Bedat & Co

Bedat & Co
Company typePrivate Limited Company
IndustryLuxury Watch Manufacturing
Founded1996; 29 years ago (1996)
FounderSimone Bédat
Christian Bédat
Headquarters
Geneva
,
Switzerland
ProductsWristwatches
Websitewww.bedat.com

Bedat & Co is a Swiss watch brand. The company was founded by Simone Bédat and her son Christian Bédat.[1]

Bedat & Co is owned by Luxury Concepts, a Malaysian firm.[2]

History

Simone Bédat and her son Christian Bédat departed from the luxury Swiss watch brand Raymond Weil to create their own brand, Bedat, in 1996.[3][4] The first collection of timepieces, the N°3, N°7., and Ref. 304, were presented in 1997 during BaselWorld.[2]

In 2000, Gucci Group acquired 85% of Bedat & Co with Christian Bédat serving as the chairman. Simone Bedat helped her son Pro bono and was never an employee of the company.[5] The watches in 2000 cost on average $5,000.[6] In 2005, Gucci became sole owner of Bedat & Co after purchasing the remaining 15% of the company.[3]

In 2006, Simone and Christian Bédat left the company.[2] In 2008, the Swiss watch brand launched its first stand-alone boutique in Kuala Lumpur, the opening of which was officiated by Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Raja Permaisuri Agong.[7]

In 2009, Malaysia-based company Luxury Concepts acquired Bedat & Co and kept it a Swiss watch brand with global distribution.[4][8] In 2010, Bedat & Co worked again with the designer Dino Modolo for the latest collection.[9]

References

  1. ^ Nadal, Nana (2009-12-04). "Luxury Timepieces with a Feminine Spirit". Manila Standard Today. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  2. ^ a b c Bobolicu, Georgiana (2009-02-27). "Bedat & Co., Taken Over by Malaysian Company". Softpedia. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2011-02-20.
  3. ^ a b Michaels, Adrian (2006-11-10). "Gucci/Bédat: Tough times creating fine timepieces". Financial Times. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  4. ^ a b Vergara, Alex Y. (2012-11-18). "Why a Malaysian bought a Swiss watch brand and kept it Swiss". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 2018-09-14. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  5. ^ Constanza, Frank S. (2000-12-13). "Gucci Acquires Bedat & Co". National Jeweler. Archived from the original on 2024-05-25. Retrieved 2011-02-20 – via AllBusiness.com.
  6. ^ "The Upstart". Forbes. 2000-09-18. Archived from the original on 2004-09-25. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
  7. ^ "Queen at watch boutique launch at Starhill". The Star. January 3, 2009. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
  8. ^ Ariel Adams. "Bedat & Co. Watch Company Saved: Sold To Malaysian Firm". Luxist. Archived from the original on March 10, 2012. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  9. ^ Koh, Wei (June 2010), "Bedat & Co.: Ascension of the brand", Revolution, archived from the original on July 28, 2011, retrieved May 18, 2011