Chaumont Group Elevates Luxury Watch Market with Acquisition of Two Leading Swiss Watchmaking Startups

Groupe Chaumont: A New Chapter in Swiss Watchmaking

Swiss watchmaking startups Efteor and Télôs Watch have recently been acquired by private equity operator Vam Investments, in partnership with established companies Le Composant and Henri Robert . This acquisition marks the official launch of Groupe Chaumont, a new industrial platform headquartered in Neuchâtel, Switzerland.

Groupe Chaumont is focused on producing movements, cases, tools, and components for high-end Swiss watches. The entrepreneurs behind the acquired companies are reinvesting alongside Vam, becoming shareholders in Groupe Chaumont, while still managing their respective businesses.

“The high-end watchmaking market demands components of absolute quality and precision. Groupe Chaumont aims to be an industrial partner that brings together the finest Swiss savoir-faire under one banner, covering cases, movements, cutting tools, and complications,” says Umberto Macchi di Cellere, CEO of Groupe Chaumont.

Vam Investments, founded in 2013 in Milan by Marco Piana, specializes in buyout investments and buy-and-build strategies, particularly in fragmented industries. With a portfolio that includes companies like Everest Group and Gym Nation Italia, Vam has invested over €600 million in mid-market companies over the past five years.

The acquisition of Efteor, Télôs Watch, Le Composant, and Henri Robert gives Groupe Chaumont a comprehensive presence in various stages of watch component production, from conceptualization to machining and finishing.

Efteor, founded in 2011 in Bassecourt, Jura, specializes in producing limited-series watch cases and clasps made from precious metals. Télôs Watch, established in 2009 in La Chaux-de-Fonds, focuses on developing watch movements and complications.

Le Composant, based in Bassecourt, manufactures rotor weights and bracelets, while Henri Robert, located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, produces high-precision cutting tools for watch components.

Together, these companies provide Groupe Chaumont with a diverse portfolio spanning various components for high-end watchmaking, all while retaining operational autonomy within the group.

Léonis Tafaj, speaking on behalf of the founding companies, expressed pride in the initiative and emphasized the value of collaboration and expertise in meeting customer expectations.

Groupe Chaumont’s strategy is to address the demand for specialized expertise among watchmaking maisons, focusing on capacity, traceability, and operational continuity.

Instead of merging the businesses, Groupe Chaumont is structured around shared resources, collaboration, and the exchange of technical knowledge, with the entrepreneurs continuing to lead their companies within the group.

Macchi di Cellere, a former Managing Director of Bulgari Watches, will lead Groupe Chaumont, bringing a wealth of experience in the industry.

Vam Investments’ Managing Partner, Marco Piana, believes that the collaborative model within Groupe Chaumont will maximize the strengths and expertise of the companies involved.

Looking ahead, Groupe Chaumont plans to expand its offerings by adding more specialist businesses to cater to the needs of high-end watchmaking brands.