Latest news with #RichardMille
New York Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Succession, Watch Industry Style
One of the big stories of 21st-century horology has been the rise of the independent watchmaker: a creative and highly skilled person whose hands-on approach to production attracts collectors' adoration despite relatively high prices and generally long wait times for a limited output. The roster includes craftsmen such as Philippe Dufour, Kari Voutilainen and François-Paul Journe, as well as businessmen such as Richard Mille. But they, like many others in the industry, are very near or already past the traditional age of retirement. What happens then? Each brand will face its own scenario. (Just as the fashion industry saw with the retirements of Dries Van Noten and Jean Paul Gaultier or the unexpected deaths of Azzedine Alaïa and Alexander McQueen.) But as Alexander Thiel, a watch industry analyst at McKinsey & Company, noted, the very independence that enhanced the brands' popularity may prove a substantial challenge to their futures. 'Small luxury brands often face a delicate balancing act when transitioning beyond the founder's leadership,' he said. 'The founder's vision is woven into the very essence of the brand. That must be preserved as a company grows and evolves.' He stressed that there was no single playbook, but emphasized the importance of continuity and the risks of sudden change for watch brands that need to sustain their original identities. 'Families and founders might retain some influence through board positions or a foundation, making sure to help guide and approve major decisions,' he said. 'They should play an active role in selecting the executives and the management team, ensuring that the founder's legacy and the values that are central to it remain part of the brand.' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
West Australian
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Thieves break into Laurence Escalante's Mykonos villa and steal designer watches, clothing and cash
Perth billionaire Laurence Escalante's lavish European holiday has been dampened after reports thieves broke into his Mykonos villa and stole a cache of luxury items. The thugs broke into his mansion during his first night on the Greek island and stole a collection of designer watches, clothing and cash, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, according to the Daily Mail. According to reports, the 42-year-old was also seen donning a $1 million Richard Mille x Pharrell watch while partying at Scorpios Beach Club. Mr Escalante has posted several videos to his Instagram of he and his friends partying in the French Riviera and Greek Islands on a luxury mega yacht. The father-of-four is the founder of Virtual Gaming Worlds, an online casino company worth more than $6 billion. His majority stake in the company has seen his net worth rise to $4.37b. 'I'm just a kid from Perth with immigrant parents who grew up, had an idea, invented something and kept trying,' he told The Australian earlier this year. 'This is my fourth or fifth business, I'm just like a lot of other people, having a crack.'
Scottish Sun
15-07-2025
- Scottish Sun
Moment Labour Lord has luxury £200k watch snatched off wrist before robbers flee in speedboat in horror holiday mugging
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THIS is the moment a Labour Lord has his £200,000 luxury watch ripped from his wrist — before the thieves make a Hollywood-style escape on a speedboat. Dramatic footage shows Lord Ara Darzi being ambushed while strolling through a narrow street on the glitzy Italian island of Capri. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 A man in a white T-shirt is seen standing on the narrow Capri street Credit: 4 He then snatches the luxury watch from Lord Darzi's wrist and makes a run for it Credit: 4 The Labour peer is then caught on CCTV chasing the bandits Credit: Il Mattino The Labour peer was walking near the famed Piazzetta around 10.30pm on Sunday when two robbers struck. In the grainy video, Darzi is seen walking among a crowd outside a shop when a man in a white t-shirt lurks close by, positioning himself behing the unsuspecting lord. Suddenly, the man lunges forward and snatches the ultra-rare Richard Mille timepiece from Darzi's wrist. Another man, wearing red, bolts alongside the thief as the stunned 65-year-old gives chase in disbelief. According to local police, the two men had stalked Darzi along the