Georges Kern has always been a visionary – that’s why IWC is a market leader in every imaginable aspect.
As far as sweeping statements go, this one may actually be worth making: Georges Kern doesn’t care much for rules. He knows what they are, he just doesn’t believe in following all of them to a T. This is one brand leader who sees the difference between tradition and convention, and knows exactly what needs rejuvenation and what must be preserved – he was, at this time, the boss of a 148-year-old watch brand after all. Talk to Kern and you’ll get a sense that what matters to the 50-year-old swiss German is relevance. results matter too, but foremost is relevance. Consequently, his is the only high luxury brand that could conceivably make a thriving online business (NB: IWC isn’t the first but it is one of the most prominent). That IWC watches are now available on Net-A Porter and Mr. Porter cements Kern’s reputation as a trailblazer and brilliant strategist. No one has ever sold a hundred-plus thousand dollar timepiece online before, but if anyone could make it happen, it is Kern.
For 2017, IWC has brought the Da Vinci collection back after a 10-year hiatus. The watch now sports a round case rather than a tonneau one and according to Kern, this is purely a marketing driven decision. He has also stated that the new Da Vinci will complete IWC’s offering of timepieces, bringing a cultural angle into the picture that’s already dominated by sports and dress watches. This is undoubtedly the first of many strategic management manoeuvres to come, as Kern takes on his new role as head of watchmaking, marketing and digital for IWC’s parent company, the richemont Group. As of January 2017, Kern has also taken on the role of interim CEo for Jaeger-LeCoultre, following a second round of management reorganisation within richemont. In singapore for the 2016 singapore International Film Festival, he opens up on the Da Vinci collection, setting up retail channels online, and how to speak to the millennial audience.
Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av World of Watches.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2017-utgaven av World of Watches.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BRAND ELEVATION
On the sidelines of Geneva Watch Days, Bulgari CEO JeanChristophe Babin talks about the challenges of having one brand identity across all categories, and tells us what he really thinks of watch fairs.
EVEN MORE HANDS
For the third year in a row, the collective WOW team shares the watches we ponied up for. As always, we include a couple of fantasy pieces and more than a few fails.
CONCEPTS AND CONSEQUENCES
What is the legacy of concept watches? What happens when the show is over and it is time to actually manufacture them? How do these ticking research labs translate into actual, wearable timepieces...if they ever do?
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
In the watchmaking industry, a company’s longevity is oftentimes measured not in decades but in centuries. What then happens to a brand beyond its founders? We speak to three CEOs to answer this question.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The quest to add one day to a month every four years may seem like a mundane task in the digital age, but achieving this mechanically is anything but.
FLIP SIDE
Omega celebrates the first human flight orbit the moon with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.
SNAPPING BACK
A powerful showcase for a one-of-a-kind constant force mechanism, the Girard Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement is now available for everyone.
GO FOR GOLD
Forty-five years after Piaget released its allgold Polo 79 luxury sports watch to critical acclaim, the maison revisits this iconic collection with a new ultra-thin movement.
CLEAR WINNER
Hublot's fourth collaboration with Takashi Murakami puts the artist's joyful flower motif at the centre of a bold new case design.
HISTORICAL TRIBUTE
Parmigiani Fleurier launches a new version of their Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar with a vivid green dial.