Posted on September 19, 2017 by Retail News Editor

Zenith reveals the world’s most accurate mechanical watch — Defy Lab

: Zenith reveals the world’s most accurate mechanical watch — Defy Lab

Paris, 2017-Sep-19 — /EPR Retail News/ — Zenith has revealed Defy Lab, the world’s most accurate mechanical watch thanks to a groundbreaking oscillator. The triple certified watch marks a major advance in measuring time, embodying Zenith’s constant drive for innovation and high precision.

Zenith unveiled the Defy Lab and its groundbreaking oscillator during a press conference at the Zenith Manufacture in Le Locle, Switzerland, hosted by Jean-Claude Biver, President of the LVMH Watch Division, Julien Tornare, CEO of Zenith and Guy Semon, CEO of the LVMH Watch Division R&D Institute. Presented as the most accurate mechanical watch in the world, the Defy Lab is both an evolution and an improvement on the balance and hairspring regulator invented in January 1675 by the scientist Christiaan Huygens. This advance constitutes an outright challenge to the fundamental operating principle of mechanical watches.

To achieve this performance, the timepiece is equipped with a single element oscillator that measures just 0.5 mm in thickness, replacing the traditional balance-and-spring assembly. The Defy Lab beats at a frequency of 15 Hz with an amplitude of +/- 6 degrees – three times the frequency of the iconic Zenith El Primero movement. This gives it exceptional accuracy, with a daily rate precise to just 0.3 seconds, and a 60-hour power reserve. Insensitive to temperature gradients, gravity and magnetic fields, the Defy Lab maintains the same degree of precision for 95% of its power reserve. This is also the first watch with a case made from Aeronith, an aluminum composite lighter than titanium, aluminum or carbon fiber.

The accuracy of mechanical watches enters a new dimension with this innovative watch from the Swiss manufacture. The watch has been awarded triple certification: chronometer certification from the Besançon Observatory on behalf of the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, displayed in the viper’s head stamp; for thermal behavior, the ISO-3159 standard spectrum has been broadened; and the watch meets ISO-764 magnetic criteria.

Contact:

LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton
22, avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris – France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 22
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 23

Source: LVMH

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Posted on November 23, 2016 by Retail News Editor

TAG Heuer wins award for its reissue of the iconic Heuer Monza chronograph at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva

: TAG Heuer wins award for its reissue of the iconic Heuer Monza chronograph at the Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva

Geneva, Switzerland, 2016-Nov-23 — /EPR Retail News/ — At the prestigious Grand Prix d’Horlogerie in Geneva, TAG Heuer won an award in the “Revival” category for its reissue of the iconic Heuer Monza chronograph. Time to look back at this emblematic design, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

The award distinguishes the reissue of a model which belongs to the heritage of the manufacture, whose inspiration closely evokes the spirit of the original. Always highly sought-after by collectors, the Heuer Monza came into being in 1976 when Jack Heuer, the great grandson of the founder, designed a chronograph to celebrate Niki Lauda’s first Formula 1 world championship title with Ferrari.

2016 marks the House’s return to the origins of the watch, since today’s model features two key functions – the pulsometer and the tachymeter scale – which were not included on previous reissues. The original font, and the red hands and counters, reflect the watch’s racing heritage, while positioning it firmly as a new, contemporary design.

TAG Heuer has revived the famous coussin case and the black and white lacquered hands, which are identical to the original. In a key difference, the case of the new model is crafted from grade 5 titanium, making it lighter and more shock-resistant. The diameter of the dial has also been increased, from 39 mm to 42 mm. The “super-racing” strap, in full-grain black calfskin with top-stitching, evokes the three-spoke steering wheel design of racing cars of the time.

Jack Heuer, honorary chairman of TAG Heuer, who designed the original Monza, went on stage to accept the award at the request of Jean-Claude Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and President of the Watch Division of the LVMH group.

Contact:

LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton
22, avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris – France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 22
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 23

Source: LVMH

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Posted on November 21, 2016 by Retail News Editor

TAG Heuer and Zenith unveil new watchmaking school, LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie

: TAG Heuer and Zenith unveil new watchmaking school, LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie

Paris, 2016-Nov-21 — /EPR Retail News/ — Maisons TAG Heuer and Zenith are joining forces to establish the LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie watchmaking school. Delivering an original apprenticeship-based training program in partnership with the LVMH Institut des Métiers d’Excellence, it will welcome 12 apprentice watchmakers this year.

