Annie Doresca and Michelle Graff welcome Reggie Johnson and Sheryl Jones for a frank conversation on the state of DEI in fine jewelry.
From Baselworld: New from Breitling, Tissot, Waltham Watches
Tissot’s NBA watches, Breitling’s ultra-light 50 mm Avenger and Waltham Watches celebrity style on social media were among the highlights our editor spotted during her first day on the show floor.

Basel--Here are a few highlights from our editor’s first day appointments at Baselworld 2016.
Breitling lightens up.
In addition to a smartwatch and a new timepiece with a 100-hour power reserve, Breitling debuted the Avenger Hurricane, a 50 mm watch made using Breitlight, a new trademarked polymer composite reinforced with an undisclosed fiber. (Breitling is so intent on keeping its new formula a secret, in fact, that it didn’t apply for a patent for Breitlight.)
The material is 3.3 times lighter than titanium and nearly six times lighter than steel and, by all accounts, does not feel like a 50 mm watch.
It is powered by the self-winding Breitling Caliber B12, which is officially chronometer certified by COSC. The watch has a power reserve of more than 70 hours.
The Avenger Hurricane retails for $8,390 on a rubber strap.
Tissot and the NBA.
The Swatch Group-owned brand announced earlier this year that it is now the official timekeeper for the NBA and has created a Quickster in the colors of 11 NBA teams so far as well as a special edition T-Touch Expert Solar to mark the partnership.
Tissot has five official NBA partner teams: the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Miami Heat and has watches in six other teams’ colors as well, including the Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder and Toronto Raptors.
The brand also will be launching a smartwatch version of its T-Touch Solar that most likely won’t come out in the United States until early 2017. Called the Smart-Touch, the watch is still in development at this time so prototypes were not available at the show.
Tissot, however, does have a touch-screen display in its booth designed to look like a (much-scaled-down) version of the Swiss Alps that demonstrates some of the Smart-Touch’s functions, including its ability to provide a weather forecast and help the wearer find their way.
Waltham likes Instagram.
Waltham Watches is a brand with an interesting history. It originated in 1850 in Waltham, Mass. and was in operation in the United States until 1957, selling watches to notables including Abraham Lincoln and polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
One of the company’s clocks was in the cockpit of the Spirit of St. Louis when Charles Lindbergh guided the single-engine plane over the Atlantic and Waltham made controls for bombers during World War II.
The brand has gotten, and shared socially, photos of rapper and actor Curtis Jackson (a/k/a 50 Cent), Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and comedians D.L. Hughley and George Lopez wearing Walthams.
The brand’s 47 mm timepieces retail for $5,500 to $9,400 though it is coming out with 43 mm models that will start at $2,900. Waltham also plans to incorporate more color in its designs.
Pictured here is one of the brand’s new XA Pure S models with blue accents ($5,500 retail). The watch is powered by automatic caliber W.DB-001 Dubois-Dépraz 14060 and has a power reserve of 40 to 44 hours.
The case is titanium with a ceramic bezel and the bracelet is Vulcanised VulCarboné genuine rubber.
Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect the fact that it is the New York Knicks that are one of Tissot's five NBA partner teams, not the New York Nets as previously stated.
The Latest

Jeff Gennette will step down in February 2024, passing the torch to the CEO of another notable retailer.

Artisan Martin Roberts fashioned lunar meteorites into 48 beads to create this out-of-this-world necklace.

Distinguishing natural diamonds from laboratory-grown stones – now more available than ever – has been difficult for jewelers. Until now.

As for new members, the organization welcomed Jewelers of America’s Annie Doresca and Parag Jain of Parag Diamonds.


Jacob & Co.’s new “Billionaire” timepiece features more than 200 carats of yellow diamonds.

Heidi Horten, wife of department store magnate Helmut Horten, collected jewelry from Bulgari, Cartier, Harry Winston and Van Cleef & Arpels.

De Beers Institute of Diamonds provides the very best in diamond verification, education and diamond services.

The jewelry industry insurer and solutions provider is celebrating 110 years in business this month.

The statement came as the National Retail Federation released its retail sales forecast for 2023.

Sotheby’s will auction the diamond, which it says is “arguably the most significant pink diamond to ever appear at auction,” in June.

The retailer, recently acquired by Signet Jewelers, will lay off 119 employees in July.

The Swiss watchmaker introduced 17 new models at Watches & Wonders Geneva.

As part of the promotion, Smith will share his sales expertise during a 90-minute training session.

At Watches & Wonders, the Swiss brand unveiled a follow-up to last year’s Tonda PF GMT Rattrapante.

The “rêve” collection’s engagement rings and wedding bands are geared toward “sustainability minded customers.”

A new word appears on the dial each day of the week.

Bensons Jewelers closed for good Feb. 24, impacted in part by the decline in foot traffic downtown since the onset of the pandemic.

Kolja Kiofsky has been with the crystal and jewelry company since 2010.

The Kruse GWS Auctions sale will include the replica “Taj Mahal” necklace Elizabeth Taylor made with Avon as well as a costume piece Marilyn Monroe wore.

Massimo Basei is moving up, while Chief Commercial Officer Martino Pessina is stepping down.

Sold by Christie’s Hong Kong, this masterwork of complications now holds the record for most expensive watch ever auctioned online.

The watch company expects first-quarter sales to fall as much as 15 percent due to inflation and tough comps.

Adam O’Grady, general manager of the Lightbox Lab, has taken on the new role and will report directly to Lightbox CEO Antoine Borde.

The watch marketplace gathered data from 1.3 million collectors, highlighting the most popular timepieces and exploring value appreciation.

Burgundy has opted not to exercise its option to buy the mining claims Gibb River Diamonds currently owns.

Patented and specialty cuts now can receive an 8X Proprietary Certificate, which can be customized to include a company’s brand and logo.