About a.b.art watches
Alexander Burnhans started a.b.art in 1991. He was very interested in both art and design. So, it was only natural that he combine those interests in the creation of his timepieces. Alexander actually started out in the jewellery and watch business in 1989 when he opened his first retail store in Freiburg, Switzerland. By the end of the 1990s, more than 12,000 a.b.art watches had been sold around the world.

"The unique and distinctive timepieces have won awards, attracted press coverage and even been displayed in the prestigious New York Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) "The successful collaboration produced many unique and distinctive timepieces. In 1999, the a.b.art range won the Form 99 Award for three models. Numerous articles in special-interest watch magazines followed and a.b art products were included in ranges stocked by several well-known museum gift shops, including the prestigious Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York.

From this point, it was clear that Alexander Burhans and FranÁois Zahnd had created a true watch brand in every sense of the word – each model, its packaging and its price was developed to clear and exacting standards. This ensured that wherever customers came across the a.b. art brand it delivered on its promise of the best possible quality and timeless design coupled with a reasonable price. In 2003, Alexander Burhans decided to integrate fully his watch label into fashiontime to make better use of obvious synergies in creation, production and international distribution.

The team now manage the a.b.art designer watch brand from headquarters at the heart of the Swiss watch industry. From here the business manages directly the distribution of the a.b.art ranges in its two main markets of Germany and Switzerland plus the wider European Union. This close support of retailers enables the easy flow of crucial information from the sales teams and customers back to the development team – a key factor in the quality assurance process that maintains the standard of the a.b.art brand.