 |
|
Baume
& Mercier BOOTH: The Blue Riviera
|
|
 |
|
Fabienne
Lupo Magnaudet
CEO, SIHH
|
SIHH
2007
“We have received requests from
certain watch companies to join the SIHH (Salon International
de la Haute Horlogerie) but their request is contingent
on a collegial decision by the exhibiting brands and
on the availability of space dictated by peripheral
events programmed at GENEVA PALEXPO during this period,”
informs Fabienne Lupo Magnaudet, CEO, SIHH on being
queried about requests from watch companies.
The
SIHH has been taking place each spring in Geneva for
the past 17 years. A private event reserved exclusively
for professionals, it unveils the latest innovations
in technical and precious Haute Horlogerie. The 17th
SIHH in 2007, held between April 8 and 11, received
over 13,000 visitors, from close to 2,500 of the world’s
finest watch/jewellery points of sale. The latest creations
from 16 brands namely A. Lange & Söhne, Alfred Dunhill,
Audemars Piguet, Baume & Mercier, Cartier, Girard-Perregaux,
IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Jean Richard, Montblanc, Officine
Panerai, Parmigiani Fleurier, Piaget, Roger Dubuis,
Vacheron Constantin and Van Cleef & Arpels were spread
over 24,000 sq.mts. of exhibition space. Alongside the
many loyal visitors from Europe, mounting interest from
Asia (China, Hong Kong, Korea) and from the United States
and Latin America, confirmed the SIHH as an international
hub for Haute Horlogerie. According to SIHH spokesperson
69% of customers came from Europe, 16% from Asia, 9%
from North and South America, and 3.6% from the Middle
East.
Where
new trends are played out and talent is revealed, a
showcase for technological innovation and creativity,
the SIHH 2007 trained the spotlight on mechanical watches,
with particular emphasis on the chronograph, and on
precious and jewellery watches.
|
|
|
Rodolphe
M. Schulthess
Vice-President Sales,
Breguet
Do
tell us about the Fusée Tourbillon and the Messidor.
The
Fusée Tourbillon is our logical development in our Tradition line.
The Tradition line was introduced two years ago and it was a secret
from the beginning that at one point of time we wanted to add a
complication. What was the most natural thing to do for Breguet
when we speak about complications is to add a tourbillon. To do
a Tradition with a tourbillon mechanism and as usual we thought
that it was not enough. So we went back into our history and we
decided to integrate or to recreate this tourbillon which was made
by Abraham Louis Breguet on two pocket watches.
And
the Messidor?
In
essence it’s a Mystery Tourbillon. Then finally again to pay tribute
to the original tourbillon we call it Messidor, because there are
some watches which are called the mystery watches. The interesting
part is the tourbillon cage and the way it is integrated and also
besides there is the detailed work on the skeletonised movement.
It is very impressive.
Apart
from selling high priced ladies’ models very well, is there any
new realization or development in the Indian market?
The
average price of a Breguet is higher than the rest of Asia and secondly
that the ratio of the women buying watches is higher than anywhere
else. Also yellow gold seems to be more appealing in here then the
rest of the world. Then there is the pink gold. I mean we are adding
pink gold too in some of our collection and we are selling out more
very complicated pieces. And so, to me the potential of India for
Breguet is very big.
Are
you considering having a boutique in India as well in the near future?
Yes
we are opening boutiques now all over, I mean in really important
markets. We are opening a boutique in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
and we have done so in Tokyo and then one in Moscow. But those are
all boutiques that are operated by Breguet. I’m absolutely sure
that in one point of time we will open one in India also as it is
one of the good markets.
How
many boutiques are there all over the world?
We are as of now eleven. We are expanding because the boutique
is part of our expansion strategy for communication, visibility
and also for business. Boutiques can stock high end complications
which are priced very high.
|
