A year of the rabbit for watch brands?
China, which weighed on watch exports at end 2022, will be the key to activity in 2023, a year that opens with mixed prospects. Will China’s impact on luxury sales be as great as in 2021?
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What next for the pre-owned market?
Once dismissed as a hang-out for unscrupulous traders touting fakes, in little more than a decade the pre-owned watch market has grown to remarkable proportions and is expected to surpass sales of new watches. Consultancy firm LuxeConsult predicts this reversal in roles for 2033.
Geneva auctions: old favourites and maybe some rising stars
The autumn session in Geneva totalled CHF 58.84 million, CHF 40.27 million of which were realised by Christie's. While Patek Philippe and Rolex continue to bring in the highest bids, other brands attracted a surprising amount of interest, Longines and Panerai among them. Several of their watches outperformed estimates by a considerable margin.
Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève 2013: almost but not quite
While not exactly the year's most exciting awards, the 13th Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève proved more interesting than expected. Alongside such big names as Girard-Perregaux, A. Lange & Söhne, Chopard, Zenith and Chanel, the evening rewarded an impressive line-up of independent watchmakers, the likes of Philippe Dufour, Romain Gauthier, Kari Voutilainen and Vianney Halter. Even so, too many important brands were left off the honours list.
The 32nd Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair: broad, colourful styling
The Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair (HKW&CF) assembles the largest number of watch, clock, parts and industry exhibitors of any timepiece fair in the world. It is held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre which looks out directly onto Hong Kong's beautiful Victoria Harbour, one of the world's most impressive natural waterways. The fair is run by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) which organised about 80 overseas buying missions to the fair, along with 30 special activities ranging from watch-fashion shows and product launches to seminars and networking receptions.
"Lesson One" sends Rolex into orbit
Over CHF 12 million in two hours… just one of the records set by Christie's at its themed auction of fifty Rolex Daytonas before a packed salesroom on November 10th in Geneva.
After-sales service, necessary evil or a boost for business?
The years go by but the challenge stays the same… if not greater. How to provide quality after-sales service when the number of mechanical watches on wrists around the world continues to grow?
"This watch was meant for the Breguet Museum!"
After a missed opportunity in eventful circumstances in 2008, the Breguet Museum in Paris finally took home the Breguet N° 4691 pocket watch for CHF 1,025,000. In addition, Emmanuel Breguet, director of Breguet France and at the head of Swatch Group's heritage, acquired a further four important lots.
