Rolex has shuttered Carl F. Bucherer, according to Bilanz.

Watch brand Carl F. Bucherer, a true manufacture (that makes its own movements), was acquired as part of a package by Rolex in 2023 when they acquired mega watch retailer Bucherer AG from third-generation owner Jörg Bucherer — which sent shockwaves through the watch industry.

Carl. F. Bucherer was a (watch brand) owned by Bucherer AG (retailer) and reports from reliable sources suggest it was an expensive passion project of the previous owner that was costing more to operate than it was generating in revenue. If true, operating Carl F. Bucherer in the red was not likely something the highly profitable Rolex group was willing to continue.

Rolex could utilize CFB’s intellectual property, such as the IP used to create the peripheral rotor-equipped movement (pictured above), however, there’s no indication any IP will make it to the Rolex (or Tudor) product lines.

Some of the CFB team will ideally find available roles at Rolex and Tudor, at an opportune time when Rolex is scaling up production, including bringing online a massive new production facility in Bulle, Switzerland.

 

Editor’s note: We’ve contacted Rolex and Bucherer, who declined to comment.