiri, smeraldi

Fine jewelry + fine watchmaking = Piaget. The equation or, if you prefer, the algorithm marks a result that is always the same: unique pieces, made with exceptional craftsmanship and an equally uncommon imagination. In Geneva, on the occasion of Watches & Wonders 2024, the Swiss Maison presented a series of jewel-watch creations photographed by the American photographer Ben Hasset, capable of making watch-bracelets and necklaces even more evocative. The new creations follow by a few weeks the launch of one of the watchmaking icons of the Seventies: Piaget Polo 79.

An example of the marriage between fine jewelry and fine watchmaking is the Swinging Sautoir Watch: a long necklace in rose gold and diamonds, with an opal watch dial, with a quartz movement and a watch diameter of 29 millimeters.

Sautoir trasformabile: la cassa dell'orologio può essere rimossa per essere agganciata a un cinturino di raso e indossata al polso — Sautoir trasformabile: la cassa dell’orologio può essere rimossa per essere agganciata a un cinturino di raso e indossata al polso

In Geneva the Maison also presented a refined modular sautoir. The necklace is made of gold, malachite, turquoise, yellow sapphires and a 6.11-carat aquamarine. The pendant is a large 29.24 carat yellow Sri Lankan sapphire. To this gem we can add the watch with turquoise dial and quartz movement. The watch case can be removed from the sautoir to attach to a satin strap and be worn on the wrist. The sautoir can therefore be worn with or without a watch case.

Another combination of fine jewelry and watchmaking concerns another rose gold sautoir. This also uses an 11.31-carat emerald-cut Sri Lankan yellow sapphire, along with a cabochon opal, an emerald-cut white diamond, other yellow sapphires, and chalcedony. In this case the watch has an opal dial. And this too is a transformable creation: the watch case can be removed from the sautoir to be attached to an alligator leather strap and worn on the wrist. The sautoir can therefore be worn without a watch case.

Piaget also presented three high-gram jewel-watch bracelets. The first includes a large woven rose gold bracelet, with a 35 mm watch with a black opal dial inside. The second, unique piece, is made of white gold, with a dial made up of baguette-cut diamonds. The bracelet also uses baguette-cut gems: these are diamonds, rubies and pink sapphires applied to create a shade from red to white. The watch is manually wound with a Piaget caliber 430 inside. The diameter is 27.5 x 30 millimeters.

Bracciale orologio con diamanti taglio baguette, rubini, zaffiri rosa

Another jewel watch model uses a dial made up of baguette-cut rubies (6.36 carats), while the bracelet and case are entirely made of white diamonds (57 carats), also baguette-cut. This timepiece also has a Piaget caliber inside and is wound manually. The diameter is 35 x 32.5 millimeters. It goes without saying that it is a unique piece.

Orologio gioiello Aura, con rubini e diamanti

The watchmaking trend after Watches and Wonders Geneva

Published on April 15, 2024

Orologi

Watches and Wonders Geneva announces a record edition, with positive expectations for the fine watchmaking sector. In summary, the great event dedicated to high-end timepieces has recorded a constant increase in the number of exhibitors, visitors and tickets sold. Also thanks to the days open to the general public, as the now defunct Baselworld once was. Events in the city were added to the visits to the Palaexpo near the airport.

Visitatori a Watches and Wonders — Visitors to Watches and Wonders

Watches and Wonders Geneva had over 49,000 unique visitors during the entire week (+14% compared to 2023), including 5,700 retailers and 1,500 journalists, who all came to discover the latest products from 54 watch brands displayed on two levels. The program of activities bookable by the public, including product presentations, guided tours, workshops and more, was sold out even before the first day of the event.

Laboratorio a Watches and Wonders — Workshop at Watches and Wonders

The event also generated large social traffic, with an estimated reach of over 600 million people at closing. The arrival of several celebrities set social media ablaze. Among them, the supermodel Gisele Bündchen, the tennis champion Coco Gauff and the football superstar Kylian Mbappé. But, above all, according to the organizers, the business collected over 10,000 appointments with retailers (+25% vs. 2023), 1,800 Touch & Feel press sessions and a significant increase in orders from end customers. Among these, it should be noted that interest in the event among the younger generations continues to grow, with the participation of numerous schools and strong participation from students. Of the 19,000 tickets (compared to 12,000 in 2023), 25% were once again sold to under 25s, with an average age of 35, identical to 2023.

