Bucherer is the first retailer to join the newly launched Rolex Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program in Europe. But what does that mean for existing Bucherer customers and those who want to buy or sell a pre-owned Rolex? Let's have a closer look!

Rolex Certified Pre-Owned

As you might know, at Artworth we are big fans of the certified pre-owned movement. There is so much beauty and joy in collecting CPO and vintage watches. Having them officially serviced and certified makes this passion an even more enjoyable hobby. Through the newly created certification program by Rolex, the whole CPO space is expected to become more dynamic and attractive.

In the program, all Rolex CPO watches traded at Bucherer will be authenticated by Rolex itself. The models will receive a two-year international Rolex CPO-warranty and dedicated Rolex CPO accessories, such as a Rolex CPO seal and a Rolex CPO pouch. We think that that's a great added value for Bucherer's clientele and a milestone not only for the Swiss family-owned company, but for the watch industry as a whole. We expect other brands to follow soon with a similar program, further strengthening the secondary market for Swiss timepieces.

Bucherer becomes the first official Rolex CPO Dealer

As early as 2019, Bucherer successfully entered the business with pre-owned watches and expanded rapidly - both online and offline. Artworth was present when the first Bucherer Gallery dedicated to CPO timepieces was opened in Geneva. Recently, we returned there to host an Artworth at Bucherer event. You can read the article about this magnificent evening here.

In addition to a steadily growing assortment of carefully curated luxury watches, Bucherer has successively expanded its own network of Certified Pre-Owned sales outlets to around 50 locations worldwide. Artworth had the pleasure to host events in some of these locations. Among them Zurich, Bern, Munich, and Paris.

Today, Bucherer is one of the world's most renowned houses when it comes to selling luxury jewelry and watches. Its strong ties to Rolex and extensive expertise in the CPO market paved the way to become the first retailer to join the newly launched CPO program by Rolex. At Bucherer's point of sale in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Denmark and the United Kingdom, the offering will be launched immediately. The launch in the USA is expected to follow soon.

Significant added value for Bucherer's CPO Customers

At Artworth, we think that Rolex' offering creates outstanding added value for Bucherer's clientele. With this cooperation, the two companies are creating the highest degree of security and transparency. Bucherer's customers will enjoy the good feeling of purchasing a watch Rolex itself certified and authenticated. What will the move mean for the broader watch industry? We believe that demand for new models will remain high while the confidence to buy pre-owned watches will further increase. Why? Well, people might buy more watches at a higher value, if they know there is a healthy pre-owned market on which timepieces can be traded with confidence at attractive and fair price points.

Great watches have stories that never end, they just get better with time. The same is true for high-quality whisky and vintage champagne. That's why decided to host an evening at Bucherer CPO in Zurich for like-minded ladies and gentlemen to discover the fascinating world of certified pre-owned (CPO) watches. Read on if you want to get a glimpse too!

Artworth at Bucherer CPO Zürich

As soon as we announced our event at the wonderful CPO boutique on the 5th floor of Bucherer in Zurich on Instagram, many like-minded people reached out to us and asked to participate. The guest list filled up quickly and preparations began for the first-ever Artworth event open to the public.

Finally the much awaited day is here and people start to arrive at the newly renovated building of Bucherer on the well-known Bahnhofstrasse in downtown Zurich. They get welcomed with a glass of Veuve Clicquot and quickly get captivated by the many iconic timepieces that are on display. A watch that fascinates many is the Rolex GMT-Master from 1996.

While the watches get great attention, we also have Tim from Glen Fahrn with us who invites the guests to taste some rare whiskys from Scotland, Ireland and beyond. We love the connection between pre-owened watches and a good bottle of whisky. Both get more interesting, more unique over time. A whisky we particularly enjoy is Balblair. Crafted in a small distillery in Scotland, it matured in double-fired American oak casks and offers a deep concentration of fruit notes with a hint of dark chocolate. A delight!

A bubbly surprise

As a first highlight of the evening, we surprise our guests with the reveal of five La Grande Dame 2008 bottles. This winemaking prowess with 92% Pinot Noir and 8% Chardonnay, really brings the Veuve Clicquot style to its quintessence, balancing strength, and elegance. Known in her lifetime as "the Grande Dame of Champagne", Madame Clicquot was a woman ahead of her time. When her husband died in 1805, she took over the reins at just 27 years of age, at a time when women had no place in the world of business. A free and ambitious woman, her signature is recognized the world over as the seal of Veuve Clicquot. This is the story of a Grande Dame, the story of a Grand Champagne.

Created in 1962 and launched in 1972 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the House, La Grande Dame is a tribute to the inspiring Madame Clicquot. To the eye, it presents a color with bright, golden glints. The initial nose reveals a strong, aerial and delicate attack. Once opened, the wine has notes of dried fruits, ripe white fruits and finishes on subtle toasted notes of hazelnut and praline. These notes create a perfect balance with the freshness and clarity of the blend. La Grande Dame 2008 has a silky texture on young fruits, supported by citrus. These characteristics make it the perfect champagne to spoil our guests with. Santé!

Ending the night overlooking Zurich

Another exciting part of the event is to talk with Keren from Amarcord. She runs a small boutique, offering made-to-measure tailor services and brought the latest winter fabrics for suits that will both keep one warm and look incredibly sharp. Keren has been tailoring some suits for us lately and we are impressed with the rare fabrics she offers. Moreover, she has set up her own supply chain, working with artisans based in Sicily.

As the sun sets, we head up to the rooftop of the Bucherer building to take in the magnificent views over the wonderful city of Zurich. It has been the perfect location for the first-ever Artworth at Bucherer event. In the heart of Zurich and surrounded by iconic timepieces, we talked about watches and suits while enjoying a glass of champagne or whisky. Who knows which city in Europe will be next!

Do you want to learn more about the Bucherer CPO offering? Read this blogpost about their Gallery in Geneva.