It is said that the history of the appearance of the JeanRichard brand dates back to the 17th century. Then in the tiny mountain village of Le Sentier, somewhere between the Geneva and the French borders in the Jurassic Mountains, there lived a boy who was able to achieve the impossible: to create a pocket watch from almost nothing.
According to legend, Daniel Jean-Richard was fourteen years old when he first picked up a broken carriage watch belonging to a visiting Englishman. Jean-Richard then worked in a forge and made church utensils from gold and silver. He managed to fix the breakdown. After this incident, the young man became attached to watchmaking and began to call himself a "watchmaker-jeweler." In 1701, Daniel Jean-Richard hired his first students. Undoubtedly, this great master is one of the founders of the Swiss watch industry and the first to train watchmakers, including his sons. Centuries later, the name of the watchmaker continues to live in the works of his followers ...
Today, the JeanRichard brand, named after the brilliant watchmaker of the past, is managed by Massimo Macaluso, the son of Luigi Macaluso, who revived the Girard-Perregaux watch factory several decades ago. Having gained experience in restoring the watch brand, Luigi Macaluso took the following bar: he created his own brand, which he named after Jean-Richard, and gave Massimo to his son for management.
The next important step in the life of the young brand of watches was already taken under the auspices of Massimo Macaluso: the automatic movement of the JR 1000 caliber was created exclusively by JeanRichard for the manufacture of Girard-Perregaux. The “family ties” with Girard-Perregaux were very useful for the young watch brand in terms of various developments and know-how: based on them, JeanRichard created a model with a minute repeater, featuring an impressive gong, and earned the approval of the watch community.
The JeanRichard brand, which is part of the Sowind Group along with Girard-Perregaux, now only produces luxury watches and even competes with the group’s main brand, Jean-Richard President Massimo Macaluso told our correspondent during a meeting in Dubai, answering a number of questions that interest us.
Massimo, what do you think of the Russian luxury market and buyers from the CIS countries?
If we talk about Russian customers, their number today has increased markedly. It seems to me that their purchasing power is directly proportional to world oil prices. When the cost of one barrel was US $ 70-100, we noted an increase in our sales, while prices fell below the level of US $ 70, the pace of sales slowed noticeably. However, I must note that the largest market for our brand is the Russian luxury market.
Do you have your own boutique in Moscow?
Not yet, but we have a good Russian partner representing our watches. We have developed an excellent business plan to promote our watches around the world. And I noticed that Russian buyers purchase goods not only at home, but also in Europe, and even in Hawaii. They, like superstars, love everything luxurious. I recently spoke with one of the largest PR companies in the world promoting the Gucci Group, so they told me that on a global scale, their largest customers are buyers from Russia, China, and also, perhaps, India, who prefer to buy luxury goods. Today it is very important for us, because in connection with the global financial climate, many tourists approach shopping issues much more carefully.
How much does a JeanRichard watch cost?
On average, the price of our watches, depending on the model, is about 8,000 euros.
Is it true that the watch brand JeanRichard is the oldest in Switzerland?
I think yes. The history of the JeanRichard brand dates back to 1681.
Given the fierce competition in the watch market, how does your brand differ from the rest?
Our watches have advantages such as technical and creative independence. We make all cases and innovative mechanisms directly in the factory.
In our new collection, we used green, yellow and blue shades. She is very bright and bright. The process itself is similar to the manufacture of motorcycles. We have a special collection in rubber housing and using other special unique materials. We produce separate collections for women and men. We plan to open our boutique in Dubai, and now we are just looking for a good place for it.
What do you want to wish our Russian-speaking readers?
Our watch is a great opportunity for people to get acquainted with the history and culture of the Jean Richard brand and get in touch with a luxurious life. We plan to introduce our brand in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Oman and other countries in the Middle East. Waiting for you.
