Chanel Buys 25% Stake in High-End Independent Watchmaker MB&F

Chanel and MB&F have just announced an exciting partnership; the luxury fashion house has acquired a 25% stake in the independent high-end watchmaking brand.

Founded in 2005 by Maximilian Büsser, MB&F, short for Maximilian Büsser & Friends, is the world’s first-ever horological concept laboratory. 

As an artistic and micro-engineering creative lab, the brand is dedicated to designing and crafting a small series of radical concept watches by bringing together talented horological professionals. The brand has launched over 20 calibres that are the foundation for the award-winning Horological and Legacy Machines. MB&F continues to follow Founder and Creative Director Maximilian Büsser’s vision of creating 3-D kinetic art by deconstructing traditional watchmaking.

Founder Maximilian Büsser will be retaining the majority of MB&F, estimated at 60%, with his partner in the company, Serge Kriknoff, Head of R&D and Production, owning 15%. Max and Serge will continue to lead MB&F, along with Charris Yadigaroglou, Head of Marketing Communications, and Thibault Verdonckt, Head of Sales.

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Chanel’s minority stake is set to enhance the stability and resilience of the brand, with a strong strategic shareholder sharing the same values and guaranteeing that MB&F’s long-term strategy will be maintained.

In an official statement, Maximilian Büsser says, “It was our responsibility, in today’s very favourable context and with our management team in its prime, to take this major step to ensure our long-term future – a natural evolution for a company celebrating its 20^th anniversary next year. In addition to allowing us to pursue our independent path, free of any pressure on growth, the investment by Chanel will strengthen our operations by providing access, when needed, to their wider ecosystem and network of specialised suppliers.”

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On Chanel’s part, the strategic investment demonstrates the House’s desire to continue to evolve and invest in the future of high-end watchmaking expertise, creation, and design. It follows a long-term strategy to partner with luxury specialists to preserve and develop expert savoir faire. 

Chanel launched its own watchmaking in 1987, setting up a watch design studio on Place Vendôme in Paris and investing in G&F Châtelain Manufacture in La Chaux-de-Fonds in Switzerland, acquired by the group in 1993. The investment in MB&F follows similar investments in high-end watchmakers Romain Gauthier (2011) and F.P. Journe (2018), which continue to be run independently.

Frédéric Grangié, President of Chanel Watches and Fine Jewellery, shares, “We are delighted to sign a strategic partnership with MB&F, which shares the same values of independence, creativity, and excellence. The announcement is part of our long-term strategy to continue to preserve, develop, and invest in specialist know-how and expertise, reaffirming our position in high-end watchmaking.”

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