It is a tough situation all over. How do you see 2009 overall?

We are very cost-centred in our collection. In such a situation, we have to find
out the most secure brand value. So, we are focussed in terms of product and
communication on our classic watches: the Vintage 1945, the Worldtimer, the 1966, and the Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon. That is really the key highlight of our collection. And in terms of deliveries, we will give priority to our classics. This is our approach largely for this year.

Do you see a change in forecast? Do you still have a growth perspective for
2009 or is it going to be just the same as 2008?

It will be unfair to declare that we will have a growth in the next year. In some
markets there is a growth potential. For instance, India is still, for me, the highest potential country in the world. Also, we are going to open some markets in the Middle East where we have not been there before.

Tell us about your key products in this year’s SIHH.

It basically is the 1945 collection. The Vintage 1945 Three Gold Bridges Tourbillon is a new version but with the same case design - a classic automatic one in steel and gold. I believe the steel and gold would benefit each other as one is stronger in communication in terms of visibility and the other has a larger distribution. We also have two new Worldtimers, one very aggressive. For the first time we have a ceramic case. It is called ww.tc Shadow because it is very black. We have also updated our smaller Worldtimer. It is 41 millimetre, a simplified version of the previous one with the power reserve. For ladies, we have two new watches from the Cat’s Eye collection. The Cat’s Eye zodiac symbols is an annual calendar. The other is fully paved with baguette diamonds of over 52 carats. I think it will be the most expensive watch we have ever produced.