According to Swiss media reports, the Swiss luxury watch brand Bertolucci has been purchased by Dickson Concepts International Limited, a Hong Kong firm specializing in luxury products. Dickson has been a distributor of Bertolucci in Asia. Details of the deal weren’t available at press time.
It’s the second time in three years that the brand has been sold. It was bought from its founder and owner in early 2001 by a private investment consortium, which was unable to meet its pledge of significantly expanding Bertolucci’s global presence and doubling its annual production (still 10,000 watches a year). The company does about $13 million in sales annually.
The United States has been one of Bertolucci’s biggest markets, with retail sales of between $1,250 and $100,000. Its collections include Vir (flagship collection); Serena (winner of the Public Grand Prix in 1998); and Uomo, a men’s watch. U.S. sales represent about a third of Bertolucci’s business. More recent lines include Lentis and Passion.
Marc Bernhardt, who was previously a member of the executive board of International Watch Company and was responsible for IWC’s North American sales, was named Bertolucci’s chief executive officer in September 2004.