Beyer Chronometrie on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse claiming to be the world’s oldest watch store is particularly popular among bankers and has entered the new virtual territory. A sale of 100 NFT watches sold out after only seven minutes.
Beyer is launching its first futuristic watch collection made of Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT), the company announced Thursday. It is collaborating with FTSY8 Fictional Studio, a brand of digital creative agency SiR MaRY.
The watch store, domiciled on Zurich’s Bahnhofstrasse, has been around since 1760 and is now in its eighth generation of operations and is one of the first stops for bankers when they get their bonuses.
Inspired by the Gaming World
Designers from a variety of disciplines have reinterpreted classic watches with their styles, pushing the physical boundaries of watchmaking. The creative minds drew inspiration from the worlds of fashion, gaming, and the virtual world.
Among the artists and designers are names like Simon Husslein, professor of interior architecture at the Geneva School of Art and Design, who has designed watches for brands like Braun, Nomos Glashuette, and Ventura. Entrepreneur Niklaus Hodel, known as the «Shoe Guy,» designs shoes and sneakers for fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, and Maison Margiela.
Searching for 262 Years
«Just because we invented the watch business, we don’t rest on it. We have been searching for 262 years on how to combine tradition and vision. With the NFT watch collection, we have once again succeeded beautifully,» said René Beyer, CEO, and owner of Beyer Chronometrie.
Acquiring an NFT watch should be as easy as possible is the motto of the initiators. Therefore, the first, limited edition could be mined via Metamask Wallet and paid with Ethereum or purchased via credit card. This strategy paid off. The first 100 NFT watches were sold out after only seven minutes on May 2, which buyers could presumably tell on their new purchases.
The Next Drop
The first major drop of the Time Warp Collection, open to the general public, is scheduled to take place on June 29 at 6 p.m. (CET). An NFT watch will cost $950; around 380 pieces among a total of 30 models will be offered. Buyers will initially purchase a «surprise box,» the contents of which will be revealed only after a few days.
