Edouard Heuer was passionate about precision, performance, efficiency and quality. When he founded his workshop in 1860, he had only one goal: taking time measurement to much greater heights. Heuer was one of the first Swiss watchmakers to design timing instruments for competitive sports. Beginning with the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920, The Heuer Watch Company, and later Tag Heuer, has timed and recorded for posterity the finest achievements in modern sport. Since then, the company has always been in the avant-garde of watchmaking, whether in terms of technology, the choice of materials or design.

From the first patent for a chronograph mechanism in 1882 to the 1998 launch of the Kirium TI5 in grade 5 titanium and carbon fiber. In 1985 Heuer merged with the Tag company (Techniques D'Avant Garde), known for its remarkable achievements in technology, and the result was a change in name to Tag Heuer. Known exclusively for rugged, durable, sports design timepieces Tag Heuer reached beyond that image, and in keeping with their philosophy of being avant-garde, they introduced the Alter Ego, a high polished contemporary dress watch for women with choice of dial colors, diamond dials, diamond bezels, and diamond cases.

Whether your choice is from the 2000 Classic Series, 2000 Exclusives, 6000 Series, Link, Kirium or the Carrera and Monza reproduction models, Tag Heuer has the right watch for you. Visit the TAG Heuer website

To wear a Baume & Mercier timepiece is to enter its history and adopt a philosophy. This watch is a unique object, the creation of a master Swiss watchmaker and forged by the meeting of two personalities: William Baume and Paul Mercier. By uniting their talents and names, these two defined the perfect balance between tradition and modernity, precision and creativity. A Baume & Mercier watch can always be recognized by its signature logo: the Greek golden number PHI (F). According to Leonardo da Vinci this Greek numerical sign symbolized "divine proportion".

The diversity of the Baume & Mercier collections sets them apart from all others. Clients may choose from the GALA COLLECTION for thin, dressier styles featuring supple bracelets for women and reptile skin straps for men, crafted in 14karat and 18karat white or yellow gold, with and without diamonds. Still one of the most recognized and prized models is the ultra-thin, water resistant RIVIERA having a distinctive twelve-sided bezel and screw-down locking crown. Men and women can choose from stainless steel, stainless steel with 18karat gold, or solid 18 karat gold, with and without diamonds. From the classically designed, rectangular shape of the HAMPTON to the more rugged sport designs of the CAPELAND, there is a perfect Baume & Mercier watch waiting for you.

Visit the Baume & Mercier website

Maurice Barouh taught his son Jack the essentials of watchmaking — patience and a dedication to quality. It was an education in both the business and the craft of the industry, a lesson which Jack combined with his own interest in design.

Jack and his wife, Rita, who grew up in Geneva, moved to Panama in the 1970's to help run the family business as well as to begin their own family. While there, Jack's watches garnered great attention from the Latin American market because of their innovative designs. After several years in Panama, Jack and Rita moved their two young children, Jeremy and Michele, to Miami, where they started Michele Watches, named for their daughter. The very first Michele Watch, the CSX Diamond, was just the beginning of many more collections to come.

One of the Barouh Family's biggest sources of inspiration comes from their yearly travels to exotic locales. "We were always fortunate enough to travel to see different cultures," said Jeremy. Rita Barouh said, "Each of us comes from a different corner of the globe, so when we sit down to discuss an issue or a design, a wide range of ideas are brought to the decision-making process."

According to Jack Barouh, the best part about working with his children is seeing how each brings a different experience to the table. "After watching them grow up, go through college, declare their independence, and travel, they've returned as complete individuals who have a great deal to offer the company," he said. Michele Watches' third generation has mixed a love of fashion with a love of travel and design to create a truly unique product. Michele and Jeremy understand, however, that, unlike a great shoe or bag, a watch is a living device, one that encompasses both a history of craftsmanship and the potential for becoming a family heirloom. Jack Barouh said, "The world is becoming smaller and smaller. I hope the future generations of Michele Watches continue to reach out and be inspired by it."

Today, Michele Watches is a $50 million business which has become part of Fossil. Fossil is a global leader in the fashion watch market with a proven track record of attracting and expanding brands. Jack Barouh made the decision in 2004 to merge his company with Fossil in order to give Michele Watches an even greater position of strength in the global watch industry. However, despite being part of a large, publicly-traded company, Michele Watches still operates as a family business, with the design and business decisions made by the Barouh family in partnership with Fossil.

Visit the Michele website.