Business

Business

Fame and Fortune

The celebrity effect on the value of watches

From Novak Djokovic and Hublot to Leo di Caprio and Rolex or Zendaya and Bulgari, luxury timepieces have long been part of the star-studded spotlight. But just how much does a celebrity association actually boost the value of a watch?

That’s the million-dollar question – or in some cases, much more.

In the absence of hard numbers from brands on endorsement fees or pre- and post-campaign performance, our Watch Editor and economist, Dr Andrew Hildreth set out to provide the most rigorous estimates yet. By diving into auction records and dealer data, he’s uncovered telling patterns about the price premiums attached to celebrity connections – paid or otherwise.

From the left: Paul Newman’s Rolex Daytona ref. 6239, sold at Phillips’ Winning Icons, 2017, © Phillips. Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Chronograph End of Days, 1999. Crash de Cartier, Paris 1991, limited edition, © Wristcheck.com.

THE THREE TYPES OF CELEBRITY INFLUENCE

My analysis breaks celebrity impact into three categories: accidental exposure, historical association, and paid endorsement and includes only three watches due to the scarcity of data.

The Unintentional Endorsement

Sometimes, a celebrity simply wears a watch – no sponsorship, no…

Business

Richard Benc – The Underd0g

Breaking all the rules

After witnessing the long queues to the Studio Underd0g stand snaking around the London venue for British Watchmakers’ Day back in March, our Editor-in-Chief Julia Pasarón couldn’t resist finding out more about the man causing the disruption: Richard Benc. Richard ended up in watchmaking more out of chance than passion. With a degree in product design, […]

Business, Lifestyle, luxury shopping

Harrods’ 175th anniversary

The world’s most famous luxury department store celebrates 175 years of retail magic

Arguably the most famous luxury department store in the world, Harrods is marking its 175th anniversary with all manner of exciting celebrations and special-edition products. From its iconic teddy bears to its renowned Festival of Lights, there are many highlights in store for customers throughout the year. Embodying the very essence of luxury, tradition and […]

Business, Science

Space Junk Odyssey

Omega joins forces with Privateer for a new orbital space technology platform.

The Privateer mission was bound to happen, it was only a matter of time. Founded in 2021 by ex-NASA and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs Alex Fielding and Steve Wozniak (the latter also known as “Woz” for being considered a wizard of the tech sector), and Dr Moriba Jah, an astrophysicist and academic, Privateer is looking at […]

Business

The Importance of Diversity & Inclusion

By Sienna Taylor

Diversity and inclusion are not just mere buzzwords that represent a fleeting trend. In the 21st century, companies must integrate these two principles into their core business strategies. From employment to operations, businesses must be able to incorporate all strands of diversity and inclusion: age, disability, gender, race, culture, and religion, into the workplace. Diversity […]

Business, Toys

It Is All About Desire

Torsten Müller-Ötvös, CEO, Rolls-Royce

Intelligent looking and always impeccably dressed, Torsten Müller-Ötvös has been Chief Executive Officer at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars since 2010, after building a top career in the automotive sector that includes the stellar re-launch of MINI (2000) and the global marketing and brand management of BMW (2004). In these 12 years, Torsten has turned around the […]

Business, Lifestyle

Linda Pilkington

The power of small

Linda Pilkington exudes an energy and passion that seem difficult to be contained in such a petite woman – less than five foot tall. The only British female perfumer that owns her own house after more than 20 years, Linda’s brand, Ormonde Jayne, has become synonymous with the finest, gender and stereotype-free fragrances in the […]

Business

My I-M Time

Under the direction of our new editor, Dr Andrew Hildreth, this year I-M TIME puts a special focus on humanity’s exploration endeavours, featuring the Omega Alaska Project, extreme diver’s watches and the 20th-century race to space. On the other hand, we celebrate style and panache, looking at the 50th anniversary of Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak […]

Business, Culture, Lifestyle

Lily Cole

Yes, we can save the Earth

As a humanitarian and environmental activist, Lily had for a long time a controversial relationship with gems extracted from under the skin of our planet. In this interview, she is joined by the founder of Skydiamond, Dale Vince and photographer Rankin, to explain to our editor Julia Pasarón how we can turn the industry into […]

Business

Marco Lavazza

Blending the past to shape the future

Marco Lavazza has worked in the family business all his professional life. At the age of 44, he serves as Vice President of the company, the legacy of which he feels responsible for safeguarding, as he does for leading it into the future. Lavazza is now run by the third and fourth generation of the […]

Business

Diamonds Truly Are Forever

Diamonds have long been one of nature’s most revered creations. Since the dawn of humanity their beauty, strength and resilience have enchanted people the world over. Ancient Greeks believed them to have mystical protective powers, and it is from the Greek term “Adamas”, meaning invincible, that the word “diamond” originates. Over time, the magic of […]

Business, Lifestyle

Freedom

By Pivotal

In the same way our life changes over time, so do our needs for a car, not just in terms of which one but how often we use it and what we use it for. The vehicle you use to whizz around town may not be that useful for a holiday or to ferry kids […]