INSIGHT-RADAR: News Briefs from the Watch Industry
Financial results, awards, and auction highlights: INSIGHT-RADAR brings together the most important news briefs from the international watch industry—concise, up-to-date, and to the point.
This issue of INSIGHT-RADAR spotlights: the Morellato Group, the Christ Group, the Alexander Awards, and Phillips Auction House in association with Bacs & Russo.
Morellato Group – Fiscal Year 2025/26
The Morellato Group closed the 2025/26 fiscal year with consolidated revenue of 750 million euros. This represents a four percent increase over the previous year.
The “Fine Jewelry” segment, which accounts for 75 percent of revenue, is the driving force behind the growth of the Italian jewelry and watch company, which operates 665 company-owned stores worldwide and employs 4,800 people.
“Morellato understands European consumers better than anyone else in the jewelry and watch industry,” says Massimo Carraro, President of the Morellato Group, explaining the strong results. “This deep understanding, which we have built through a model of full integration, enables us to grasp the desires and expectations of our customers. Artificial intelligence—which we are already using not to cut jobs but rather to leverage our employees’ skills—represents another step in this direction: a tool for transforming knowledge into increasingly relevant experiences, strengthening our brands, and responding quickly to the needs of those who choose us every day.” morellatogroup.com
Christ Continues on Its Growth Path
Christ Jewelers and Watchmakers, in business since 1863 and part of the Morellato Group since 2023, increased its revenue by two percent to approximately 367 million euros in the 2025/2026 fiscal year. During the past fiscal year, Christ opened new locations, modernized existing stores, and expanded its new store concept with Christ Diamond shop-in-shop areas.
Managing Director and CEO Dr. Gunnar Binder emphasizes: “It’s not a huge leap, but given the challenging economic environment, we’re satisfied with this result.”
The company cites the close integration of brick-and-mortar and digital sales channels as a key factor in its revenue growth. The revenue mix—comprising about 70 percent brick-and-mortar sales and 30 percent online sales—has remained stable for years. The goal remains to create a seamless customer journey in which digital service and in-person advice work together seamlessly.
The company’s private labels are becoming increasingly important, now accounting for over 70 percent of sales in brick-and-mortar stores and over 60 percent online. At the same time, in 2025, Christ expanded its private-label gold collection in particular and further established the Christ Silver collection, made from 100 percent recycled sterling silver. “This allows us to address two major trends: high value but affordable, and sustainable,” emphasizes Dr. Gunnar Binder.
“We believe Christ is very well positioned today, both strategically and operationally. With our strong omnichannel model, the expansion of our private labels, and new service offerings, we are optimistic about the coming fiscal year,” concludes Dr. Gunnar Binder. christ-corporate.com
Alexander Awards Extend Application Period
Due to the high level of interest in the first edition of the Alexander Awards, the submission deadline has been extended to September 15, 2026. This is intended to give participants additional time to refine their entries by the new deadline. This was announced by Christian Wipfli, founder of Time to Watches, who launched the Alexander Awards.
The awards recognize outstanding work by brands, agencies, content creators, photographers, filmmakers, media representatives, retailers, and influencers who give the art of watchmaking a voice through images, stories, campaigns, and experiences.
The winners will be announced on December 2, 2026, in Geneva—during an evening that Wipfli promises will deliberately break with the conventions of traditional award ceremonies.
“Our mission is to celebrate talent and inspire the watch industry. Great watches deserve great stories. Surprise us. Inspire us. Step into the spotlight.” alexander-awards.com
The earliest commercial F.P. Journe Résonance is set to go under the hammer
In November, Phillips, in collaboration with Bacs & Russo, will auction one of the earliest and most significant “Chronomètre à Résonance” watches by F.P. Journe ever to be offered at auction. The 38-millimeter platinum model with a rose gold dial (serial number 022/99R) dates from 1999—one year before its official market launch in 2000.
The “Chronomètre à Résonance” was the first wristwatch to utilize the resonance principle. François-Paul Journe adapted a phenomenon studied by Antide Janvier and later by Abraham-Louis Breguet for use in a wristwatch: two balance wheels oscillating in close proximity synchronize with one another, thereby improving timekeeping accuracy.
The special significance of the piece sold at auction lies in its serial number. The engraving “022/99R” confirms that the case was commissioned as early as 1999. Since numbers 001 through 020 were reserved for supporters of the “Souscription” edition of the Tourbillon Souverain, and Journe kept number 021 for himself, 022 is considered the earliest commercially numbered “Chronomètre à Résonance.”
After 27 years with its first owner, the watch will now go under the hammer at “The Geneva Watch Auction: XXIV” on November 7 and 8 in Geneva. The estimated value ranges from 500,000 to 1,000,000 Swiss francs. phillips.com