upscale Via Camerelle before launching their lightning-fast attack. After the heist, the thieves sprinted through the picturesque Gardens of Augustus and down the serpentine Via Krupp trail — before hopping aboard a speedboat moored in Marina Piccola, vanishing into the night. The brazen snatch-and-dash has shocked locals and tourists alike on the island long known for its luxury — and its low crime rate. Lord Darzi told the Daily Mail on Monday: "I'm currently on holiday with my family in Capri after what has been a very busy year in the NHS. "Last night, I was robbed by two men who snatched a watch I was wearing. Mourad Aid targets Jenson Button's wife in robbery "We were all shaken up, but thankfully no one was hurt. "The watch was a gift from the father of a patient whose life I saved six years ago." He added: "Sadly, like too many Brits abroad, I've now experienced street crime firsthand. "My advice to fellow holidaymakers is simple: be careful and leave your valuables at home." The watch — a Richard Mille, reportedly worth €300,000 (approx. £253,000) — is a grail-level timepiece worn by elite figures like Elon Musk and Jay-Z. The brand only manufactures around 5,000 watches annually, sold exclusively to an ultra-connected clientele. Darzi, who is also a professor at Imperial College London and co-director of the British Institute of Public Health, had been spending a few days on his yacht in the Gulf of Naples before the robbery. Italian media described the crime as 'record-breaking,' calling the thieves 'specialists' with a knack for instantly recognising high-value targets. One report from Il Mattino warned: 'It was enough to make Capri lose its reputation as the island most free from crime.' Investigators are now combing through security footage to piece together the daring getaway. The shocking attack follows another high-profile theft last month, when a British man had his £43,000 Rolex stolen while sitting in his £250,000 Lamborghini during a supercar rally in Barcelona. The robbers made off on an e-scooter before the driver could react. 4 Lord Darzi was on vacation with his family in Capri when the horror mugging took place Credit: Getty
The Irish Sun
15-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
Moment Labour Lord has luxury £200k watch snatched off wrist before robbers flee in speedboat in horror holiday mugging
THIS is the moment a Labour Lord has his £200,000 luxury watch ripped from his wrist — before the thieves make a Hollywood-style escape on a speedboat. Dramatic footage shows Lord Ara Darzi being ambushed while strolling through a narrow street on the glitzy Italian island of Capri. 4 A man in a white T-shirt is seen standing on the narrow Capri street Credit: 4 He then snatches the luxury watch from Lord Darzi's wrist and makes a run for it Credit: 4 The Labour peer is then caught on CCTV chasing the bandits Credit: Il Mattino The Labour peer was walking near the famed Piazzetta around 10.30pm on Sunday when two robbers struck. In the grainy video, Darzi is seen walking among a crowd outside a shop when a man in a white t-shirt lurks close by, positioning himself behing the unsuspecting lord. Suddenly, the man lunges forward and snatches the ultra-rare Richard Mille timepiece from Darzi's wrist. Another man, wearing red, bolts alongside the thief as the stunned 65-year-old gives chase in disbelief. According to local police, the two men had stalked Darzi along the upscale Via Camerelle before launching their lightning-fast attack. After the heist, the thieves sprinted through the picturesque Gardens of Augustus and down the serpentine Via Krupp trail — before hopping aboard a speedboat moored in Marina Piccola, vanishing into the night. The brazen snatch-and-dash has shocked locals and tourists alike on the island long known for its luxury — and its low crime rate. Lord Darzi told the Most read in The Sun "Last night, I was robbed by two men who snatched a watch I was wearing. Mourad Aid targets Jenson Button's wife in robbery "We were all shaken up, but thankfully no one was hurt. "The watch was a gift from the father of a patient whose life I saved six years ago." He added: "Sadly, like too many Brits abroad, I've now experienced street crime firsthand. "My advice to fellow holidaymakers is simple: be careful and leave your valuables at home." The watch — a Richard Mille, reportedly worth €300,000 (approx. £253,000) — is a grail-level timepiece worn by elite figures like Elon Musk and Jay-Z. The brand only manufactures