Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Omega President Stephen Urquhart to Retire
He’s stepping down after 17 years at the helm of the brand and will be replaced by Vice President of Sales Raynald Aeschlimann.

Biel/Bienne, Switzerland--Swatch Group announced Wednesday that Omega President Stephen Urquhart will retire on June 1 and will be succeeded by Raynald Aeschlimann.
Urquhart, who is about to turn 70, began his career in the watch industry with Omega in 1968, well before Swatch Group even existed.
From 1974 to 1997 he was with Audemars Piguet, where he became joint chairman and delegate of the brand’s board of directors.
Urquhart came to Swatch Group in 1997 as president of Blancpain, moving over to Omega shortly thereafter.
Under his watch, the brand has opened hundreds of standalone boutiques worldwide, sometimes pulling in Hollywood stars to attend store openings and dinners. Most recently, Omega brought 34-year-old Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne on board as a brand ambassador in an attempt to appeal to the next generation of watch wearers.
The man succeeding Urquhart, Aeschlimann, has been Omega’s vice president of sales since 2001 and has been with the brand since 1996, starting as its sales and marketing product manager. He was also brand manager of Omega and Blancpain Spain in 2000 and has been the group coordinator for the Swatch Group’s Indian subsidiary since 2010.
Swatch Group said that Urquhart will remain closely associated with the company and will be available for special projects and consultancy assignments.
The announcement of Urquhart’s retirement was one of a number of personnel announcements the Swatch Group made Wednesday.
The company also said that Hanspeter Rentsch, a member of the group’s executive group management board, is retiring at the end of August after nearly 40 years of service, while the board of directors is recommending to shareholders that they elect Daniela Aeschlimann-Schneider to the board.
Swatch Group is scheduled to have an ordinary general assembly of shareholders on May 11.
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.


The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.