Bedat & Co

Bedat & Co is a Swiss luxury watch brand established in Geneva in 1996 by Simone Bédat and her son Christian Bédat after both departed from Raymond Weil, the Swiss watch company with which they had previously been associated. The brand was created to develop an independent watchmaking identity centered on refined design, Swiss production, and a strong emphasis on women's timepieces. Its early collections included the N°3, N°7, and Reference 304 models, which were presented at BaselWorld in 1997. The company attracted strategic investment during its first decade. In 2000, Gucci Group acquired an 85 percent interest in Bedat & Co, while Christian Bédat became chairman. The remaining 15 percent was acquired by Gucci in 2005, making the group the sole owner. During this period, the watches occupied the high-luxury segment; contemporary reporting described an average retail price of approximately 5,000 U.S. dollars in 2000, although that historical figure should not be treated as a current price indication. Simone and Christian Bédat left the company in 2006. Despite the change in management and ownership, Bedat & Co continued to be presented as a Swiss watch brand. In 2008, it opened its first stand-alone boutique in Kuala Lumpur, an important step in developing a direct retail presence in Asia. The boutique was officially opened by Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia. In 2009, Malaysia-based Luxury Concepts acquired Bedat & Co from Gucci and retained the brand's Swiss identity and international distribution model. Bedat & Co's product offer consists primarily of luxury mechanical and jewelry-oriented wristwatches, with design serving as a central differentiator. The brand is associated with elegant contemporary forms rather than broad mass-market watchmaking, and its historical collections were developed for customers seeking dress watches with a distinctive visual signature. In 2010, the company again collaborated with designer Dino Modolo for a new collection, indicating a continued interest in design-led product development. Publicly documented information about the brand's current executive structure, production scale, retail footprint, and latest collections is limited. The available historical record nevertheless establishes Bedat & Co as a Geneva-founded Swiss luxury watch label that passed from founder control to Gucci Group ownership and later to Malaysian luxury-goods specialist Luxury Concepts. Its principal category remains women's luxury watches, supported by Swiss brand positioning and selective international distribution.

Bedat & Co was founded in 1996 in Geneva by Simone Bédat and her son Christian Bédat. The founders had previously been associated with Raymond Weil, a Swiss luxury watch brand, and left that company to establish a new label under the Bedat name. Their objective was to create a distinctive Swiss luxury-watch business with an emphasis on design and women's watches. The first Bedat & Co timepieces were introduced publicly at BaselWorld in 1997. The launch collection included the N°3, N°7, and Reference 304 models. These early references established the brand's position in the premium and luxury segments and helped define its identity around polished, jewelry-influenced wristwatch design. The brand's products were marketed as Swiss luxury watches rather than as mass-market products, and historical reporting placed the average price of its watches at about 5,000 U.S. dollars in 2000. A major ownership transition occurred in 2000, when Gucci Group acquired 85 percent of Bedat & Co. Christian Bédat became chairman, while Simone Bédat continued to assist her son on a pro bono basis and was not an employee of the company. Gucci Group acquired the remaining 15 percent in 2005, making Bedat & Co a wholly owned Gucci Group business. The founders left the company in 2006, ending the initial founder-led phase of the brand's history. Bedat & Co subsequently pursued a more visible retail presence in Asia. In 2008, it opened its first stand-alone boutique in Kuala Lumpur. The opening was officiated by Sultanah Nur Zahirah, the Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia, and represented an effort to present the brand directly to luxury consumers in a strategically important market. In 2009, Luxury Concepts, a Malaysia-based company, acquired Bedat & Co. Under the new ownership, the company continued to identify itself as a Swiss watch brand and maintained global distribution. The ownership change linked the label more closely with a Malaysian luxury retail and distribution platform while preserving its Swiss positioning. The brand continued to use external design collaboration as part of its product strategy. In 2010, Bedat & Co worked again with designer Dino Modolo on a new collection. This collaboration followed the brand's broader pattern of combining Swiss watchmaking credentials with a contemporary, design-led aesthetic. The publicly available historical record provides limited detail about later product releases, current management, manufacturing arrangements, and the size of the present retail network. The documented development of Bedat & Co therefore centers on four phases: its 1996 founding by Simone and Christian Bédat, the launch of its first collections in 1997, Gucci Group's ownership from 2000 to 2009, and the subsequent ownership of Luxury Concepts. Throughout these phases, the brand has remained associated with Swiss luxury watches, especially women's watches, and with a selective international market presence.

