DIALED IN Horological News
Swiss-based Fortis Watches has named a new
owner, Jupp Philipp, and a new CEO, Lorenz
Aebischer, as it relaunches its storied brand.
Aebischer previously worked with Auguste
Reymond, Mido and Tissot.
INDUSTRY NEWS: LAMBERT IS NEW
RICHEMONT CEO, NEW EXECS AT FORTIS
GAÏA PRIZE NAMES NOMINEES
The jury for the Gaïa Prize 2018 has named three nominees for its
annual recognition of watchmaking excellence. The awards, bestowed
by the International Watchmaking Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds,
this year go to: Paul Clementi, winner in the Craftsmanship, Creation
category in recognition of his extensive skills in craftsmanship and for
using his historical knowledge to produce inventive creations, with the
highest standards of professional conduct. Reinhard Meis, winner in
the History, Research category in recognition of his key contribution
to our understanding of the technical history of watchmaking, thanks
to his exhaustive independent research, and for the excellence of his
publications in the field of complicated watches; and MB&F founder
Maximilian Büsser, in the Entrepreneurship category in recognition of his
creative approach to watchmaking in the design and marketing of his
products, and for the innovative way he manages his business. The award
ceremony was held September 20 at the museum.
Richemont has named Jerome Lambert as its CEO, filling a position
vacant since early 2017. Lambert has had a twenty-one-year career with
Richemont that includes having led Jaeger-LeCoultre and Montblanc
and has overseen the group’s Specialist Watchmakers and the group’s
fashion and accessories businesses prior to taking on the role of Group
Chief Operating Officer early last year. He will work in partnership with
his fellow senior executives on the Richemont Board: Cyrille Vigneron,
chief executive of Cartier, Nicolas Bos, chief executive of Van Cleef &
Arpels and Burkhart Grund, CFO.
LUMINOX TEAMS
WITH SPARTAN
Luminox has partnered with racing
and endurance brand Spartan USA
as the official watch and timing
partner of Spartan’s events. Luminox
will release the first of three official
Spartan co-branded watches
September 15 in advance of the
Spartan World Championship in
North Lake Tahoe, California. Two
additional co-branded watches, from
the 1000 Series and the 0300 Series,
will be released in October. The
official Spartan Race logo is featured
on the case back and dial, and each
timepiece will be presented to select
top winners of the main Luminox and
Spartan-sponsored races.
ROLEX NOW OFFICIAL TIMEKEEPER AT U.S. OPEN
Rolex has become an official sponsor of the U.S. Open and will serve as the tournament’s Official Timekeeper and Official Timepiece. The new multi-year
agreement began at the 2018 U.S. Open in New York, where Rolex timepieces and clocks were seen throughout the grounds of the USTA Billie Jean King
National Tennis Center, replacing the timekeepers of the previous long-time official sponsor Citizen. The clock on the Arthur Ashe Stadium now features
a Rolex dial.
In addition, Rolex now will sponsor the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati, completing its commitment to the Masters Series with sponsorship
of all nine events. Rolex will also support the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida, and support programs of the USTA Foundation, the official
charitable arm of the USTA, helping to assist under-resourced youth.
18 | INTERNATIONAL WATCH | FALL 2018
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