closing

Pierre Kunz Watch Manufacture In Danger Of Closing Shop?

Pierre Kunz could be another luxury watch brand that will fall victim to "the crisis" or as the luxury watch industry is less than affectionately referring to the current economic downturn. I reported a while ago that Franck Muller was about to cut a large number of jobs. Looks like things are worse than expected at the company who owns watch brand Pierre Kunz, among a couple of other more boutique brands - Pierre Kunz being the most well known. According to the Tribune De Geneve, Franck Muller can "no longer support its young brands." It is unclear whether this means Franck Muller operated brands like Pierre Kunz will cease operation, be sold, or be "consolidated" somehow.

Pierre Kunz has some innovative and beautiful models under its catalog including the pictured G703 T STR Tourbillon and the Infinity Looping Black Steel watches. They have even announced new watches recently. In instances where a brand is highly marketable but its parent company does not have the funds to continue to support it, there is often an interested outside buyer who will save the small manufacture. It is unclear in today's economy how likely this is for Pierre Kunz. Other Franck Muller brands likely to kick the bucket are ECW, Rodolphe, and Barthelay.

Via WorldTempus (in mostly French).

Ariel Adams publishes the luxury watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: brand, closing, company, franck muller, FranckMuller, pierre kunz, PierreKunz, swiss, watch

Watch Maker Bedat & Co. Allegedly Closing Shop

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Timepieces / Watches

As a sign of the times, another watch company is buckling under the economic difficulties especially present in the luxury industry. Bedat & Co. which started in 1996 will close its doors and cease operations soon, according to multiple industry sources. The luxury watch maker had a number of interesting watches for both men and women, such as favorites like the No.3, No. 7, and No. 8.

Bedat & Co. was founded by Simone Bedat who branched off after being a business partner of Raymond Weil. The brand enjoyed healthy distribution in high-end watch retailers and department stores alike. While it isn't clear exactly why certain watch brands are suffering more than others, I speculate it has to do with the annual sales volume a brand needs to survive. Interestingly, Bedat & Co. was purchased by Gucci in 2000, which means that its closure might be a preemptive financial security measure taken by Gucci in anticipation of harder times ahead for the luxury group of brands.

At this time there is no specific date for Bedat & Co. to close up shop, or indication of whether it has filed for bankruptcy. Though, several sources indicate that we will be seeing the end of Bedat & Co. soon. It is a shame, and the worst part is that we never know what brand will kick the bucket next.

Ariel Adams publishes the watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.

Tags: bankruptcy, bedat, bedat co, BedatCo, closing, no. 3, No.3, timepeice, watch

Batali's Bistro du Vent for Sale

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

A mere 15 months after opening the midtown Bistro, Mario Batali has put his Bistro du Vent on the market. Though it is grossing over $2.1 million per year, the scandal caused last August by some overly amorous employees and the so-so location are not making the restaurant worth Batali's continued time. The restaurant is approximately 2,000 square feet and seats 80 indoors with a 24 seat sidewalk cafe space, and an all new first-class turn-key installation by Mario Batali. Apparently, the two-star restaurant is unlikely to retain its chef past the sale date. There are 12 months remaining on the current lease at $13,500 per month. The asking price is $400,000.