Alexey Tarkhanov - James Bond doesn’t pull in the punters in Russia. So which stars are best-suited to wearing watchmakers’ colours here? The answer is plain to see: our high-flying politicians.
Alexeï Tarkhanov - While Russia may not be an essential market, it is sufficiently fast-growing to warrant Swiss watchmakers’ close attention. And to win over customers, they happily borrow symbols from the Russia of the tsars or the soviet era.
Alexeï Tarkhanov - When reference is made to the Russian market, everyone in the watchmaking industry is totally persuaded that in Moscow, only very complicated watches, especially those with tourbillons, are being sold. In other words, at prices around CHF 50,000 (USD 40,000).
Alexei Tarkhanov - The opening of mono-brand boutiques in Moscow has gone a long way towards a more transparent Russian market. Their growing number also shows how sales objectives have taken over from the need to simply be seen.