In 2018 he launched the Watch Trade Academy based on a new approach to distribution. A year later he set up his own brand to prove its benefits. Now Thomas Baillod is starting to reap what he has sown.

Ex-LVMH Thierry Huron launched The Mercury Project in 2016 to provide business intelligence for the watch and jewellery industry. This includes a sell-out index for nine markets - a more reliable indicator than export figures.

It's now a case of size matters in the watch industry, both for manufacturers and for retailers. The UK-based Watches of Switzerland Group is an excellent example, as its share price confirms.

The strong growth and healthy earnings projection from Watches of Switzerland, the world's second-largest retailer, offer a ray of sunshine.

Eight months of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong have put paid to the region's status as the number-one market for Swiss watch exports, overtaken by the United States in January. The coronavirus outbreak is likely to have further impact in the first half-year.

Rolex is one of the most prevalent and powerful brands of the past century. Though its presence spans globally, it is a particularly potent force in the United States. From strategic partnerships to strategic business moves, Rolex has carefully positioned itself at the centre of American culture, resulting in one of its top markets worldwide.

Since summer, A. Lange & Söhne watches can be enjoyed at Bahnhofstrasse 25, Zurich, where the Saxon brand has opened its first own-name store in Switzerland.