Bell & Ross
Looking Back to See Ahead (Part 1)
Bell & Ross
Looking Back to See Ahead (Part 1)
Marc A. Hayek
President & CEO of Blancpain & President of Breguet
We had various highlights in the Fifty Fathoms and the Villeret collections, but our masterpiece was definitely the Villeret Flying Tourbillon with jumping hours and retrograde minutes. It is the first time that we introduced these two complications in a Blancpain watch.
I’m always excited about new technological developments. But for next year, I’m especially excited about the revival of the vintage. Getting closer to the original models on which our current collections are based is something I really like. This year at Blancpain, we launched a Fifty Fathoms Bathyscaphe inspired by the style of a ‘70s ancestor. In the near future, the beauty of the pieces from the ‘50s and the ‘60s will be highlighted through a special series of Breguet Type XX watches.
Jean-Claude Biver
Non-Executive Chairman of LVMH Group
This past year, I enjoyed the fact that my son at the age of 18 has decided to live alone and away from his parents. He showed incredible entrepreneurship and enjoyed freedom and liberty, although it was a shock for his mother and myself not having him anymore each day and night at home. Because of my health problems, I also realized that I was entering my 70th year and that the body would probably need some more respect — my New Year’s resolution is to give my body some rest.
Sylvain Dolla
CEO of Hamilton
We had a wonderful year celebrating our 100 years of timing the skies, with many events around the world. The message was very well received everywhere, and the association between Hamilton and the world of aviation is stronger than ever. The biggest success this year was the Hamilton Khaki Field mechanical. Hamilton is one of the only brands to believe in hand-winding movements and that confirmed that if you stay true to your roots and DNA and don’t make any compromises on style, you only get success.
Next year we have some very exciting projects coming up in cinema, our other main passion and source of inspiration. In November we had the 10th edition of the Hamilton Behind the Camera Awards, a ceremony taking place in Los Angeles in which we honor the talents working behind the cameras, such as the filmmakers, prop masters and custom designers. Then we have three very exciting projects for 2019, which are still confidential at this stage, but we can’t wait to tell you more about them!
Carlos Rosillo
CEO of Bell & Ross
Highlights for me were our collaborations — working with other companies to create a special product to please our customers! Within the framework of our partnership with Renault Sport Formula One Team, we released a complete collection — the R.S. 18 chronographs — revisiting one of the key components of a Formula 1 car: the chassis. But we were also lucky enough to collaborate with the Revolution and The Rake teams to design the Vintage V2-94 El Mirage & Dusty chronographs, out in October.
Rolf Studer
Co-CEO of Oris
Thinking back on this year, I most enjoyed the many direct interactions with our consumers. Spending time with them and feeling their excitement about the brand and our products is really energizing. For the first time since luxury goods started to be sold outside the maker’s premises, brands are in direct contact with consumers on a broad, global scale. This new proximity opens a huge field of exciting opportunities that go far beyond e-commerce.
For Oris, I am really excited about our new in-house movement presented later this year and a watch that will combine a few things that we have not done before. We will have some really interesting new models in the Aquis line. Around them, we will have a series of events to make people aware of the importance to keeping our oceans clean and addressing the world’s plastic problem. I think in the luxury goods industry we have a special obligation to make people aware to live responsibly. And a mechanical watch is a really sustainable product.