• 2010

  New Dino Modolo collaboration

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Bedat & Co works again with designer Dino Modolo on a new collection.

• 2009

  Luxury Concepts acquires the brand

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Malaysia-based Luxury Concepts purchases Bedat & Co and continues its Swiss brand positioning and global distribution.

• 2008

  First stand-alone boutique opens in Kuala Lumpur

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Bedat & Co opens its first dedicated boutique in Kuala Lumpur, with the ceremony officiated by Sultanah Nur Zahirah.

• 2006

  Founders depart

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Simone and Christian Bédat leave the company.

• 2005

  Gucci Group becomes sole owner

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Gucci acquires the remaining 15 percent of the company.

• 2000

  Gucci Group acquires a majority stake

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Gucci Group acquires 85 percent of Bedat & Co, with Christian Bédat serving as chairman.

• 1997

  First collections presented at BaselWorld

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  The N°3, N°7, and Reference 304 timepieces are presented at BaselWorld.

• 1996

  Bedat & Co is founded

  [1]Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org

  Simone Bédat and Christian Bédat establish the Geneva-based Swiss watch brand after leaving Raymond Weil.

Swiss high-luxury watchmaking with a strong focus on women's watches, contemporary design, and selective international distribution.

• Luxury wristwatch collection · 1997

  N°3

  The N°3 was one of the first Bedat & Co collections presented at BaselWorld in 1997. It belongs to the brand's foundational product range and helped establish its design-led identity in Swiss luxury watchmaking. Publicly available reference material does not provide sufficient technical detail to describe its movements, case dimensions, complications, or current availability.

• Luxury wristwatch collection · 1997

  N°7

  The N°7 was introduced alongside the N°3 and Reference 304 at BaselWorld in 1997. It formed part of Bedat & Co's initial effort to build a recognizable Swiss luxury-watch portfolio, with the brand's broader specialization in women's watches providing its principal market context. Detailed specifications and current retail status are not established by the available sources.

• Luxury wristwatch · 1997

  Reference 304

  Reference 304 was among the first Bedat & Co timepieces presented at BaselWorld in 1997. Its inclusion in the launch group makes it an important early reference in the brand's history. The available source material does not specify its movement, materials, complications, dimensions, or whether it remains in production.

• Designer watch collection · 2010

  Dino Modolo collaboration collection

  In 2010, Bedat & Co worked again with designer Dino Modolo on a new collection. The collaboration reflects the brand's reliance on design partnerships to develop contemporary luxury-watch offerings. The available reference does not provide the collection name or detailed technical and commercial specifications.

• 2010

  Dino Modolo design collaborationProduct launch

  Background

  Bedat & Co used design collaboration as part of its product-development approach.

  Action taken

  The brand worked again with designer Dino Modolo on a new collection.

  Aftermath

  The collaboration extended the brand's design-led product strategy, although detailed sales or distribution results are not documented in the available source.

  Source

• 2009

  Luxury Concepts acquires Bedat & CoM&A

  Background

  After its period under Gucci Group ownership, Bedat & Co changed hands in a transaction involving a Malaysia-based luxury company.

  Action taken

  Luxury Concepts acquired the brand and maintained its Swiss identity and global distribution.

  Aftermath

  Bedat & Co continued under Malaysian ownership as a Swiss luxury-watch label.

  Source

• 2008

  Expansion into stand-alone retailStrategy

  Background

  The brand sought to build a more direct presence in international luxury markets.

  Action taken

  Bedat & Co opened its first stand-alone boutique in Kuala Lumpur.

  Aftermath

  The boutique gave the brand a dedicated retail location in Malaysia and strengthened its visibility in Asia.

  Source

• 2005

  Gucci Group completes acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Gucci Group already held 85 percent of Bedat & Co.

  Action taken

  Gucci acquired the remaining 15 percent and became the sole owner.

  Aftermath

  The founders' company became fully owned by Gucci Group before Simone and Christian Bédat departed in 2006.

  Source

• 2000

  Gucci Group takes a majority stakeM&A

  Background

  Bedat & Co was a young Swiss luxury-watch brand founded by Simone and Christian Bédat.

  Action taken

  Gucci Group acquired 85 percent of the company and appointed Christian Bédat chairman.

  Aftermath

  The transaction brought Bedat & Co into Gucci Group ownership while retaining founder participation during the early ownership period.

  Source

1. 1Bedat & Coen.wikipedia.org