You’ve Earned It: The International Watch Press Wishes Longines’ Walter von Känel A Happy Retirement

As a relative newcomer to watches – relative to Walter, that is – I have only had the pleasure of knowing him for around 25 years. What sticks with me is that, of the 100+ watch brand bosses I have met, none have been as imbued with the culture of the company they represent. Nor have they exhibited anything even approaching the knowledge and loyalty, as Walter has shown for Longines.

Walter knows me not only as a writer but also as a minor collector of Longines, a mere dilettante with only seven or eight pieces in my collection. One, however, belonged to my father, a rectangular model from 1948 with fancy lugs, and with a movement that represents the height of Longines’ expertise.
 

It was Walter who ensured that the watch was serviced at Longines with full respect to its age and originality, ultimately remarking to me that it needed no cosmetic attention whatsoever. I wear it now as much for my love and respect for Walter as I do for the memory of my father. 

I always enjoyed meeting up with Walter because he is – apart from being one of the great CEOs within the watch industry – he had a wicked talent of avoiding questions he didn't want to answer. He would somehow deflect the question without upsetting you and break into a monologue about either the long-standing efficiency and creativity of Longines or the brand's latest creations.
 

Apart from a few enjoyable visits to the company, most of our interactions were, almost annually, were at Basel. He was always welcoming and an imposing ambassador for his brand. In short, he'll be a difficult act to follow and will be remembered with fondness and respect.

Mr. von Känel. Thank you for your enthusiasm and warm humour. Thank you for leading a wonderful watch brand through thick and thin like a true champ. Thank you for not owning a computer. And thank you for being a print romantic. The world needs more personalities like you. 

I remember Walter von Känel very fondly, as he had a very wry sense of humor.

I remember one time I was doing an interview with him in Basel. Accompanying us was Jessica Kingsland, who didn’t know either of us well. The interview was going well, when it took a bit of a turn, with Walter starting to be aggressive, and I pretended to be livid with the way he was behaving.
 

Of course, we were both joking, but Jessica didn’t know what was happening. Then at one point, Walter gave me the finger! Jessica was so shocked she could barely speak, while I took it in stride and shot him the finger back. I’m not sure Jessica ever recovered, but it cemented Walter’s place in the pantheon of watch industry characters.

Oh, and the interview was fantastic!

I wish you much enjoyment on your retirement, Walter! I have greatly enjoyed your dedication to Longines over the years as well as the particularly enjoyable moments I have spent with you in St. Imier, Basel, and on press trips.

In particular, it was the trips to Roland Garros that stick out in my memory as being so enjoyable as you genuinely appeared to have cared about the young tennis players and charities you supported while enjoying the company of the tennis professionals. Looking at some of these photos still makes me smile.
 

Rest well, and rest assured that the watch world will never be the same without you.

I only met Walter von Känel once for an interview, but what a memorable interview that was. It was in Rome, during a Longines event launching new Dolce Vita models. And in the company of a longtime ambassador for the brand, Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, von Känel welcomed us to a modest hotel suite for a group interview and sat us down in front of him.

He shook my hand and gave me his card, and he introduced himself as if I didn’t know who he was. It’s an old school move nowadays, but an appreciated one in today’s impersonal world of emails and texts.
 

He talked to me about Longines and his career, got out catalogues, and could practically name any watch by reference number and tell you when it came out. He remembered my name that evening at dinner, which, when you’re doing 8 interviews a day with 3 journalists at a time, is impressive at any age.

Von Känel is a true businessman and CEO, motivated by his passion to keep working and keep giving the industry beautiful watches. To say his retirement is well deserved; is to minimize his decades in the industry – he will certainly be missed by us in the media!

Dear Walter,

Congratulations on your promotion to Honorary Chairman!

You are the paragon of the Good Book's "good and faithful servant." You have served your brand, your company, your industry, and your customers for more than half a century. Speaking personally, thank you for making my job so much easier and so much more fun with your insights and stories, on and off the record, for four decades! It was a privilege to know you and cover you.

2 GOOD 2 BE 4 FORGOTTEN
 

I sincerely like Walter von Känel. He is always positive with a smile on his face. I wish him a pleasant and peaceful retirement. He managed to put again Longines on the international map in such a short time.

Dear Mr. von Känel,

I consider myself very lucky to have known you during your tenure at Longines and enjoyed many encounters with you. Your good humour and perhaps even somewhat rebellious nature were a breath of fresh air in this industry, which sometimes takes itself rather too seriously. I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for your retirement.

Yours, Timm Delfs.
 

Walter von Känel was the very first CEO I interviewed when I started working as a journalist many moons ago.

I remember it clearly. It was during Baselworld, and I was absolutely petrified. But he immediately put me at ease, sharing his love for Longines and that year’s novelties with me.
 

I don’t think I got up the courage to ask any of my carefully prepared questions, but I know I walked out of the booth with 10 pages of notes and enormous respect for his knowledge and kindness, respect that has continued to grow over the years.

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to our digital retirement card. For any other friends in the media who would like to contribute, feel free to drop me a line at sophie.furley@watchonista.com, and I’ll happily add your well-wishes to the list.