Rolex Acquires 135-Year-Old Watchmaker Carl F. Bucherer

Photo bycourtesy of Bucherer

According to a company report, Rolex SA, the Swiss watch designer and manufacturer based in Geneva, has decided to acquire Bucherer. The transaction will preserve the long-standing partnership between the two companies and perpetuate their shared history. Bucherer will continue to operate independently.

Photo byCourtesy of Rolex

According to Rolex, the original name was Wilsdorf and Davis, after Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis in London. Rolex was founded in 1905 in Switzerland. The company registered the Rolex brand name in 1908. and became Rolex Watch Co. Ltd. in 1915. The company went on to invent the waterproof watch case in 1926.

In 1924, Ernst Bucherer had the foresight to secure an agreement with Hans Wilsdorf to make the family-held Bucherer Group a major retail partner of Rolex. One of the first Bucherer stores. Very quickly, helped by their parallel quest for high quality and excellence, this special partnership was marked by success. -Rolex.com

Bucherer will keep its name, and the integration into the Rolex group will be effective once the competition authorities have approved the takeover transaction.

Bucherer operates more than 100 locations globally. Fifty-three of those locations retail Rolex, and 48 retail Tudor. Bucherer also serves as an official after-sales service center for both brands. - Rolex Spokesperson

Following the choice made by Jörg Bucherer, in the absence of direct descendants, to sell his company’s business, Rolex has decided to acquire the watch retailer, which was until now an independent entity.

This move reflects the Geneva-based brand’s desire to perpetuate Bucherer’s success and preserve the close partnership ties that have linked both companies since 1924.

Photo bycourtesy of Bucherer

For more than 90 years, the two businesses have worked together and contributed to each other’s achievements and growth. Today, Rolex stands as one of the leaders of the Swiss luxury watchmaking sector.

Bucherer, founded in 1888, has become an internationally renowned multi-brand retailer in Switzerland, the United States, England, Germany, France, Denmark and Austria.

Bucherer operates more than 100 sales outlets worldwide, of which 53 distribute the Rolex brand and 48 distribute the Tudor brand. The watch retailer is also an official after-sales service center for both brands. Its watch servicing workshops employ watchmakers trained by the company itself and are highly qualified.

The Rolex group is convinced that this acquisition is the best solution for all the watch and jewelry partner brands and all the employees of the Bucherer group.

Photo byCourtesy of Rolex

Bucherer will keep its name and continue to run its business independently. Its integration into the Rolex group will be effective once the competition authorities have approved the takeover transaction.

A Long-Standing Shared History

Rolex and Bucherer share a long history. Bucherer has been an official retailer of the Rolex manufacture since 1924. The professional relationship, friendship ties, and mutual respect have endured.

It’s true Jörg Bucherer was the last person still in activity to have known and worked with Hans Wilsdorf, the founder of Rolex. He will remain as honorary president of the Bucherer group.

Rolex is proud of what the two companies have achieved since the start of their collaboration.

Learn more about Rolex at www.rolex.com. The link to Bucherer is www.bucherer.com.

***

Douglas Pilarski is an award-winning writer & journalist based on the West Coast. He writes about luxury goods, exotic cars, horology, tech, food, lifestyle, equestrian and rodeo, magazine features, and millionaire travel.

Share your thoughts and stories at dp1@sawyertms.com.

***

N.B. This article is for information purposes only. The author has no financial interest in purchases made through the links provided and does not earn a commission.