The Institut des Métiers d’Excellence (IME), founded by the LVMH group in 2014, offers work/study programs in partnership with vocational schools that are leaders in their respective disciplines. It thus emphasizes the key role played by master artisans and tutors in valorizing and perpetuating métiers centered on craftsmanship, design and retail.

After the ceremony marking the new IME school year on October 18th, during which the LVMH Ecole d’Horlogerie presented its first students, TAG Heuer and Zenith are today unveiling the new school.

At the initiative of Jean-Claude Biver, President of the Watch Division of the LVMH group, and Chantal Gaemperle, Group Executive Vice President Human Resources and Synergies, and member of the Executive Committee, the LVMH École d’Horlogerie pioneers an original training concept. Based in the workshops of the TAG Heuer Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the 12 future watchmakers will benefit from an apprenticeship with the two manufactures, which have very distinct cultures, products and DNA. They will also have access to other watchmaking Houses and the Group’s array of métiers via masterclasses organized by the Institut des Métiers d’Excellence.

The watchmaking heritage and craft tradition of Zenith are allied with the innovative, avant-garde spirit of TAG Heuer to comprise a truly unprecedented educational program.

Contact:

LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton
22, avenue Montaigne, 75008 Paris – France
Tel: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 22
Fax: +33 (0)1 44 13 22 23

Source: LVMH

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Posted on March 24, 2016 by EPR Retail News Editors

TAG Heuer unveils new digital strategy focused on increasing its presence in online sales

PARIS, 2016-Mar-24 — /EPR Retail News/ — TAG Heuer continues to show a boldly innovative spirit: following the release in November 2015 of the first connected luxury watch, the Swiss watchmaker unveils a new digital strategy focused on increasing its presence in online sales.

Unlike some luxury watchmakers who appear daunted by the prospect of selling online, the transition to the digital era doesn’t phase Jean-Claude Biver, the CEO of TAG Heuer and President of the LVMH Watch Division. In the wake of the 2015 launch of the Carrera Connected Watch in partnership with Google and Intel, Jean-Claude Biver has detailed a new digital strategy aimed at amplifying TAG Heuer’s online footprint.

TAG Heuer already has several e-business platforms that function independently in the United States, England and Australia, as well as a website that sells connected watches. Now the brand has announced plans to roll out a single platform where ultimately all TAG Heuer timepieces will be available for purchase. Part of an all-new website to be launched in late 2016, this platform will reach countries where e-business has not been available to date. By 2018 the platform will cover a maximum number of countries around the world.

Tag Heuer’s strategy reflects the fact that users are increasingly connected, and no longer wary of purchasing luxury products online. The appeal of the watchmaker’s products and greater trust among customers mean that online sales have become an integral part of consumption habits. At the same time, the hands-on experience of trying products on in shops remains one of the main decision factors when it comes to making a purchase. The role of an online sales platform is thus not to compete with bricks and mortar locations, but rather to offer an additional service, in particular for people who live in areas with limited retail networks.

The notion of trust figures at the heart of this strategy, which is designed to bring customers a unique product experience and create greater affinity with the watchmaker, whether they are long-time fans of the historical Heuer brand or new clients who recently discovered Tag Heuer via the connected watch.

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TAG Heuer unveils new digital strategy focused on increasing its presence in online sales

Carrera Connected Watch © TAG Heuer

Posted on October 29, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver on the creation of the TAG Heuer smartwatch

PARIS, 2015-10-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — LVMH brands continually integrate innovations to develop new products and target new customer segments. Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of TAG Heuer and President of the LVMH Watch Division, talks about creation of the TAG Heuer smartwatch. Developed in partnership with Intel and Google, this revolutionary new chronograph will be unveiled on November 9 in New York.

The Swiss watchmaking industry is characterized by tradition and artisanal know-how. Does TAG Heuer really have any legitimacy in creating a smartwatch?
TAG Heuer has been a Swiss avant-garde watch brand since 1860 and innovation is part of our DNA. The brand’s past is marked by numerous inventions and patents in watchmaking and chronometers. At the same time, TAG Heuer is a brand that appeals to a young and dynamic clientele strongly connected to the future. With a price range that starts at €1,200, TAG Heuer is one of the leading accessible luxury watch brands. All these reasons made it quite natural for us to launch the design of a connected watch.

