stars Switzerland alumni chapter meeting
IWC – Challenges for a Luxury Watch Manufacture in the Digital Age
Thomas BREGEL, Associate Director Quality Management, IWC Schaffhausen
13 September 2019, 17.00-21.00
IWC Museum, Schaffhausen

The handcrafted machinations of a watch seem delightfully archaic in a world of smartphones, space travel and high-speed internet. Nonetheless, handmade timepieces are seeing a new renaissance, with sales increasing around the globe. A major reason for this comeback is the luxury watch industry´s enthusiastic embrace of digital innovation. Luxury brands ramp up their online marketing efforts to reach out to potential customers through e-commerce platforms, marketing on video hosting websites, and on social media. These platforms are natural avenues for luxury brands to display their products´ lifestyle and aesthetic that appeal to their aspirational customer base.

One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has established an international reputation on the strength of its passion for innovation and technical inventiveness. Since 1868, IWC has been producing timepieces with a clear focus on technology and development. At this stars Switzerland alumni chapter meeting, Thomas BREGEL, Associate Director Quality Management, IWC Schaffhausen, will outline how IWC aims to stay ahead of its competition in the digital age.

Programme:

  • 17.00: Welcome Drinks
  • 17.30: Welcome Addresses by Toni SCHOENENBERGER, Executive Chairman of stars and Daniel SPRING, President stars Switzerland alumni chapter
  • 17.45: Visit of IWC Museum
    IWC – Challenges for a Luxury Watch Manufacture in the Digital Age, Presentation and Q&A session with Thomas BREGEL, Associate Director Quality Management, IWC Schaffhausen
  • 19.00: Apéro riche, hosted by IWC Schaffhausen

Location: IWC Museum, Baumgartenstrasse 15, 8201 Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Getting there: About ten minutes’ walk from Schaffhausen main station. If you arrive by car, please use car park Stricki or Herrenacker. Please note that you can not park in front of the IWC Museum.

Please register here until 30 August 2019.

About IWC Schaffhausen
With a clear focus on technology and development, the Swiss watch manufacturer IWC Schaffhausen has been producing timepieces of lasting value since 1868. The company has established an international reputation on the strength of its passion for innovation and technical inventiveness. One of the world’s leading brands in the luxury watch segment, IWC crafts masterpieces of Haute Horlogerie at their finest, combining supreme precision with exclusive design. As an ecologically and socially responsible company, IWC is committed to sustainable production, supports institutions around the globe in their work with children and young people, and maintains partnerships with organizations dedicated to environmental protection.

Thomas BREGEL, Associate Director Quality Management, IWC Schaffhausen

After his PhD in Physics in 1987 Thomas BREGEL held different functions in the Electronic, Textile Machinery and Automotive Industries. Amongst others, Thomas was responsible for product development, engineering, production and quality management during his different career steps. He joined IWC as Associate Director Quality Management in 2009. In this function he is responsible for all quality related activities over IWC´s full product life cycle. One of his key tasks was the definition of a long term quality strategy for IWC whose successful implementation in organization, methods and awareness is still ongoing.