Peter Stas

{{short description|Dutch entrepreneur and author (born 1963)}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Peter Stas

| image = Peter_Stas_beijing.jpg

| caption = Stas in 2013

| imagesize = 200px

| birth_name = Peter Constant Stas

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1963|06|18}}

| birth_place = Gouda, Netherlands

| occupation = CEO of Frederique Constant

| alma_mater = Erasmus University

| spouse = Aletta Stas-Bax

| website = {{URL|https://www.frederique-constant.com}}

| children = Pieter-Jan Stas
Eline Stas

}}

Peter Stas (born 1963) is a Dutch entrepreneur and author. In 1988, after he completed his studies in Business Economics at the Erasmus University and worked as Product-Marketing Manager for Royal Philips Electronics, he founded, with his wife Aletta Stas-Bax, the watch company Frédérique Constant.{{cite web| url = http://www.fhs.ch/en/news/news.php?id=484| title = Swiss Watch News 2006 | accessdate = March 19, 2007}}{{cite web | url = http://www.bilan.ch/entreprises-les-plus-de-la-redaction/aletta-et-peter-stas-un-duo-horloger | title = Aletta et Peter Stas, un duo horloger | accessdate = 1 September 2013 | language = French | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005111/http://www.bilan.ch/entreprises-les-plus-de-la-redaction/aletta-et-peter-stas-un-duo-horloger | archive-date = 3 December 2013 | url-status = dead }} The manufacture's initial strategy was to focus its energy on classical luxury watches at an affordable price. The Accessible Luxury positioning was the basis of strong growth during the financial crisis when consumers came back more to classical values and accessible prices.{{cite web| url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/85ed8718-275a-11e2-9863-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jTfSHRvS | title = Life still to be found in mature markets, Financial Times | accessdate = 23 October 2013 }}{{cite web| url = http://digital.modernluxury.com/display_article.php?id=1002391 | title = Watches, Digital Modern Luxury | accessdate = 23 October 2013 }}

Stas played an outspoken role in a conflict with the Swatch Group after it announced a reduction in its provision of watch component parts to third parties.{{cite web| url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/9d7989e0-66c1-11e1-863c-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jTfSHRvS | title = Watch war: Delay sought on parts policy, Financial Times | accessdate = March 7, 2012}}{{cite web| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/business/swatch-group-to-trim-sales-of-watch-parts-to-rivals.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | title = Swatch, Supplier to Rivals, Now Aims to Cut Them Off | website = The New York Times | accessdate = December 9, 2011}} Stas said the proposed cuts would establish an unfair advantage and stifle competition, and not be good for the Swiss watch industry or consumer choice. A legal action to request a freeze before the Federal Administrative Court of Switzerland together with eight independent watch and movement companies to block the 2012 cuts was rejected.{{cite web| url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/4f32ecf2-242d-11e2-9509-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2jTfSHRvS | title = End to parts war may be in sight, Financial Times | accessdate = November 9, 2012}}{{cite web| url = http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ba024152-a72a-11e1-aae3-00144feab7de.html#axzz2jTfSHRvS | title = Swatch case latest twist, Financial Times | accessdate = June 8, 2012}} After a long standoff, Switzerland's Competition Commission (COMCO) finally ruled that it would not allow the Swatch Group to reduce supplies of assortments (i.e. the regulating organ of a mechanical movement: escape wheel, pallet lever, balance wheel and balance spring) that it sells to Swiss watch brands outside the group.{{cite web| url = http://www.watchtime.com/wristwatch-industry-news/fast-comco-halts-swatch-group-escapement-cuts/ | title = In Surprise Ruling, COMCO Halts Swatch Group Escapement Cuts | accessdate = July 15, 2013}}

In 2002, to diversify the Frédérique Constant group, Stas and his wife acquired Alpina Watches, a manufacturer of Swiss sports watches founded in 1883.[https://archive.today/20130212225931/http://www.watch-wiki.de/index.php?title=Alpina/en Watch-Wiki:Alpina Watches]

In 2009, Stas co-founded Ateliers deMonaco, a high-end watch manufacturer based in Monaco.Journal de Monaco - Bulletin Officiel de la Principauté du vendredi 5 décembre 2008 n° 7889, Arrêté Ministériel n° 2008-788 du 27 novembre 2008 portant autorisation et approbation des statuts de la société anonyme monégasque dénommée 'Ateliers deMonaco SAM'

In 2013, in collaboration with Aletta Stas, Gisbert L. Brunner and Alexander Linz, Peter Stas wrote the book Live your passion, Building a watch manufacture.{{cite web| url = http://www.kunstbuch-shop.de/uhren/frederique-constant-live-your-passion.php | title = Frederique Constant Live your Passion | language = German}}{{cite book| title = Live your passion - Building a watch manufacture | year = 2013 | isbn = 978-2839911993 }}

In 2015, Stas played a substantial role in the introduction of the "Horological Smartwatch", a smartwatch design that uses a secondary analog dial rather than a screen for its display – giving the timepiece a more classic look than other such devices.{{cite web| url = http://en.worldtempus.com/article/new-watches/frederique-constant-horological-smartwatch-here-2444156 | title = Frédérique Constant The horological smartwatch is here! | publisher = Worldtempus | date = February 27, 2015 | accessdate = March 25, 2015}}{{cite web| url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-27/the-swiss-have-finally-started-making-luxury-smartwatches| title = The Swiss Have Finally Started Making Luxury Smartwatches | publisher = Bloomberg | date = February 27, 2015 | accessdate = March 25, 2015}} The Horological Smartwatch product line included models for both the Frédérique Constant and Alpina watch brands, and used "MotionX" core technology licensed from the California-based company Fullpower Technologies. It was developed in a joint venture known as Manufacture Modules Technologies (MMT).

In 2016, Aletta and Peter Stas sold their watch brands to Citizen, creating a high-tech collaboration in development of electronic, mechanical and hybrid calibres combining Frederique Constant's high-end Manufacture capability with Citizen's long history in revolutionary solar, radio and ultra-thin calibre innovations.{{cite web| url = http://en.worldtempus.com/article/industry-news/business/frederique-constant-aletta-and-peter-stas-sell-their-watch-brands-to-citizen-21772.html | title = Aletta and Peter Stas sell their watch brands to Citizen | accessdate = May 27, 2016}}{{cite web| url = https://www.salonqp.com/interviews/qa-frederique-constant-ceo-peter-stas-selling-citizen-pursuing-smartwatch-goal/ | title = Frederique Constant CEO Peter Stas on selling up to Citizen | accessdate = February 2, 2017}}

File:Frederique_Constant_watch.png, the company founded by Peter Stas and wife Aletta Stas-Bax]]

In 2018, Stas reveals the world's first mechanical smartwatch, the Frederique Constant Hybrid Manufacture that fuses smartwatch technology with a mechanical movement.{{cite web| url = http://en.worldtempus.com/article/watches/innovation-and-technology/frederique-constant-the-worlds-first-mechanical-smartwatch-25512.html | title = The world's first mechanical smartwatch | accessdate = February 27, 2018}}{{cite web| url = https://www.wareable.com/hybrid-smartwatches/frederique-constant-hybrid-manufacture-release-date-price-specs-2911 | title = Frederique Constant reveals the world's first mechanical smartwatch | accessdate = February 27, 2018}}

Stas is CEO of Frédérique Constant.{{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DbvBHmTjlA | title = Peter Stas - Frederique Constant CEO - interview on CNN | website = YouTube | accessdate = Feb 4, 2011}}