As for the industry trend, interest in maxi watches is decreasing, and we are starting to return to more classic and unisex proportions, followed by the presence of bold colors and the use of interchangeable bracelets. Grand complications continue to dominate, while the use of craftsmanship exemplifies the intersection of watchmaking engineering and decorative art.

The watches return to Vicenzaoro

Published on December 21, 2023

Orologi

Watch time returns from 19 to 23 January 2024: Vicenzaoro offers two spaces dedicated to watchmaking. The first is Time, reserved for operators, with multi-channel distribution, private labels and accessories, in an area within the space dedicated to jewelery (hall 1). The other space, open to the public, is Vo Vintage, and is dedicated to collectors and enthusiasts of vintage watches and jewellery, located in the foyer on the first floor of the Vicenza Fair (hall 8.1).

Lo spazio di U-Boat nell'area Time — The U-Boat space in the Time area. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Time, according to the organizing company, Italian Exhibition Group, is a meeting point between producers and buyers, as is the case for jewellery. There will be 45 exhibitors present, including emerging brands, microbrands and start-ups linked to the world of contemporary watchmaking, but also private labels and accessories. Companies already present in previous editions return, such as Locman, Edox and U-Boat, which will present L. Kendall, a watch brand with origins dating back to London in 1742, recently acquired and revitalized by the group.

Ingresso al foyer. Copyrigt: gioiellis.com — Entrance to the foyer of the Vicenza Fair. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Made in Italy are Venezianico and Out Of Order, as well as a selection of microbrands in collaboration with Watches Of Italy, a group which is an aggregation of Italian entrepreneurs in the watchmaking and accessories sector with brands such as Allemano, Mondia, Perseo and Orologi Inkwells. In the count, the presence of Swiss brands such as Maurice Lacroix rises to 33% (18% in 2023), and French brands such as Herbelin rise to 7%.

Orologi a Time, Vicenzaoro — Watches at Time, Vicenzaoro. Copyright: gioiellis.com

VO Vintage, in its fifth edition, expects 22% more companies to be present compared to January 2023. The event also includes training meetings, seminars, talks, masterclasses and workshops. There will be experts such as the master watchmaker Giulio Papi, the teacher of mechanical and electronic watchmaking at the FHH Academy in Geneva Ugo Pancani, and Bruno Bergamaschi (Giorgione), founder of the Watchouse enthusiasts’ forum, as well as Watchpassion retailers and dealers such as Stefano Mazzariol , Maurizio De Angelis, Andrea Foffi and Elvio Piva.

Vo Vintage 2023. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Invest in watches? Especially popular in Asia

Published on December 24, 2022

Orologi

Who said the clock is outdated? The numbers indicate the opposite, at least according to data relating to the Swiss watch industry contained in the ninth report Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study 2022: sales with e-commerce will double by 2030, and are 35 billion Swiss francs (as of moment the exchange rate is approximately at par with the euro and the dollar) of worldwide growth in the second-hand market. The survey was conducted among 70 senior watch industry executives and nearly 6,000 consumers in Switzerland, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, UK and USA .

Deloitte’s analysis underlines some interesting aspects: the majority (57%) of the executives of the Swiss watch industry interviewed expect a positive 2023 for the sector, even if in decline. But as of early 2022, more than three-quarters (77%) of executives predicted a rosy outlook. Furthermore, nearly 80% of watch industry executives say that geopolitical uncertainty caused by the war in Ukraine and tensions between China and the United States is negatively impacting the company’s outlook.

Le prospettive del mercato. Fonte: Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study 2022

The United States continues to be the most important country for the Swiss watch industry in terms of export volumes (77% still expect growth), but India and China are gaining weight. However, expectations are different: for Hong Kong, the decline or stagnation is expected to continue, while only 57% of those interviewed believe that the market in China will grow.

The time of e-commerce
According to the report, 40% of consumers and 45% of respondents under the age of 40 are the most likely to buy online. The majority of Swiss watch industry executives believe that traditional stores will continue to be the most important sales platform in the foreseeable future. In Italy, for example, the shop remains the preferred place for 61% of consumers, but in Anglo-Saxon, Asian and even United Arab countries buying a watch online is increasingly popular.

