The Watches Magazine

What The Watches Magazine does

The Watches Magazine is a Swiss luxury watchmaking media property operated by ACE Publishing S.A., headquartered in Vésenaz/Geneva. Founded in 2013 and ranked among the top ten watchmaking print media globally, the company publishes a bilingual (English/French) online magazine at watches-news.com covering new releases, limited editions, grand complications, sport watches, men's and women's timepieces, and Métiers d'art, alongside a print edition distributed digitally via the Calameo platform. The editorial team comprises four named contributors — CEO Alain Carrier, Editor Yannick Ortolan, and Specialist Journalists Sharmila Bertin and Dan Diaconu — producing content in categories from technical innovations and sustainable materials to haute horlogerie craftsmanship.

The business is built on a content-led go-to-market model with a WordPress CMS and WPML powering the multilingual site, augmented by Google Tag Manager analytics, YouTube video embeds, and Google reCAPTCHA. The site surfaces dedicated Brand Week themed features and a BRANDS AND PARTNERS section that hosts more than twenty luxury watch maisons, including Hublot, Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Chopard, Longines, Zenith, Breguet, Hermès, Jaquet-Droz, MB&F, Tissot, Ulysse Nardin, Parmigiani, and independents such as Armin Strom, Schwarz Etienne, and Speake Marin. Social media distribution is concentrated on Facebook (1M fans), Instagram (103k followers), and Threads (7.3k followers).

Revenue is generated primarily through advertising and brand partnerships with luxury watch manufacturers — including sponsored Brand Week coverage — supplemented by the Calameo-distributed print magazine. The company has no disclosed subscription pricing, no mobile app, no API, no proprietary technology beyond standard CMS tooling, no disclosed funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no AI/ML capabilities in evidence. The audience comprises watch collectors and connoisseurs, enlightened amateurs, and watch neophytes seeking curated expert journalism on the global luxury watch market.

Name

The Watches Magazine

Legal name

ACE PUBLISHING SA

Website

https://watches-news.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Watches Magazine is a Swiss bilingual (EN/FR) online and print luxury watchmaking publication published by ACE Publishing S.A. in Geneva, serving collectors, enthusiasts, and newcomers through expert journalism and brand partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Watch Media

NAICS

Periodical Publishers (51312)

SIC

Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721)

akta.pro primary industry

Business, Finance & Industry Trade Magazines (MPAJAEAM)

Keywords

• Luxury watch journalism
• Watchmaking news
• Horology magazine
• Swiss watch media
• Watch brand coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Vésenaz/Geneva

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Advertising and Brand Partnerships: Revenue generated through brand partnerships with luxury watch manufacturers who advertise on the platform and participate in sponsored brand weeks
2. Magazine Publishing: Print magazine The Watches Magazine distributed via Calameo platform

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Watches Magazine (also known as Watches News) is a Swiss bilingual (English/French) publication covering the luxury watchmaking world, published by ACE Publishing S.A. since 2013. It operates both an online news platform (watches-news.com) with daily articles and a print magazine distributed via Calameo, featuring specialized journalists who cover new watch releases, limited editions, technical innovations, and brand news across categories including men's watches, women's watches, sport watches, grand complications, and Métiers d'art.

Product overview

The Watches Magazine, published by ACE Publishing S.A., is a Swiss luxury watchmaking publication offering both an online news platform and print magazine. The online platform features daily articles covering new watch releases, limited editions, and brand news across categories including men's watches, women's watches, sport watches, grand complications, and Métiers d'art. The publication also offers Brand Week features that spotlight specific watch brands. The company operates as a content/media company without a software product, platform, or API offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Watches Magazine (Online News Platform) A Swiss online magazine publishing articles covering the watchmaking world, featuring news about luxury watch brands, new watch releases, limited editions, technical innovations, and brand coverage. Content is bilingual in English and French and serves collectors, enlightened amateurs, and neophytes.
• The Watches Magazine (Print Publication) Print magazine publication distributed via the Calameo platform, ranked among the top ten watchmaking print media globally. Published by ACE Publishing S.A. and featuring curated articles about luxury watches, new releases, and watchmaking news.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Armin StromminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in the BRANDS AND PARTNERS section of the magazine, regularly covered in articles
• BreguetminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in the BRANDS AND PARTNERS section, with dedicated brand week coverage
• BulgaricoreOthersFeatured in brand week with extensive coverage of Octo Finissimo collection and other watch releases
• ChopardminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and articles
• EBELminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• HermèsminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• HublotcoreOthersMajor luxury brand with dedicated brand week coverage, featured extensively in sport and luxury watch articles
• Jaquet-DrozminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and women's watches coverage
• LonginesminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage
• LorigeminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage
• Louis MoinetminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• MB&FminorOthersIndependent watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and women's watches coverage
• MidominorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage
• ParmigianiminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• Patek PhilippeminorOthersPrestigious luxury brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and women's watches coverage
• Richard MillecoreOthersMajor luxury brand featured extensively in sport watches and grand complications coverage
• Schwarz EtienneminorOthersIndependent watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• Speake MarinminorOthersIndependent watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• TAG HeuercoreOthersMajor luxury brand with extensive coverage including Monaco, Carrera, Formula 1 collections and brand partnerships
• TissotminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage
• Ulysse NardinminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section
• Vacheron ConstantinminorOthersPrestigious luxury brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and women's watches coverage
• ZenithminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage
• ZRCminorOthersLuxury watch brand featured in BRANDS AND PARTNERS section and sport watches coverage

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Robb Report: Luxury-lifestyle publication covering watches alongside cars, yachts, and travel. Competes for luxury-brand advertising spend and reaches a broader high-net-worth audience that includes watch collectors.
• Watchfinder & Co. Pre-owned watch retailer that also operates a substantial editorial/content platform featuring watch news and reviews. Overlaps with The Watches Magazine on content but adds a large commercial pre-owned-watch marketplace.
• GQ Magazine: Mainstream men's luxury and style magazine with dedicated watch coverage and brand partnerships. A larger, broader incumbent that overlaps with The Watches Magazine on watch editorial and brand-advertiser relationships.

Direct peers

• Watchonista: Multilingual (English/French) digital watch publication with a comparable bilingual content strategy and similar Swiss/European editorial roots, directly competing for the same French-English luxury watch audience.
• Hodinkee: The leading US-based digital watch publication, covering new releases, reviews, and brand features. Direct competitor to The Watches Magazine for both reader attention and luxury-brand advertising dollars, with a much larger editorial team and broader content formats.
• Revolution Watch: Premium print-and-digital watch magazine with strong luxury-brand positioning. Competes in the same niche of curated, high-production-value watch journalism aimed at serious collectors.
• Fratello Watches: Dutch-based enthusiast watch magazine covering luxury and independent brands with a mix of editorial and editorial-commerce content. Competes with The Watches Magazine for international collector audiences and brand partnerships.
• Monochrome Watches: Independent online watch magazine covering mechanical watches from established and independent brands. Comparable editorial scope, multilingual ambition, and target audience of collectors and enthusiasts.
• A Blog To Watch: Long-running digital-first watch publication with extensive news, reviews, and buying guides. Closely comparable product offering to watches-news.com, with overlapping advertiser base among mid-market and luxury watch brands.
• Time and Tide: Online watch magazine offering reviews, news, and buying guides for enthusiast and entry-luxury audiences. Similar product mix and target demographics to The Watches Magazine.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheWatchesMagazine
• Instagraminstagram.com/watches_news
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-watches-magazine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Watches Magazine