Jean-Claude Biver joins Norqain as Advisor to the Board

Jean-Claude Biver joins Norqain as Advisor to the Board.

With an average age of 35, the Norqain team is one of the youngest to have made its mark in the Swiss watch industry. Today, the brand announces a new and exciting collaboration with Jean-Claude Biver which joins Norqain as Advisor to the Board.

A legend in the watchmaking industry, jean-Claude Biver had key roles in brands like Omega, Blancpain, Hublot and TAG Heuer also serving as president of LVMHs watchmaking division until his retirement after 43 years in the industry.

Together, Norqain and Jean-Claude Biver aim to spread their passion for mechanical watches in the age of digitalization and smartwatches. Norqain’s mission is to support the movement of putting Swiss-made watches on the wrists of the young and the young-at-heart, a mission that Jean-Claude Biver wholeheartedly supports.

Jean-Claude Biver says: “Giving back to the younger generation now at the forefront of the industry is always something I’ve wanted to do. From 20 to 40 I learned, from 40 to 60 I capitalised on my knowledge, and now I want to share my experiences and know-how with the young talents who are shaking up the watch world. I am happy to support Norqain because of its young, dynamic team and I share their passion for the Swiss watch industry. As I announced earlier this year, I will launch my own exclusive watch brand, JC Biver, together with my son Pierre in 2023. At the same time, my role as Advisor to the Board at Norqain allows me to be associated with an exciting brand in an essential price-point for the Swiss watch industry. It is very important to have strong Swiss independent brands in different price segments and Norqain offers an exciting challenge to the status quo”.

Jean-Claude Biver and Norqain Founder & CEO, Ben Küffer

Norqain CEO Ben Küffer adds: “It is an honour to have the opportunity to work together with one of the greats. I am extremely excited to work with Jean-Claude and to have him challenge the team to reach the highest summits and further develop the brand through innovation. The fact that Jean-Claude is building up his own family-owned brand at the same time will definitely lead to motivating discussions and a valuable exchange of ideas and experiences”. 

Jean-Claude Biver has already had several workshops with the team to develop innovative marketing and distribution concepts. Looking ahead, the watch industry icon will support the brand through the process of receiving CO2-neutral certification and creating a revolutionary, eco-friendly, robust and ultra-light product line that will be introduced in autumn this year. This new collaboration strongly underlines the long-term vision of the independent brand.

Jean-Claude Biver confirms: “I have kept a close eye on Norqain since its founding and have been consistently impressed with the team’s achievements around the world in such a short amount of time. The brand’s values align with my own and I am looking forward to climbing new peaks with them and developing innovative products using new sustainable materials”.

Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 over the past years, Norqain’s global sales increased by over 50% in 2021. As a family-owned brand, hence without the pressure of shareholders, Norqain has freedom to create its own long-term vision and opens the door to innovation. norqain.com