With two in five consumers preferring to buy their watches online, it is imperative that brands expand e-commerce channels and expand their already rich offline offering to meet customer expectations. According to our estimates, the share of watches purchased online is set to double to 30% by 2030.
Karine Szegedi, Head Consumer and Fashion & Luxury at Deloitte Switzerland

Intenzioni di acquisto. Fonte: Deloitte Swiss Watch Industry Study 2022

Watches are always an investment
The report confirms the widespread opinion that a good watch is also an investment. 23% of consumers buy watches with the idea of reselling them: the business is especially popular in Singapore (33%), Hong Kong (32%) and China (29%). This also explains why consumers in some Asian markets are willing to spend more on new watches. In China, for example, more than a third (35%) say they are willing to shell out 5,000 Swiss francs or more for a new watch, while paradoxically in the home of watchmaking, Switzerland, the percentage drops to 8% and in France only 2%. Consumers who buy a watch as an investment obviously intend to sell it at a higher price (36%), but they also see watches as a way to diversify their portfolio (33%). Among the latter, Chinese consumers seem to be the most interested (55%).

The used market
Sales have inevitably created a parallel market: a third of customers (31%) expect to buy a second-hand watch in the next year and companies are creating their own second-hand sales channels. Second-hand watches are increasingly popular, especially among millennials and generation Z: 48% of younger respondents are interested in a pre-owned branded timepiece, obviously because the price is lower (44%) than new, but also because a discontinued model can be found (29%). Not to mention that there are those (21%) who consider buying a second-hand watch for environmental reasons.

The growth of the used watch market does not worry the producers: 70% of the managers interviewed consider this phenomenon positive because it positively influences the perception and value of the brand. Deloitte expects the current market size of approximately 20 billion Swiss francs to continue to grow significantly over the next few years, to nearly 35 billion Swiss francs by the end of the decade, becoming more than half that to the new watch market.

Hublot Limited Edition Ferrari Big Bang in vendita a Singapore

In Vicenzaoro hands on the Time

Published on November 10, 2022

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To say that Vicenzaoro wants to transform itself into a new Baselworld would be wrong. But it is certain that the company organizing the most important jewelry event, Italian Exhibition Group, is thinking of expanding the business space. This is indicated by the decision to create a new area, called Time with not excessive originality, dedicated to watchmaking. To tell the truth, Vicenzaoro had already added a mezzanine to the space reserved for jewelry for a couple of years, where Vo Vintage was held, a space for watchmaking open to the public, with most of them a few vintage jewelry dealers.

Uffici di Ieg a Vicenzaoro. Copyright: gioiellis.com

After this taste, therefore, the new community dedicated to contemporary watchmaking and its supply chain is enriched, but in a B2B version. The debut is scheduled at the same time as Vicenzaoro, from 20 to 24 January 2023, again in the premises of Fiera Vicenza. The main buyers and operators of international and Italian distribution will be present, a selection of brands such as Edox, U-Boat, GaGà Milano, Locman, independent brands, a collective of Swiss brands curated by Swiss Creative Lab and a selection of Italian and micro-brands. high potential start-up by Watches of Italy. The Time space will also host after-sales components, accessories, tools and services companies, such as Oisa 1937 and Bergeon. VO Vintage, however, does not retire and is always open to the public.

In short, Ieg wants to create a high-level event dedicated to watchmaking. To convince operators, the company recalls that in the last edition of Vicenzaoro, in September, arrivals from abroad recorded an increase of 10% compared to 2019 and represent more than half of the total attendance (51%), with buyers from 124 countries.

Il logo di Vo Vintage

Dolce & Gabbana debut at Baselworld

Published on January 31, 2020

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Good hit scored by Baselworld: a prestigious brand, Dolce & Gabbana, arrives at the jewelery and watch fair. In short, after the forfeit of Gucci, another fashion brand, which has decided to focus more on watches and jewelry, will participate in the fair that this year takes place from April 30 to May 5. Dolce & Gabbana will find its place in the prestigious Hall 1.0.