around 5,000 watches annually, sold exclusively to an ultra-connected clientele. Darzi, who is also a professor at Imperial College London and co-director of the British Institute of Public Health, had been spending a few days on his yacht in the Gulf of Naples before the robbery. Italian media described the crime as 'record-breaking,' calling the thieves 'specialists' with a knack for instantly recognising high-value targets. One report from Investigators are now combing through security footage to piece together the daring getaway. Read more on the Irish Sun The shocking attack follows another high-profile theft last month, when a British man had his £43,000 Rolex stolen while sitting in his £250,000 Lamborghini during a supercar rally in Barcelona. The robbers made off on an e-scooter before the driver could react. 4 Lord Darzi was on vacation with his family in Capri when the horror mugging took place Credit: Getty The five most expensive watches ever sold FROM diamond-encrusted masterpieces to historically significant timepieces, these are the five most expensive watches ever sold : 1 - Graff Diamonds Hallucination – $55 million (£40m) 2 - Graff Diamonds The Fascination – $40 million (£29.7m) 3 - Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime Ref. 6300A-010 – $31.1 million (£23.1m) 4 - Patek Philippe Henry Graves Supercomplication – $23.98 million (£17.8m) 5 - Rolex 'Paul Newman' Daytona Ref. 6239 – $17.75 million (£13.1m)
The Sun
15-07-2025
- The Sun
Moment Labour Lord has luxury £200k watch snatched off wrist before robbers flee in speedboat in horror holiday mugging
THIS is the moment a Labour Lord has his £200,000 luxury watch ripped from his wrist — before the thieves make a Hollywood-style escape on a speedboat. Dramatic footage shows Lord Ara Darzi being ambushed while strolling through a narrow street on the glitzy Italian island of Capri. 4 4 4 The Labour peer was walking near the famed Piazzetta around 10.30pm on Sunday when two robbers struck. In the grainy video, Darzi is seen walking among a crowd outside a shop when a man in a white t-shirt lurks close by, positioning himself behing the unsuspecting lord. Suddenly, the man lunges forward and snatches the ultra-rare Richard Mille timepiece from Darzi's wrist. Another man, wearing red, bolts alongside the thief as the stunned 65-year-old gives chase in disbelief. According to local police, the two men had stalked Darzi along the upscale Via Camerelle before launching their lightning-fast attack. After the heist, the thieves sprinted through the picturesque Gardens of Augustus and down the serpentine Via Krupp trail — before hopping aboard a speedboat moored in Marina Piccola, vanishing into the night. The brazen snatch-and-dash has shocked locals and tourists alike on the island long known for its luxury — and its low crime rate. Lord Darzi told the Daily Mail on Monday: "I'm currently on holiday with my family in Capri after what has been a very busy year in the NHS. "Last night, I was robbed by two men who snatched a watch I was wearing. Mourad Aid targets Jenson Button's wife in robbery "We were all shaken up, but thankfully no one was hurt. "The watch was a gift from the father of a patient whose life I saved six years ago." He added: "Sadly, like too many Brits abroad, I've now experienced street crime firsthand. "My advice to fellow holidaymakers is simple: be careful and leave your valuables at home." The watch — a Richard Mille, reportedly worth €300,000 (approx. £253,000) — is a grail-level timepiece worn by elite figures like Elon Musk and Jay-Z. The brand only manufactures around 5,000 watches annually, sold exclusively to an ultra-connected clientele. Darzi, who is also a professor at Imperial College London and co-director of the British Institute of Public Health, had been spending a few days on his yacht in the Gulf of Naples before the robbery. Italian media described the crime as 'record-breaking,' calling the thieves 'specialists' with a knack for instantly recognising high-value targets. One report from Il Mattino warned: 'It was enough to make Capri lose its reputation as the island most free from crime.' Investigators are now combing through security footage to piece together the daring getaway. The shocking attack follows another high-profile theft last month, when a British man had his £43,000 Rolex stolen while sitting in his £250,000 Lamborghini during a supercar rally in Barcelona. The robbers made off on an e-scooter before the driver could react.
