It happened last year, on September 8, but it hit the headlines recently. Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele (49), co-president of Chopard (the other co-president is her brother Karl‑Friedrich), was in Hong Kong for the opening of a new Chopard store. During a visit to the ladies’ room of the Four Seasons Hotel’s Harbour View ballroom she took off her ring to wash her hands. Seven minutes later she realized that she had left the ring in the ladies’ room and she raced back only to discover that the ring was gone.

Every year the Digital Luxury Group unveils during the SIHH (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva) the market research results for Haute Horlogerie brands in its WorldWatchReport.

The Report is based on millions of searches by independent and anonymous consumers through the leading internet search engines (Google, Bing, and others) and provides a unique view of preferences and topics of interest.

On January 16 this year Bloomberg, the American journal, paid attention to Cartier, the jewellery maison owned by the Groupe Richemont. In an article by Dermot Doherty, Bernard Fornas, CEO of Cartier, is cited as stating that Cartier is gaining a lot of market share because bigger watches are losing a bit of ground and customers are buying more discrete timepieces such as models of the Ballon Blue collection (introduced in 2007). In uncertain times people go to the authentic brands and not to fashion brands.

Eberhard & Co. celebrates this year its 125th anniversary and the brand does this with some special models, like the Gilda dressed in precious stones. The Floral version of Gilda presents a delicate blue sapphires decoration on the bezel that returns on the dial for a total of 59 stones, contrasting with the steel case and reflecting the blue stitching of the white alligator strap with branded “E&Co.” buckle.

The SIHH is just finished (in our upcoming issue you will find a huge SIHH special) and we’re already looking forward to BaselWorld 2012, that will take place from 8 till 15 March. One of the first pre-Basel novelties that needs to be in the spotlights (or not, because the watch likes darkness…) is the TechnoMarine Night Vision: a watch with a high Superluminova-level.

The Superwatch Award of the Geneva Time Exhibition (GTE), held this month at the Espace Hippomène in Geneva, was divided this time into two categories: Design and Movement. A jury, consisting Geoffroy Ader (Sotheby’s), Elizabeth Doerr (journalist), Axel Kufus (professor of watchmaking), Anders Modig (Plaza Watch) and Jean-Marc Wiederrecht (Agenhor) selected the following winners.

Only a few weeks left untill “the most romantic day of the year” for some of us: Valentine’s Day. And if you already surprised her with a bouquet of flowers, a romantic dinner, a watch (!), balloons and candles or a trip to Venice… maybe this draws your attention: a hand-made golden ring with 365 diamonds, one for each day of the year. And of course, you choose one diamond in a different colour, that remind her of a special day.

In 2011 the Swatch Group recorded sales in excess of CHF 7 billion, for the first time in its history. Gross sales of the Group were CHF 7 143 million, an increase of 21.7% at constant rates in comparison to 2010. The overvaluation of the Swiss franc had a negative impact of no less than CHF 696 million. Watches & Jewellery generated gross sales of CHF 6 312 million (+26.1% at constant rates), thanks to increased sales not only in Greater China but in all other regions and price segments.

This week Franck Muller launched its all new Application available for iPhone and iPad on the App Store. Discover Franck Muller collections including the latest novelties. Locate your nearest boutique and discover the history of the Franck Muller Manufacture.

The prestigious prize for the Best Watchmaking campaign 2011 was awarded to TechnoMarine for its 2011 advertising campaign within the film and cyber category. Organized by Montres Passion, the prize-giving ceremony was held in Geneva on Friday 11th November.

In 00/24 WatchWorld issue 3-2011 we’ve published an article the true craftsmanships of about Vacheron Constantin’s. Most exclusive part of these skills is the service called “Atelier Cabinotiers”. It’s a service that makes Vacheron Constantin (1755) more than unique: producing single pieces, based on the customers wishes, set up to revive the tradition of producing bespoke watches.

In December 2011 00/24 WatchWorld had the exclusive premiere of the impressive Jaeger-LeCoultre Duomètre a Sphérotourbillon. Stéphane Belmont, International Marketing Director of Jaeger-LeCoultre, presented the watch at the manufacture in La Vallee-du-Joux. The Duomètre à Sphérotourbillon is equipped with the Dual-Wing concept, a revolutionary mechanical movement, featuring two separate and independent mechanisms, each with its own source of energy, housed within a single case: one of them responsible for the powering the time indications, and the other for driving an additional function.

Girard-Perragaux and JeanRichard, the two brands of the Sowind Group, will present their new products for the final time at the SIHH 2012 (Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie) in Geneva. From 2013 onward, the two brands will exhibit at Baselworld. The reasons for choosing to leave are not communicated, but the fact that luxury giant PPR controls the Sowind Group and the SIHH is dominated by brands of the Groupe Richemont may have something to do with this change.

Reverso lovers beware! A new limited edition of the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso is available: the Grande Reverso Ultra Thin Tribute to “Mad Men”, especially designed for the AMC serie “Mad Men” that received an Emmy Award. Twenty-five custom-created and numbered pieces will be available in February 2012. This special edition will be presented in a walnut commemorative box featuring the Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce logo. Additionally, each piece includes a personalized letter from Roger Sterling.

This month the official celebration of Fortis’ 100th anniversary has started and the Fortis Marinemaster Vintage Chronograph is the kick-off for this jubilee year. This retro model – the first Marinemaster was distributed at the beginning of the 1940s – comes in two executions (orange or blue design). Especially on the occasion of the centennial of Fortis, the Marinemaster from the seventies is re-editioned in a limited edition of 500 copies.

The Watch Gallery, West London’s long-standing luxury watch retailer, has been sold to DM London, the company behind the Selfridges Wonder Room and the huge Rolex store in Knightsbridge.

Hublot informed the markets that Ricardo Guadalupe, former Managing Director of the Company, and personal friend of Jean Claude Biver with whom he has been working since nearly 20 years, has been appointed Chief Executive Officer effective January 1st 2012. According to Hublot this step was planned a long time ago in consideration of 'Mr. Guadalupe’s significant and instrumental achievements together with Mr. Jean Claude Biver since joining Hublot in 2005'.

Dutch interior designer and watch lover Jan des Bouvrie made his first serious steps in the watch world by designing a watch for the German watch brand MeisterSinger. The MeisterSinger Perigraph Jan des Bouvrie, based on the regular Perigraph, has a 43mm case and an automatic movement. Des Bouvrie gave the watch striking colours like the white dial (with of course the typically MeisterSinger single hand) combined with red details.

On December 8th and 9th 2011 in Monte-Carlo's Hôtel de Paris, Christophe Claret presented a 21 Blackjack watch, the first in a 21-piece limited edition bearing the Casino de Monte-Carlo logo and featuring a checkered dial inspired by the flag of the Principality of Monaco.

Today, at the space station in Baikonoer in Kazachstan, the final preparations for the launch of three astronauts – including the Dutch André Kuipers – take place. He, together with his Russian and American colleagues, will be launched at 2.16 pm GMT and they will arrive Friday at the international space station ISS. Kuipers takes a special watch – the R.O.1 Space Special Edition – with him, especially designed for this space travel by Roland Oostwegel from Heerlen (the Netherlands).