Breitling Reveals Plans for Gallet, Universal Genève
In 2026, the three will come together as “House of Brands,” with Gallet sold in Breitling stores and Universal Genève sold separately.

Breitling recently acquired Universal Genève and Gallet, two watch brands founded in the 1800s.
After decades of relative dormancy brought on by the “quartz crisis” of the ‘70s and ‘80s, both will relaunch in 2026.
The House of Brands will unite the three brands under one strategic vision, each with its own heritage, identity, and cultural relevance.
Breitling said the move will enable the company to serve distinct segments of the watch market, as well as preserve and revitalize important watchmaking legacies.
“Our ambition is to build something curated, tailored, and agile. It’s a long-term strategy to develop a portfolio with select, exceptional, and differentiated brands,” Breitling CEO Georges Kern said.
“By bringing together these brands, we offer greater diversity across price points and lifestyles, meeting customers’ evolving interests and aspirations. This reflects how today’s collectors and consumers experience watchmaking.”
Gallet is set to launch next fall as Breitling’s entry-level price point sister brand—much like Tudor is to Rolex—manufactured by Breitling and available through Breitling’s boutiques and select multi-brand partners.
Universal Genève will operate as an independent brand and will be positioned in the ultra-luxury segment, priced higher than Breitling.
“With Universal Genève and Gallet, we are preserving and revitalizing important watchmaking legacies and by doing so we continue to drive the industry forward while staying true to their heritage of innovation,” Kern said.
“Our strategy is to offer different entry points into the luxury universe, each brand telling a different story, but all sharing a common thread of authentic craftsmanship and modern relevance.”
Following previews of Universal Genève and Gallet earlier this year at Geneva Watch Days and in the United States, Breitling said it is shifting its focus to the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and India—regions it said are of pivotal global importance.
Kern introduced the House of Brands at Dubai Watch Week, which took place last week.
The announcement included the unveiling of a two-story, approximately 4,000-square-foot pavilion, pictured at the top of the article, that Breitling said it built to bring the House of Brands concept to life.
The Latest

Peter Smith gives tips on leading meetings, developing marketing, and making trade show appointments in the age of short attention spans.

The 11-piece “Medallions” capsule collection features five motifs: a crying eye, a heart on fire, a spiral, a flower, and a swallow.

From Gen Z’s view of luxury to “doom spending,” these are the six consumer trends to note this year.

With the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.

The partners have announced the second cycle of the program, which has expanded to include a $25,000 student scholarship.


The owners of Staats Jewelers are heading into retirement.

Jeffrey Gennette, who retired in 2024 after 41 years with Macy’s, is the newest member of the jewelry retailer’s board of directors.

Gain access to the most exclusive and coveted antique pieces from trusted dealers during Las Vegas Jewelry Week.

May babies are lucky to have emeralds, a gemstone admired for centuries, as their birthstone, writes Amanda Gizzi.

The new module allows retailers to plan, promote, and measure the success of events from a single dashboard.

NDC said in an open letter that Pandora’s statements about the carbon footprint of lab grown versus natural diamonds are inaccurate.

The diamantaire and industry leader succeeds Feriel Zerouki and said he will focus on being a “champion” for natural diamonds.

She wore our Piece of the Week, Glenn Spiro’s “Old Moghul Golconda” earrings, featuring fancy brown-yellow diamonds totaling 51.90 carats.

Two pieces were named “Best in Show,” one from the retail category and one from the supplier category.

The jewelry retailer noted resilience among its higher-end customers while demand softened for its lower-priced offerings.

Led by the 6.59-carat sapphire, the sale garnered $9.7 million, a record total for a Heritage jewelry auction.

In his new role, sales specialist Billy Welshoff will focus on the eastern United States.

It has also opened the application period for the Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship through June 30.

The owner of the Ekati mine, which opened in 1998, has filed for insolvency protection amid the significant decline in diamond prices.

The company announced the change alongside its Q1 results, which showed that the jewelry brand’s year is off to a shaky start.

The retailer will cut 16 percent of its corporate workforce as part of its plan to exit bankruptcy.

Of the many examples used in the filming of “Le Mans,” this one is believed to have spent the most time on Steve McQueen’s wrist.

Megan Piccione dressed Lauren Wasser in layers of diamond jewelry, making her stand out in a crowd that included celebrities like Beyoncé.

Following decades of association leadership, the “semi-retired” colored gemstone expert is turning his focus to gemstone education.

The museum’s new exhibition will feature one of Jesse Owen’s Olympic medals, Yogi Berra’s crown, Super Bowl rings, and more.

The new program provides access to media exposure and editorial opportunities for exhibitors and retailers.

The “Eclipse” jewelry collection captures the fleeting moment where light and shadow align though onyx, diamonds, and freshwater pearls.
























