The Transfer Window Has Opened -

At Corum...

Courtesy of Corum

This is not exactly "new" news, but relevant as we are on the cusp of the Geneva shows. The talk around the campfires on the outskirts of Watch Town is not as rosy as anyone would like it to be. So let's shake the Magic 8 Ball to see if we can get some clarity on this murky situation.

Will there be more attempted management buyouts?

So there you have it!

Watch Town is at a crossroads. And I am quite certain that the Watches and Wonders braintrust are starting to get the squirts. Attendance is already in question, a few not insignificant brands have decided to take a pass this year, and whether or not the orders will be rolling in? Let's just say the Magic 8 Ball got this one right ; )

Whether Lambert will succeed in buying out his employer and whether more brands will follow suit remains to be seen. One thing is painfully, abundantly clear - the market is getting tight.

So Geneva, here we come!

The Transfer Window Has Opened...

At Corum -

Courtesy of Corum

News made its way to the North Shore offices of "the blog formerly known as Tempus Fugit" this AM that a swanky building up the hill from downtown La Chaux-de-Fonds is under new ownership. 

Corum will change hands once again under a management buyout, and Citychamp is down to Eterna and Rotary in terms of Swiss brands in its stable.

How this will ultimately play out remains to be seen, but in fairness to everyone concerned, Corum is a brand with a great history and a lot of potential. The buyout involves several (as yet) unnamed Swiss investors and the person taking the helm is Haso Mehmedovic . Mr. Mehmedovic trained as a watch maker in Le Locle, and if my information is correct has spent his entire career at Corum, moving from the technical side to sales.

So we wish Mr. Mehmedovic and his colleagues the very best of success moving forward, and we shall see what develops.