Was it a challenge for TAG Heuer teams to integrate the innovation and technology components of this project? How did you proceed? What were the reactions of your teams?
Right from the outset, we intelligently called on the best specialists to help us take up this challenge. That’s why we teamed with Google, for the Google Wear software, and with Intel, for the microprocessor. It was clear for everyone at TAG Heuer that with this smartwatch we were entering a new segment that required skills that our current teams could not have. So we had no problems internally welcoming this new technology with open arms, especially with partners such as these.

Is adding a smart watch to your portfolio designed to attract new customer segments or strengthen ties with current TAG Heuer fans?
We’re continually seeking to bring new customers to the brand thanks to a broader offering. The smartwatch is clearly part of this conquest strategy. But it’s also obvious that a portion of the current TAG Heuer clientele is attracted by this new product and this new technology as well. So tune in on November 9 to discover this exciting innovation, the first TAG Heuer smartwatch!

SOURCE: LVMH

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TAG Heuer CEO Jean-Claude Biver on the creation of the TAG Heuer smartwatch

Posted on October 29, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Invitation to discover how LVMH Houses engage with innovation

PARIS, 2015-10-29 — /EPR Retail News/ — Innovation is deeply embedded in the DNA of the LVMH Group, providing a source of continued success and authenticity over the years. As a core value of LVMH, innovation inspires the Group’s houses in their quest for excellence, creating an ongoing dialogue between tradition and modernity. Several emblematic initiatives illustrate the pioneering spirit that guides us.

“Our business model is anchored in a long term vision that builds on the heritage of our Houses and stimulates creativity and excellence. This model drives the success of our Group and ensures its promising future,” says Bernard Arnault, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of LVMH, who notes that the Group’s success springs from a subtle balance. Innovation is a pillar of our business model. By drawing on an infinitely rich past and savoir-faire, LVMH Houses continue to blend tradition and modernity to create products that spark desire among our customers.

The history of LVMH Houses is replete with boundless innovation. Louis Vuitton created the Monogram canvas in the late 19th century to fight counterfeiting. Also in the 19th century, Aristide Boucicaut, invented modern retail commerce at Le Bon Marché department store, introducing fixed prices, labels, regular sales at specific times of the year, product returns, and other innovations. This quest for excellence is more dynamic than ever today.

“Our culture is focused on curiosity, change, opportunity, innovation and creativity, says Toni Belloni, Group Managing Director. “We want our brands to stay true to their origins, but reinvent them so they remain relevant to our current and future customers.”

Encouraged by Bernard Arnault, this focus on innovation requires the mindset of a start-up across an international group that is the world leader in the luxury industry and counts over 120,000 employees.

This week we invite you to discover how LVMH Houses engage with innovation. Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman and CEO of Tag Heuer, discusses how the watchmaker developed its connected watch, which will be unveiled on November 9 in New York. A much-awaited annual event, the MH Innovation Awards let Moët Hennessy celebrate the exemplary innovation drive of its Houses.

Innovation has always been deeply rooted in the DNA of Sephora, whose Innovation Lab is scaling up to mobilize staff and generate new ideas. Lastly, to better valorize the significant volume of data it has collected and mobilize technical talents, Louis Vuitton organized the first ever Hackathon in the luxury industry.

SOURCE: LVMH

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Invitation to discover how LVMH Houses engage with innovation

Posted on October 8, 2015 by EPR Retail News Editors

Hublot inaugurates second manufacturing building at its production center in Nyon, Switzerland

Nyon, Switzerland, 2015-10-8 — /EPR Retail News/ — On September 29, 2015, Hublot inaugurated a second manufacturing building at its production center in Nyon, Switzerland. The new building enables Hublot to increase production capacity to meet growing demand for its watches with the installation of over 100 new workstations.

After a year and a half of work, Hublot has completed the expansion of its manufacture. The new 8,000-square-meter workspace will mainly be used to produce components for Manufacture movements and watch cases, enabling the brand to boost production capacity and accommodate the rapid and growing demand for its watches.

In addition to creating 100 new workstations over the next five years, the facility enables reorganization of space at the site. Assembly workshops and the Innovations, Research & Development department will take over more space in the current building. The new building, linked directly to “Hublot 1” by a walkway, will produce cases and carbon fiber components, and also house the setting unit, consolidating all production right at the site.

Over 300 guests were on hand to celebrate the grand opening, including the brand’s prestigious ambassadors. After kicking off the ceremony, Bar Refaeli, Lapo Elkann and Pelé took part in the handover of the keys from the existing building to the new building. They were accompanied by Jean-Claude Biver, Chairman of Hublot and President of the LVMH Group’s Watch Division, and Ricardo Guadalupe, CEO of Hublot.

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