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In the illustrious watchmaking brands that he has directed or acquired, Jean-Claude Biver<\/strong> had made sparks fly. Notably at LVMH<\/strong> where he was head of the watch division from 2014<\/strong> to 2019<\/strong>. He was responsible for the rebirth of Blancpain<\/strong>, the return of Omega<\/strong> to the rails and the take-off of Hublot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Now in his 70s, entrepreneur Jean-Claude Biver is not planning to retire. He has revealed to the Swiss media his new project: the launch next year of his own luxury watch brand. He will rely on the next generation, in this case his 22-year-old son Pierre. But it is the initials of the elder son that the future brand should bear. The brand will charge prices ranging from 300,000 to 600,000 Swiss francs<\/strong> (approximately 291,000 to 581,000 euros).<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Three specialists have already been recruited to produce the movements with subcontractors. In other words, “the best traditional suppliers in the watchmaking industry”<\/em>, promised Jean-Claude Biver<\/strong>. The first watches should leave the workshops of his partners “in September 2023 at the latest” .<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n While around twenty orders have already been received, the family business is aiming to produce 30 to 50 pieces<\/strong> in the first year. Before ramping up to 100 or 200<\/strong> within ten years.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n For Jean-Claude Biver, this new entrepreneurial adventure will undoubtedly be the epilogue to a career entirely dedicated to watchmaking. Having lived in Switzerland<\/strong> since his early childhood, and having graduated from HEC Lausanne<\/strong>, this Franco-Luxembourger of origin joined and then rapidly managed the biggest brands on behalf of others, at Audemars Piguet, Omega<\/strong>, but also for LVMH (Hublot, TAG Heuer<\/strong> and Zenith)<\/strong>. But he also set up his own business in 1982.<\/strong> At that time, together with Jacques Piguet,<\/strong> Director of the F. Piguet movement factory, he bought the rights to the Blancpain brand. This manufacturer of traditional spring watches had been dethroned by the quartz watch. Jean-Claude Bivern took up the challenge and claimed that “since 1735, there has never been a Blancpain quartz watch” and “there never will be ! He succeeded : in 1992, he sold Blancpain to the SMH group<\/strong> (the future Swatch Group<\/strong>) for 60 million Swiss francs<\/strong>, even though he himself had paid… 22,000 Swiss francs<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In 2004,<\/strong> Jean-Claude Biver also bought Hublot, a company created in 1980<\/strong> by Carlo Crocco<\/strong>, Blancpain’s representative in Italy. He propelled the brand forward thanks in particular to the creation of the Big Bang, an alloy of gold and…rubber, with a case bezel resembling a ship’s porthole. In 2008<\/strong> Hublot, with a very healthy balance sheet, was sold to LVMH for 490 million euros<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Read also >\u00a0[THE LUXURY JOURNALS] JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BABIN (BVLGARI): \u00abI AM PROUD THAT AN ITALIAN COMPANY HAS MANAGED TO REINVENT SWISS WATCHMAKING\u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Featured photos : \u00a9 Fred Merz[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row njt-role=”not-logged-in”][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n In the illustrious watchmaking brands that he has directed or acquired, Jean-Claude Biver<\/strong> had made sparks fly. Notably at LVMH<\/strong> where he was head of the watch division from 2014<\/strong> to 2019<\/strong>. He was responsible for the rebirth of Blancpain<\/strong>, the return of Omega<\/strong> to the rails and the take-off of Hublot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n […][\/vc_column_text][vc_cta h2=”This article is reserved for subscribers.” h2_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:16|text_align:left” h2_use_theme_fonts=”yes” h4=”Subscribe now !” h4_font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:32|text_align:left|line_height:bas” h4_use_theme_fonts=”yes” txt_align=”center” color=”black” add_button=”right” btn_title=”I SUBSCRIBE !” btn_color=”danger” btn_size=”lg” btn_align=”center” use_custom_fonts_h2=”true” use_custom_fonts_h4=”true” btn_button_block=”true” btn_custom_onclick=”true” btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fluxus-plus.com%2Fen%2Fsubscriptions-and-newsletter-special-offer-valid-until-september-30-2020-2-2%2F”]Get unlimited access to all articles and live a new reading experience, preview contents, exclusive newsletters…<\/p>\n<\/h4>\n
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The serial watch industry leader announces the release of the first models in 2023.<\/h4>\n