Worldtempus

Kross Studio is no more. The brand founded by Marco Tedeschi in 2020 is transitioning to his own name, and the reasons behind that decision reveal a great deal about where independent watchmaking is heading.

In a piece by Anders Modig Davin, WorldTempus sits down with Tedeschi to unpack an ecosystem that now includes three distinct pillars: Marco Tedeschi for his own watches, Kross for collaborations extending beyond entertainment, and a manufacture in which Chanel holds a 30% stake. That manufacture produces watches, components, and ébauches for some of the industry's biggest names, including Swatch Group, Richemont, LVMH, and Audemars Piguet.

The latest piece is the MT1.1, an evolution of the MT1 featuring a hand-wound central tourbillon, a new power reserve indicator, a three-part case with removable bezel, and a lead-free nickel silver movement. Around 100 pieces will be produced in 2026.

Looking further ahead, Tedeschi has a plan for 12 movements over the next 20 years, covering perpetual calendars, chiming watches, and entirely new mechanisms. "Form follows the movement" is the guiding principle.

Full article on WorldTempus : https://en.worldtempus.com/article/business-news/marco-tedeschi-wont-get-kross-82794.html

The World Cup starts next week in the US, Canada, and Mexico, and we have a lot to unpack from a watch world perspective.

Yesterday, WorldTempus published an exclusive interview with Didier Deschamps, head coach of France and Hublot ambassador. France enters the tournament as the world's top-ranked team, with Kylian Mbappé, another Hublot face, leading the squad. Their first match is against Senegal on June 16. The winner of the tournament will be known on July 19.

For the first time, however, the FIFA World Cup has no official watch sponsor or timing partner. Hublot held that position until the end of 2025. The role has been filled, loosely, by Axia, a brand founded in New Jersey in 2018 that produces the official licensed watches of the event, starting around 600 CHF. Individual endorsements are alive and well though: Breitling with Erling Haaland, Audemars Piguet with a Leo Messi Royal Oak edition. But the main partnership is up for grabs.

On the market side, Richemont's FY2026 results showed 11% growth at constant exchange rates, and while Swiss watch exports are down 3.9% since the start of 2026, the comparison with 2024 rather than the artificially inflated April 2025 figures paints a more encouraging picture. The US, France, and Singapore are up. China and Hong Kong's decline is slowing.

Full article on WorldTempus.com : https://en.worldtempus.com/article/business-news/letter-editor-football-and-geopolitics-82787.html