Jörg G. Bucherer, who built his family’s watch brand into an international powerhouse that was recently purchased by Rolex, died on Nov. 6, the company confirmed. He was 87.
The 135-year-old Bucherer brand was founded by Jörg’s grandfather Carl S. Bucherer. Jörg took over the helm from his father, Carl Eduard, in 1977.
As owner and chairman, Jörg helped turn the company into a 100-store retailer, thanks in part to a series of acquisitions, most notably its 2018 purchase of the 28-store U.S. watch retailer Tourneau. Bucherer followed up the Tourneau deal with the acquisition of four-store chain Baron & Leeds and California retailer Leeds & Son.
Earlier this year, Jörg, who had no children, sold his company to Rolex for an undisclosed sum, in a bid to “perpetuate the success of Bucherer and preserve the close partnership ties that have linked both companies since 1924,” according to a joint statement. It noted that Jörg Bucherer was “the last person still in activity to have known and worked with Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex.”
According to Bloomberg, Bucherer was extremely media shy and never gave a media interview. No information on survivors was available at press time.
(Photo courtesy of Bucherer)
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