Breitling has confirmed to WATCHPRO that it stopped deliveries of watches to Russia on February 28.
Breitling’s chief executive Georges Kern joined 25,000 protesters on the streets of Zürich last week who were protesting against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The crowd was demanding “freedom, peace and democracy in Ukraine,” he said.
Breitling has 45 points of sale in Russia including two boutiques in Moscow and one boutique in St. Petersburg, all of which are operated with trading partners, a statement sent to WATCHPRO today confirmed.
The business has 13 employees in Russia, four of whom are watchmakers for its service business.
While standing firmly behind Ukraine, Breitling has been forced to stop trading since the Russian invasion.
“The points of sale in Ukraine, all of which are operated by trading partners (no boutiques), are closed for the protection of employees and we are in constant contact with our partners in order to support,” Breitling says.
Swatch Group, LVMH, Richemont and Kering have all suspended activity in Russia.
Russia was the 17th largest market in the world for Swiss watches last year, receiving exports worth CHF 260 million with a retail value of over half a billion francs.
