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1) In your opinion, which model among this year's Eberhard & Co Basel World new releases?
Do you find the most interesting?
The Company worked on the development of some of its “pillar lines” and in particular the Chrono 4 and the Tazio Nuvolari Vanderbilt. Among them a very nice appreciation has been given to the Chrono 4 Géant Full Injection with external and internal DLC treatment and to the Vanderbilt Cup “Naked”, “simplified” from the previous version and now with a black dial and without the double case but still very impactful and elegant
2) When will be the novelties received in Middle East markets?
Most of the novelties will be ready by the end of June but unless differently agreed we normally “freeze” them until September
3) What is Eberhard & Co biggest market?
Italy is the biggest market and even if the current economic situation makes business more difficult than before it is still very interesting and the distribution is capillary.
4) What is the biggest Middle East market for Eberhard & Co? What is the most selling product?
The most important market is without doubts the Emirates and Dubai in particular, where we work with our local partner, Damas, and we have points of sale at the Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates and since this month also at the prestigious Burj al Arab. The Chrono 4 is the leading collection but by definition Dubai has an international clientele and also the other main collections are appreciated, the Extra-fort, Tazio Nuvolari and 8 Days without forgetting the ladies watch Gilda
5) What are the potentials the Middle Eastern market holds for Eberhard & Co watches with the uprising competition?
Strategically Eberhard & Co entered the Middle East market only a year ago and thanks to its reputation and international notoriety could immediately benefit of great local partnership with some of the best Companies. Nevertheless the job is not completely done yet and in the next two years has to be completed by giving rotation to the collection and by implementing the remaining markets
6) What are your expansion plans for the region?
As anticipated we work on a 2/3 years project that will strengthen the relations with existing and future partners. Eberhard is one of the few remaining historical independent Brand, with a strong connotation of its products and a resolute commitment to keep on producing watches in a correct range of price with unique technical developments, ideal for the local watch connoisseurs.
7) Does your strategy include opening stand alone boutiques?
We are already working on some projects that we cannot disclose anything until they are completed. Nevertheless we still consider local retailers and multi-brand boutiques as the most important driver for a Brand, supported as they are by the know-how of the local partners companies
8) What trends do you foresee for Swiss watchmaking in the coming years?
The Swiss watchmaking has a large potential of growth; watches are one of the main accessories to declare our status and the Middle East markets are, in our opinion, among those with the highest potential.
9) Talking also about this year trends, it seems medium and small size watch cases are back, how much is Eberhard & Co is going into this especially that it fulfills the need if the Chinese market?
Eberhard has never forgotten the medium and small sizes, not because of the Chinese market but because we simply thought that nothing lasts forever and smaller sizes would have come back. Definitely the average dimensions grew in the last 10 years and we will not go back to 35/37 mm., but when you want to wear something elegant you most probably will have to refer to a medium sized watch and not to a big 45 mm. It is not to be forgotten that the classical watches are much nicer when they are not too big.
10) What is the percentage of the women watches Eberhard & Co produce compared to the masculine watches introduced?
Eberhard decided to produce a feminine line when we thought it was the right moment and because the heritage of the Company, already producing jewel watches in 1910, needed a presence in this segment. Obviously men’s watches remain the main part (90% I would say) of our sales, but Gilda is giving us many satisfactions.
11) Eberhard & Co sponsored sports events around the world; do you have any plans to do the same in the Middle East?
Yes, for sure. Events are important and to contact with the local end-consumers is one of the main necessity of any Brand.
12) Where do you see Eberhard & Co in the coming five years? Where do you see it in terms of offering more complicated watches?
In 5 years we wish to see the Brand’s local distribution finally completed, with a selected number of qualitative points of sale around the Region and customers considering Eberhard as a real alternative. Our vision is focused on remaining coherent with our DNA, which is at the base of the success the Brand has enjoyed so far. After over 125 years of uninterrupted history we know who we are, a Brand that can offer a top quality watch with serious technical content in the correct price range. Of course we have on-going projects that will involve also mechanical innovations, and we will develop them with the objective to keep offering value-for-money to our Clients, no matter what segment of our production they will chose.