Karl-Friedrich Scheufele
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele | |
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| Born | 5 February 1958 Pforzheim, Germany |
| Alma mater | International School of Geneva (Ecolint) Faculty of Business and Economics (Lausanne) |
| Occupation(s) | Co-President of Chopard President of La Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud |
| Relatives | Caroline Scheufele (sister) |
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele (born 5 February 1958 in Pforzheim) serves as co-president of Chopard alongside his sister, Caroline, and holds the presidency of La Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud. He is the son of German entrepreneurs Karl and Karin Scheufele, who took ownership of Chopard in 1963. In 2005, he established the Fleurier Quality Foundation, an independent Swiss certification organization for watches, followed by the inauguration of the L.U.C.EUM watch museum in Fleurier in 2006.
During the late 1990s, he initiated a wine retail venture named La Galerie des Arts du Vin, acquiring multiple Caveaux de Bacchus outlets across Switzerland. In 2012, he acquired Château Monestier-la-Tour in France, which produces approximately 150,000 bottles annually under various AOP classifications.
Early life
Karl-Friedrich was born in 1958 in Pforzheim and spent his childhood where his parents managed the watchmaking company Eszeha. After his father purchased the Geneva-based Chopard in 1963, the family split their residence between Germany and Switzerland.
At age 15, he relocated to Switzerland to attend the International School of Geneva (Ecolint) with his sister Caroline. He completed a jeweler apprenticeship in Geneva by 1973 before pursuing studies at the Faculty of Business and Economics (HEC Lausanne).
Directorship
In the 1980s, Karl-Friedrich joined Chopard, gaining comprehensive experience throughout various departments. His sister Caroline also became part of the family enterprise.
At just 22 years old, he designed Chopard’s initial sports watch model, the St. Moritz, initiating his dedication to horology. Subsequently, he founded a manufacturing unit focused on crafting high-precision mechanical movements. This led to the creation of Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier, Val-de-Travers, in 1996.
By 2001, Karl-Friedrich and Caroline assumed roles as Co-Presidents. He co-established the Fleurier Quality Foundation in 2005—an autonomous body certifying watches produced entirely in Switzerland. The following year saw the opening of the L.U.CEUM museum dedicated to watchmaking heritage in Fleurier. Currently, Karl-Friedrich directs Chopard Manufacture, oversees the men’s watch segment, and manages corporate functions such as marketing, advertising, and communications.
Revival of Ferdinand Berthoud
While expanding the collection at the L.U.C.EUM museum, Karl-Friedrich uncovered the legacy of watchmaker Ferdinand Berthoud (1727–1807). In 2006, he acquired the Ferdinand Berthoud brand, officially registering it as Chronométrie Ferdinand Berthoud in 2013 before relaunching it in 2015.
In recognition of his work, Karl-Friedrich earned the Aiguille d'Or ("Golden Hand") award—the highest distinction at the Grand Prix de l'Horlogerie in Geneva—in 2016 for a Ferdinand Berthoud timepiece. He repeated this achievement in 2017 with Chopard’s L.U.C Full Strike watch.
Viticulture
Karl-Friedrich, an avid wine aficionado, established La Galerie des Arts du Vin in 1996 and subsequently acquired the Caveau de Bacchus boutique, thereby broadening his footprint in Switzerland's wine retail sector.
In 2012, he became the owner of Château Monestier-la-Tour, a 100-hectare property located in Bergerac, France, featuring 30 hectares of vineyards classified under the Bergerac AOC designation. Following extensive renovations and vineyard reorganization, the estate achieved organic certification in 2017 and currently produces approximately 150,000 bottles of wines labeled as AOP Bergerac, Côtes de Bergerac, and AOP Saussignac.
Motorsport
Sharing a mutual enthusiasm for classic automobiles with his father, Karl-Friedrich took part alongside him in the 1,600 km Mille Miglia historic car rally from Brescia to Rome in 1987. The next year, he initiated a collaboration between Chopard and Mille Miglia, designating Chopard as the official sponsor of the race.
Since that time, Karl-Friedrich has consistently joined the Mille Miglia competitions annually, frequently racing with renowned driver Jacky Ickx. Additionally, he has established alliances with the Grand Prix de Monaco Historique and Porsche Motorsport, thereby strengthening Chopard's involvement within both vintage car events and motorsports.