Newswire

Staff -- JCK Online, 5/1/2006 2:00:00 AM

• The group Dubois Dépraz, which specializes in manufacturing mechanical and complicated movements, has acquired ISA Swiss, another Swiss movement maker. ISA is a significant supplier of Dubois Dépraz.

• Watch designer Jorg Hysek resigned Feb. 22 from the company he founded and led—Jorg Hysek Horlogerie S.A., which produces his branded luxury watches, pens, jewelry, and other accessories. Hysek began his career with Rolex, which he left in the early 1980s to become an independent watch designer. In 1997 he launched his Jorg Hysek brand with his pens, and in 1999 he unveiled his own branded luxury timepieces (now including Kilada, V-King, and X-Ray). In 2005 he and two other designers started another, separate luxury watch brand called hD3.

• The Swiss luxury brand Bovet Fleurier has purchased the 15th-century castle of Môtiers from the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel, Switzerland’s watchmaking center, and will move activities there from Geneva. It will also set up a Bovet museum in the castle.

• Forbes magazine ranks three watch industry people among the world’s wealthiest. Bernard Arnault, France, 57, chairman and CEO of luxury goods group LVMH, ranked seven ($21.5 billion). LVMH watches include TAG Heuer and Zenith. Nicolas Hayek, Switzerland, 77, co-founder and chairman of Swatch Group, was ranked 292 ($2.5 billion). Swatch brands include Breguet, Hamilton, Longines and Omega. Jean-Louis Dumas and family, France, 67, chairman of Hermès, also was ranked at 292 ($2.5 billion).