Corporate identity, 1970
There was a stroke of luck in researching the company’s history. One of its graphic designers had kept professional black-and-white photographs from the 1970s, and we recognised their value for a brand presence that was visionary even then. The photos show the spectacular opening of the store on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, seven floors of watches, jewellery and accessories in a futuristic staging, with an escalator as a novelty. The architecture was remarkable for its time. Our image material later helped the company in its dealings with the heritage authorities during renovation work.
In Geneva, a long search turned up a photograph of the Café Les Ambassadeurs, for two decades one of the favourite meeting places of the diplomatic corps. The first boutique opened in its rooms.
The house commissioned us to build a comprehensive image archive. From that material, from many interviews with witnesses and from conversations with contemporary watch industry specialists, we told the company’s fifty-year story, the story of a brand recognised around the world.
- Year: 2013/2014
- Authors: Monica Rottmeyer, Philipp Hofstetter, Dominik Flammer
- Visual History, Image Archive: Monica Rottmeyer
- Publisher: Les Ambassadeurs
- Languages: German, English, French, Italian, Russian, Chinese







