WATCH MARKETS

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WATCH MARKETS

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Green watchmaking: hard to spot

Green watchmaking: hard to spot

ENVIRONMENT

Is the Swiss watchmaking industry doing its bit for the environment? Ten years ago, the answer was a definite ‘no’. Things have improved since then, (...)

France, not optimistic yet

France, not optimistic yet

2017: -1.4%

After a good start, the French watchmaking sector is poised for a gloomy end to 2017. The business climate is dominated by geopolitics and a growing (...)

India: the slow-moving giant

India: the slow-moving giant

One of the fastest growing economies with a large, young population and a sizeable middle class, the south Asian power has not held all its promises for (...)

Swiss watch industry exports in 2017

Swiss watch industry exports in 2017

GROWTH RETURNS SOONER THAN EXPECTED

The situation of Swiss watch industry exports improved steadily in the course of 2017. After declining for two years and reaching a new threshold, demand (...)

Dealing with protectionism

Dealing with protectionism

MARKETS

The increased taxes on watch purchases by Chinese tourists in Switzerland rank high on the list of the industry’s current woes. In Brazil and India, highly (...)

“The winners are independent high-end brands”

“The winners are independent high-end brands”

RENE WEBER, VONTOBEL

Not all market players experienced the same “crisis year” in 2016: while Swatch Group and Richemont have been strongly impacted by their exposure to Greater (...)

The true size of the Swiss watch market

The true size of the Swiss watch market

DATA

Everything you always wanted to know about the Swiss watch trade but were afraid to ask: a recent survey, published by The Mercury Project, created by (...)

Swatch Group, champions of the medium range

Swatch Group, champions of the medium range

VERBATIM

Of the three major Swiss watchmaker groups, only the Swatch Group has fundamentally industrial origins. While Richemont and LVMH have, with a forced march, (...)

Don't forget the middle class!

Don’t forget the middle class!

DOSSIER

In recent decades, Swiss watchmakers have been preoccupied with scaling the summits in terms of pricing, mechanical sophistication and artistic refinement, (...)

What exactly is a mid-range watch?

What exactly is a mid-range watch?

DON’T FORGET THE MIDDLE CLASS

Watchmakers would be the first to say that they don’t like the term “mid-range” – they find it disparaging. And, in fact, there is not a single mid-range – (...)

Germany: losing the mid-price segment

Germany: losing the mid-price segment

MARKETS

Germany is considered a conservative and demanding watch market. Due to its overall robust economy, in times of crisis the watch market feels negative (...)

Target: middle class

Target: middle class

VERBATIM

Three CEO speak out: Alain Zimmermann, CEO BAUME & MERCIER; Alain Spinedi, CEO LOUIS ERARD; Rolf Studer, co-CEO ORIS.

Getting back onto young people's wrists

Getting back onto young people’s wrists

MARKETS

For the past fifty years, the only so-called ‘watches’ worn by young people have been garish, interchangeable, gimmicky things; accessories rather than real (...)

2016 Watchmaking Year In Review

2016 Watchmaking Year In Review

With 2016 wrapping up and 2017 just days away, we reflect on some of the biggest news of the last year and look forward to what’s in store for next (...)

SMARTWATCHES - Focus on smartwatches from A to Z

SMARTWATCHES - Focus on smartwatches from A to Z

Smartwatches are garnering little enthusiasm from Swiss companies, to say the least. Brands feel ‘forced’ to get involved, without any real appetite to do so (...)

Review of SMARTWATCHES

Review of SMARTWATCHES

Twenty-eight brands under review, from A to Z

SMARTWATCHES - The smart perspective of Gerald Roden

SMARTWATCHES - The smart perspective of Gerald Roden

Gerald Roden is a consultant, watch industry specialist, and former director of Swiss Festina Group (Soprod ), de Grisogono, Gérald Genta, and Daniel (...)

MARKET FOCUS - The promise of Iran

MARKET FOCUS - The promise of Iran

With a population of 80 million and a GDP of more than 400 billion dollars, as sanctions are gradually lifted an economic giant is joining the (...)

MARKET FOCUS - The promise of Iran - Obstacles and opportunities: the advice of an Iranian distributor

MARKET FOCUS - The promise of Iran - Obstacles and opportunities: the advice of an Iranian distributor

Massoud Zomorrodian, today aged 76, is one of Iran’s longest-standing watch importers. His father and grandfather were watch merchants before him, and the (...)

All smartwatches on the wrist

All smartwatches on the wrist

IFA BERLIN: EUROPA STAR REPORT

Direct from the massive IFA trade show in Berlin, Europa Star reviews almost every connected watch imaginable. Which one was the stand-out (...)