LVMH acquires Swiss luxury clock Manufacturer L’Epée 1839

The acquisition

Luxury conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE announced on the of 25th June the acquisition of Swiza SA, the owner of the prestigious Swiss clockmaker L’Epée 1839. Expectedly, the terms of the deal were not disclosed and I have not been able to find much about this. This strategic move bolsters LVMH’s watchmaking division, overseen by Frédéric Arnault, son of LVMH Chairman and CEO Bernard Arnault. The division already boasts renowned brands such as Tag Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith.

L'Epée 1839 expertise

L’Epée 1839, a niche player in the high-end clock market, stands out in an industry dominated by luxury wristwatches. While mechanical wristwatches saw a resurgence during the pandemic, luxury clocks have struggled to capture the same level of interest in recent years among affluent buyers.

Despite these challenges, L’Epée has made a mark through innovative collaborations with prominent watchmakers like Maximilian ('Max') Büsser, the founder of Geneva-based MB&F. Together, they have created over a dozen unique mechanical clocks, including designs resembling giant spiders, robots, and rockets, with some pieces priced over €30,000!

This acquisition highlights LVMH’s commitment to diversifying its luxury portfolio and expanding its presence in the exclusive, rapidly evolving and continously changing high-end timekeeping market.