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.
IWC moves into a CHF 42 million Manufacture
Opened at end August, the new 13,500 square-metre production facility is designed to optimise the entire manufacturing process. There is also a special circuit for visitors who can witness every stage in production.
Why golf suits watch brands to a tee
Golf has plenty to appeal to watchmakers, from its affluent audience to the performance and precision inherent to the game, and the technical challenges this sport represents. The hard part is finding a spot on the greens, which are dominated by a quintet of brands.
Richemont retools for the future
Steered by chairman and main shareholder Johann Rupert, Richemont is radically and rapidly transforming, with changes on the board of directors, inventory buyback, omnichannel distribution, and a new approach to luxury. A round-up of recent developments as the group announces five-month results at its annual general meeting.
An excellent first half for luxury brands
The year has got off to a resounding start for publicly-traded luxury companies, with double-digit growth and a strong outlook for the full twelve months. For watch companies, it's a similarly rosy picture.
WatchBox says e-commerce has moved on
The online marketplace for luxury pre-owned watches has opened a branch in Switzerland. We caught up with Executive Vice President Patrick Hoffmann, formerly CEO of Ulysse Nardin, in his Neuchâtel office to talk about the platform, which does a lot more than just sell watches online.
Swiss watch firms enjoy a cast-iron reputation
In the list of the most reputable multinationals in 2018, Rolex takes top ranking for the third consecutive year, beating Lego and Google to the number-one spot. Meanwhile, a similar survey of the main publicly listed Swiss corporations puts Swatch Group and Richemont second and third, behind bathroom manufacturer Geberit.
