History
Since its foundation, the Group has evolved into a pure luxury goods group. Follow our journey here.
Montblanc Haus, an exhibition centre dedicated to the art of writing, opened its doors to the public in Hamburg, telling the story of Montblanc, from its founding days to the present. The award-winning architectural concept explores different themes, including Montblanc’s legacy and vision, the richness and diversity of handwriting from around the world, craftsmanship and innovation, as well as Montblanc collections.
Rolex, Richemont and Patek Philippe created the Watches and Wonders Geneva Foundation. The mission of this not-for-profit foundation is to promote watchmaking excellence through in-person and digital watch and jewellery exhibitions, in Geneva and beyond.
Alber Elbaz and Richemont launch AZ Factory a pioneering joint venture focused on beautiful, solutions-driven fashion that works for everyone – smart fashion that cares. The digital luxury start-up is built around the core ideas of love, trust and respect with inclusivity and sustainability at its core.
Meanwhile, Cartier, Chloé, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Montblanc, Panerai, Piaget and Vacheron Constantin continued to develop their digital offers, launching online flagship stores on Tmall Luxury Pavilion in China.
The opening of NET-A-PORTER’s flagship store on Tmall Luxury Pavilion, the dedicated channel for luxury and premium brands in China, marks the operational launch of FENGMAO 风茂, the joint venture established between YOOX NET-A-PORTER GROUP and Alibaba Group to further embrace the future of luxury in a connected world.
Richemont steps up its ambition in sustainability with the launch of its Transformational CSR Strategy, underpinned by Richemont’s Movement for Better Luxury. In addition to being carbon neutral within its own operations, the Group will now also offset logistics emissions in Scope 3 of the GHG Protocol.
The same year, the Group completes the sale of Lancel and successfully places a €4bn inaugural euro denominated bond with an A+ S&P Global rating.
HOMO FABER, the first major exhibition dedicated to showcase European craftsmanship, is launched in Venice supported by the Michaelangelo Foundation, offering the general public an unprecedented opportunity to meet artisans and watch them work.
Richemont sells Shanghai Tang, the Chinese fashion house.
Richemont through Cartier cofounded the Coloured Gemstones Working Group (CGWG) alongside Tiffany & Co., Swarovski, LVMH, Kering and Gemfields. The CGWG aims to support the industry’s responsible sourcing of coloured gemstones by enabling better practices, developing tools and reducing adverse impacts throughout the supply chain.
Richemont launched TimeVallée, a visionary multibrand watch retail concept open to all high-end watchmakers and available to our multibrand watch retail partners, with the objective of bringing benefits to customers and the watch industry as a whole.
Another notable development this year includes the establishment of the Group's three-year Sustainability plan.
Richemont is a pioneer in Switzerland of the Responsible Jewellery Council Code of Practices, which since 2013 has been deployed in the watch industry. Today more than 95% of 18 carat gold delivered to our Maisons is delivered by RJC COP certified suppliers.
Start of the Cartier Charitable Foundation’s operations.
The Group also acquires Varin-Etampage & Varinor, a high-end manufacturer of stamped exterior components for watches, gold refiner and producer of semi-finished precious metal products destined for watches and jewellery, to extend its manufacturing capabilities and improve control over its supply chain.
We open the Campus Genevois de Haute Horlogerie, built in accordance with demanding environmental and socially responsible standards, to notably transmit knowledge and expertise in watchmaking through L’Ecole des Métiers et Artisans de Haute Horlogerie.
L'École des Arts Joailliers, the first school to share the secrets of the jewellery world with a large and varied audience, opens in Paris with the support of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Cartier Philanthropy is also founded, with a commitment to improving the standard of living of the most vulnerable and helping them to fulfil their potential.
From this year onwards, a further commitment towards the environment was taken by the Group as all our new manufacturing facilities are designed with special care for the environment.
The Group focuses purely on its luxury business by regrouping its other interests into Reinet Investments S.C.A., a new separately traded vehicle.
The strategic development of the Group’s manufacturing capabilities progresses with the purchase of the watch case manufacturer Donzé-Baume and of the component manufacturing operations of Manufacture Roger Dubuis, to be renamed Manufacture Genevoise de Haute Horlogerie.
Richemont disposes of its stake in the French retailer Old England, after the disposal of the UK brand Hackett the year before.
Richemont's headquarters move to Bellevue, near Geneva, into a facility integrating Jean Nouvel-designed modern architecture, the natural landscape and a 19th century chalet, reflecting our unique blend of tradition and innovation.
Key steps are taken with the creation of the Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards and the publication of Richemont’s inaugural Sustainability Report, as well as related codes on sustainability and the environment.
The Group is also one of the founding partners of the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie set up to promote fine watchmaking.
British American Tabacco preference share conversion further reduces our effective interest in the company to 18.6%.
Richemont acquires full ownership of Van Cleef & Arpels (remaining 20%) and A. Lange & Söhne (remaining 10%).
Also in 2002, Cartier launched the Institut Joaillerie with the objective of preserving know-how and developing innovative techniques in the jewellery industry.
Here begins the reduction in the Group's interest in British American Tobacco. The sale of our Vivendi interest marks the Group's exit from pay-television and electronic media investments.
Richemont and Daimler found Laureus, a global organisation whose charitable arm, Laureus Sport for Good, celebrates sporting excellence and uses the power of sport to transform the lives of children and young people.
The same year, the merger of Rothmans International with British American Tobacco sees Richemont become a 23.3% shareholder in the enlarged BAT.
The Group also disposes of a 15% interest in Canal+ in exchange for 2.9% interest in Vivendi and closes the decade with the strategic acquisition of a 60% interest in Van Cleef & Arpels, one of the world's most prestigious and widely recognised jewellers.
During this time, Richemont buys out Rothmans International minority shareholders and merges its tobacco interests with those held by Rembrandt Group in South Africa.
Vendôme acquires Purdey, the reference in British gun making and countryside elegance since 1814, having earned a royal warrant from every monarch since Queen Victoria.
The same year, Cartier created the Institut Horlogerie Cartier to pass on exceptional watchmaking skills among apprentices and experienced craftsmen.
Established by Dr Anton Rupert in the 1940s, Rembrandt Group owned significant interests in the tobacco, financial services, wines and spirits, gold and diamond mining industries as well as the luxury goods investments that, along with the investment in Rothmans International, would form Richemont. As a result, Richemont holds minority holdings in Cartier Monde (Cartier, Piaget and Baume & Mercier) and Rothmans International, which also owns investments in Cartier Monde, dunhill and, through dunhill, Montblanc and Chloé. The following year Richemont acquires Philip Morris' 30% interest in Rothmans International.