Uno dei pezzi di alta gioielleria firmati Dolce & Gabbana

We are delighted to welcome Dolce & Gabbana to Baselworld and to start working together. We are starting a creative process that will allow Dolce & Gabbana to express not only its uniqueness to the 80,000 visitors expected, but also to benefit from the program we are putting in place to keep the international community alive throughout the year, digitally and physically. Because this is precisely our vision of a platform of experiences: allowing brands to be unique in their presentation to their audience while benefiting from the networks and powerful Baselworld audience.
Michel Loris-Melikoff, CEO of Baselworld

Michel Loris-Melikoff. Copyright: gioiellis.com

It is the first time that the Italian group and its international management will be present at the fair with the new proposals of jewels and watches, the result of years of research and technical development, and with the unique creations of the Alta Gioielleria and Alta Orologeria collections. The Dolce & Gabbana brand has already participated in Baselworld in the past, but through an authorized partner for the watch and jewelry collections created for a young audience.

We tiptoed into the watch and jewelery sector knowing that it wasn’t going to be easy. The research work was long and hard, but it was worth it. It is a very fascinating world in which we have brought our values: the love for craftsmanship, the art of handmade, attention to detail and the scrupulous choice of materials.
Domenico Dolce

Baselworld 2019, scale mobili. Copyright: gioiellis.com

In recent months Dolce & Gabbana has already presented creations of high jewelery and haute horlogerie whose inspiration is inspired by innovation combined with the many references of the Mediterranean heritage of its origins and the engineering accuracy of the Swiss mechanisms, as well as with its movement owner entirely assembled by hand by the master watchmakers of Geneva.

This world represents an exciting challenge. Every goal we have achieved has taught us that there is more and more to learn, that nothing is impossible when passion drives everything. Today we are happy to take part in this important international event.
Stefano Gabbana

La piazza di Baselworld. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Baselworld will be an accelerator for our business. Michel Loris-Melikoff and his team were able to listen to our needs by proposing an innovative concept that corresponds to our ambitious development strategy. We are delighted to participate in the world’s largest trade show and the largest, largest and only global community platform and will take advantage of all opportunities to take advantage of it.
Alfonso Dolce, CEO of Dolce & Gabbana

Baselworld 2019. Copyright gioiellis.com

Even jewelry and watches for VicenzaOro

Published on October 4, 2019

Orologi

L'area dedicata all'orologeria a VicenzaOro September 2019. Copyright: gioiellis.com

Italian Exhibition Group launches Vo Vintage centered on vintage jewelry and watches together with VicenzaOro January. It will be open to the public ♦ ︎

Jewels and vintage watches. Collectible jewelery and watches. Jewels and watches that fill the spaces. Italian Exhibition Group has thought about how to expand the VicenzaOro business, a leading event that, however, suffers from the economic situation and some defections (less than Baselworld, however) among the historic jewelery companies. Unlike VicenzaOro, which is dedicated to sector operators, the area for vintage jewelery and watches will be open to the public. The idea could also be related to the postponement of the Sihh at the end of April, the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie which until last year took place in Geneva almost simultaneously with VicenzaOro. And that by 2020 is planned from 25 to 29 April.

Il logo di Vo Vintage

The novelty consists of Vo Vintage simultaneously with VicenzaOro Jenuary. The new exhibition area is scheduled from Saturday 18 to Monday 20 January 2020, a shorter time span than VicenzaOro January (17-22 January). The idea is to attract enthusiasts and, of course, companies active in jewelery and vintage watchmaking. For example, there will be Verga Vintage’s master watchmakers who will fix prestigious period clocks live and historic collectors like Sandro Fratini, who boasts a collection of 2 thousand watches for an estimated value of 1 billion euros.

Also present at Vo Vintage will be the main institutions of the sector, such as Assorologi, which for years has been fighting on the themes of the intellectual property against counterfeiting and the trade of fakes, the prestigious Ahci, Académie Horlogère des Créateurs Indépendants, which brings together the greatest masters independent watchmakers from all over the world, Orologi & Passioni the main forum of enthusiasts in Italy. Vo Vintage will be organized in the foyer of the first floor of the fair, “in an exclusive and reserved context”.

VicenzaOro September, ingresso. Copyright: gioiellis.com

VicenzaOro January, ingresso. Copyright: gioiellis.com

VicenzaOro. Copyright: gioiellis.com