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HomeWatchesLuxury giant LVMH acquires prestigious Swiss watchmaker L'Epée 1839

Luxury giant LVMH acquires prestigious Swiss watchmaker L'Epée 1839

In an unexpected strategic move, LVMH Group has acquired L'Epée 1839, a luxury watchmaker renowned for its exceptional creations. The acquisition strengthens LVMH's position in the fine watchmaking sector and promises to open up new creative opportunities for both entities.

A prestigious wedding in the world of luxury

LVMH’s acquisition of L’Epée 1839 seems like a no-brainer to many industry observers. Founded in 1839, the Swiss house has established itself as one of the world’s most prestigious clock makers, renowned for its complex and often unique creations.

Key points of the acquisition:

  • L'Epée 1839 joins LVMH's luxury brand portfolio
  • The Swiss house retains its identity and its management team
  • More than 80 employees and craftsmen will remain in place
  • Arnaud Nicolas, CEO and creative director, retains his position
  • Exceptional watchmaking know-how

    The Epée 1839 stands out for its mastery of the most complex watchmaking complications. Among his most impressive achievements are:

  • Clocks incorporating perpetual calendars
  • Creations with swirls
  • A clock with an exceptional power reserve of 8,760 hours (a whole year)
  • These technical feats demonstrate the house's unrivaled expertise in the field of fine watchmaking.

    Between tradition and innovation

    If L'Epée 1839 remains faithful to its watchmaking heritage, the house does not hesitate to explore daring creative territories. Its recent collaboration with MB&F, an avant-garde watch brand, gave birth to “The Orb”, a mechanical clock with a futuristic design evoking the world of science fiction.

    Examples of innovative creations:

  • Hot air balloon shaped clock for Louis Vuitton
  • Collaborations with contemporary watch brands
  • Designs combining watchmaking tradition and modern aesthetics
  • A booming clock market

    The acquisition of L'Epée 1839 by LVMH comes at a time when the luxury watch market is in a favourable context. We are seeing a renewed interest from collectors in these exceptional pieces:

  • Growing success of clocks at auctions
  • Craze for modern creations from prestigious brands like Van Cleef & Arpels
  • Growing demand for unique and complex watch objects
  • Future prospects for L'Epée 1839 within LVMH

    The integration of L'Epée 1839 into the LVMH group opens up new opportunities for the watchmaking house:

  • Access to the group's resources and distribution network
  • Potential collaborations with other brands in the LVMH portfolio
  • Investments to develop new creations and technologies
  • LVMH seems to want to preserve the identity and creative autonomy of L'Epée 1839, while giving it the means to develop on an international scale.

    Expert opinion

    Specialists in the luxury and watchmaking sector view this acquisition favorably:

  • Complementarity between the know-how of L'Epée 1839 and the expertise of LVMH in luxury
  • Significant growth potential for the Swiss brand
  • Strengthening LVMH’s position in the fine watchmaking sector
  • Highlighted strong points:

  • Preserving the identity and know-how of L'Epée 1839
  • Possible synergies with other LVMH group brands
  • Increased innovation capacity thanks to the group's resources
  • LVMH’s acquisition of L’Epée 1839 marks a major turning point in the history of the Swiss watchmaker. This union promises to give birth to even more exceptional watchmaking creations, combining centuries-old tradition with contemporary innovation. Watch enthusiasts around the world can look forward to new mechanical marvels from this collaboration between two luxury giants.

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