14 DAY TRIAL // The iWatch launch is looming and Apple goes on hiring some of the best people in the business. Marketing will have a big role, so the Sales Director from TAG Heuer is Apple's newest acquisition.
The report comes from CNBC who had invited Jean-Claude Biver in their morning show studio. Biver is the head of Jewelry and Watches at TAG Heuer's parent company, LVMH. Apparently he was happy for his former employee.
"You must always be happy for the talent. The talent is important for the company, but the talent is also important for himself and if the job is great you should be happy for him. And this is a great job. If would have gone to my direct competitor I would have felt a little but betrayed, but if he goes to Apple I think is a great experience for him", Biver said during the interview.
Jean-Claude Biver is also the Chairman oh Hublot, the Swiss maker of luxury watches, founded in 1980 by Italian Carlo Crocco. The company is now a subsidiary a french giant - LVMH.
Apple is currently working to create its first iWatch, rumors say. Cupertino Tech Giant may launch the device running iOS that will double as a health/fitness band.
This isn't Apple's first attempt to hire Swiss watch makers executives, but so far their efforts have not had the any results. Senior luxury goods analyst at Bernstein, Mario Ortelli said Apple is trying to get the label "Swiss Made" for their future watch, just because everyone in the world appreciates Swiss watches as quality and luxury products.
On the other hand, Ortelli believes Swiss watchmakers are avoiding electronics products, even the iPhone because they are afraid that a watch made in China will decrease the value of the Swiss label.
"Patently Apple" further cites Ortelli which said that a watch made by Apple will only be a threat to low-end Swiss Made gadgets. When the consumers will be introduced to that market, they will see the value of a good quality watch and spend more on such a device.
Apple is exploring including technologies like liquidmetal, sapphire, oled displays, micro LEDs and their own version of the A5 chip or later.
Back in June, Jony Ive was telling the New York Times "there are materials we haven’t worked in before. I’ve been working on this stuff for a few years now. Tim is fundamentally involved in pushing into these new areas and into these materials".