What do IWC, Montblanc, Vacheron Constantin, and Cartier have in common? Apart from the fact that these brands produce very beautiful watches, it should be known that they all belong to a single group: Richemont.
Founded in the late 1980s, the firm is at the origin of the revival of Swiss watchmaking. And with a total annual turnover of around 20 billion euros, it is (naturally) an essential reference in the luxury market.
To perfect your knowledge, it is high time to briefly rediscover the history of the Richemont Group and to learn more about the watchmaking brands that make it up.
The brief history of the Richemont group
Who could have imagined that the small South African company specializing in tobacco would one day become the world’s number 3 luxury brand behind the LVMH and Kering groups? Its founder himself probably never envisaged it!
Long before the official birth of Compagnie Financière Richemont, the Rupert family began its activities in the world of tobacco, with the Rembrandt brand followed by Rothmans. We are then far from the watchmaking industry, but in the 1970s, Anton Rupert acquired a license allowing him to produce… Cartier cigarettes!
At the end of the 1980s, when international sanctions hit some South African companies because of apartheid, the Rupert family decided to separate the South African assets of Rembrandt and foreign assets through the Cartier group (which already owned the houses Piaget and Baume & Mercier at the time). The Richemont Financial Company was therefore officially born on August 16, 1988.
As early as 1991, the firm aimed to make a name for itself in the world of watchmaking by creating the International Salon of Fine Watchmaking (SIHH), the predecessor to the current Watches & Wonders in Geneva. From then on, Richemont’s influence would only expand, even more so with the creation of Vendôme Luxury Group (to distinguish itself further from its tobacco-related activities). Van Cleef & Arpels gradually joined the group’s portfolio, followed by Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Roger Dubuis…
In the summer of 2018, Richemont even became the owner of Watchfinder, the British company specialized in the sale of second-hand watches. Today, no less than 28 brands make up this multinational, not only in watchmaking and jewelery, but also in fashion (Chloé, Dunhill, Yoox, Net-a-Porter, MrPorter…). In total, all these entities generated a turnover of nearly 20 billion euros in 2023, notably thanks to the excellent results of jewelery houses Buccellati, Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.
💡Also read : Do you know all the watch brands of Swatch Group?
Here are the 11 watch brands of the Richemont group
Some will say that there are not 11 but 12 companies that make up the watchmaking sector at Richemont. This is due to the fact that the Polo Ralph Lauren brand partnered (equally) with the Swiss company in 2007, through the Ralph Lauren Watch and Jewelry Company. But alongside this joint venture, we propose you to discover the 11 brands that truly belong to Richemont SA.
A. Lange & Söhne
Founded in 1845 and reintroduced in 1990 after German reunification, A. Lange & Söhne is renowned for its watches made exclusively in gold or platinum. But it’s especially an iconic style that makes these models so desirable, like the Lange 1 collection and the large date display.
Baume & Mercier
Established in 1830, Baume & Mercier embodies the excellence of Swiss watchmaking art at a more accessible price. It is recognized for its elegant and functional watches, combining tradition and innovation. Classical indeed, but always effective, just like the new Riviera collection or the Clifton, inspired by vintage models from the 1950s.
Cartier
Synonymous with luxury and elegance, Cartier is not only a major figure in jewelry but also a reference in watchmaking. Founded in Paris in 1847, the brand has launched several watches that have made history, such as the Santos with its square case, the iconic Panthères, Baignoire and Ballon, or the famous Tank, launched in 1917 and whose silhouette is inspired by combat tanks. And if you have been attentive, you will also understood that Cartier is the foundation of Richemont’s success in the luxury and watch market.
IWC Schaffhausen
The International Watch Company was established in 1868 by an American living in Switzerland, Florentine Ariosto Jones. And although he only headed his company for a short time, the house based in Schaffhausen has always managed to innovate and reinvent itself to stay relevant.
The one who was among the first to develop titanium and ceramic watches is today renowned for its pilot watches (the aptly named Pilot collection). But its Portugieser, born in the 1930s, is still very much appreciated by watchmaking purists and enthusiasts.
Jaeger-LeCoultre
It’s impossible not to associate the Jaeger-LeCoultre house with its legendary Reverso. Invented in 1931, this watch can pivot inside its case to protect the dial.
But, as iconic as it may be, Jaeger-LeCoultre should not be limited to this single model. Its ultra-thin watches, like the Master Ultra Thin, but also the Polaris or its Duomètre, are exceptional timepieces that any horology enthusiast should know about.
Montblanc
Initially known for its writing instruments, the Montblanc brand ventured into watchmaking in 1997. As its name suggests, the Star Legacy collection reflects its heritage with traditional dials and complications such as moon phases.
But in just over 25 years of existence, the brand with the white star has also proven itself with watches designed for adventure like the Iced Sea and 1858 Geosphere.
Panerai
Just like Tudor, Ulysse Nardin or even Herbelin, Panerai is one of those brands that maintain very close ties with offshore racing.
And when they are not on the water, Panerai watches also know how to be comfortable underwater. The Luminor, for example, is a diving model that stands out for its patented protective crown and its dial that is easily readable under water.
Piaget
In 2024, Piaget celebrates its 150 years of existence. It’s an opportunity for them to highlight one of their most iconic models, the Polo.
But over the last few years, the brand has also (and especially) distinguished itself by its excellence in ultra-thin watches. Even though it has been dethroned by Richard Mille and Bvlgari, the Altiplano remains, for instance, one of the flattest mechanical watches in the world.
Roger Dubuis
Founded in 1995, Roger Dubuis is renowned for its bold and complex watches. Within these collections, the Excalibur model stands out, with its extravagant design and sophisticated mechanisms visible through a skeletonized dial.
His King of the Round Table collection, with its knights sculpted all around the dial, is also a marvel of precision.
Vacheron Constantin
Established in 1755, Vacheron Constantin is presented as the oldest watchmaking manufacture in the world. The Patrimony model perfectly embodies the brand’s classicism with its sleek and elegant design. But from its Overseas watches to the Métiers d’Art, passing through the Fiftysix and Creative Hours, Vacheron Constantin also shines through the diversity of its collections.
Evidence of its impressive craftsmanship, the Berkley Grande Complication holds the record for the most sophisticated watch in the world, with no less than 63 horological complications!
Van Cleef & Arpels
We conclude this tour in poetry and gentleness: better known for its jewelry creations, Van Cleef & Arpels also offers beautifully crafted watches… mainly for ladies.
His ‘Poetic Complication’, for example, combines high watchmaking and artistic design, with romantic and lively scenes on the dial. And what about his Lady Arpels Day Night and its 640 diamonds (as well as its aventurine, mother-of-pearl, and its… 43 sapphires!)?
