Watches news and archive

Switzerland: Watch exports to fall by 2.8 percent in 2024

Zurich - Swiss watch exports contracted by 2.8 percent in 2024 to 25.9 billion Swiss francs (23 billion pounds) due to a drop of more than 25 percent in China, the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry announced on Thursday. After reaching a historic high in 2024, exports continued to decline month after month last year, with the watchmaking...

Fairs

LVMH Watch Week 2025: An edition between New York and Paris

LVMH Watch Week is back for its sixth edition. This year, the show exhibiting the luxury group's new watchmaking products is being held in two major cities: New York and Paris. After Dubai and Singapore, then Miami in 2024, LVMH has chosen New York and Paris to present the new watchmaking products of nine of its brands to the press. In New York,...

BusinessFeaturedMember

Pre-owned watch market normalises after the speculative boom

Zurich – The frenzied demand for pre-owned watches has subsided, but the market continues to organise itself and grow faster than that of new watches, according to a study published on Thursday by Deloitte. The pre-owned watch market had accelerated in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic before experiencing a sharp reversal, but remains poised for...

Fashion

Gen Z redefining luxury watch trends

Generation Z consumers, born between 1997 and 2012, are “making waves” in the pre-owned luxury watch sector, according to new research from pre-owned watch specialist Watchfinder & Co. The research, looking into the purchasing habits of Gen Z consumers in the UK, found that this generation is redefining luxury watch trends, as over half (54...

Fashion Featured

Chanel named title sponsor and timekeeper of The Boat Race

French luxury fashion house Chanel has signed a long-term partnership deal with the annual boat race between Oxford and Cambridge universities to become The Boat Race’s title sponsor and official timekeeping partner. The historic event, established nearly 200 years ago in 1829, is the oldest major sporting event in the UK, with the dark and...

BusinessMember

Swiss watch exports to China plunge 50 percent in September

Zurich - Swiss watch exports suffered their steepest fall this year in September, pulled down by a 50-percent plunge in sales to China, the industry's federation said Thursday. It marks the latest sign of weakening demand in the world's second-largest economy, which has hit Europe's luxury sector. Sales to Hong Kong also fell 34.6 percent during...

BusinessMember

Watches of Switzerland snaps up editorial platform Hodinkee

The Watches of Switzerland (WOSG) has set its sights on an expanded audience through the acquisition of Hodinkee, an editorial content provider for luxury watch enthusiasts. The move builds on an ongoing Long Range Plan at the group, which aims to “leverage existing growth opportunities by growing sector leadership online”. This latest...

Business|CEO Interview FeaturedMember

Wolf opens first physical store in 190 years: The business behind luxury watch cases

The watch industry has experienced a well-received boom in recent years. One niche aspect of this market that is often overlooked by outsiders, but retains importance among watch enthusiasts, is that of boxes and cases for the cherished accessory. It is a market, alongside jewellery boxes, that Wolf has been championing for 190 years, yet it is...

Fashion

The UK is the fake watch capital of the world, a study reveals

A recent analysis by Watches2U has unveiled a startling trend in the global market for counterfeit timepieces, with the UK emerging as the epicentre of online searches for fake watches. This development comes in the wake of a 2023 report that identified over one million counterfeit watches circulating in the UK market, accounting for a...

Retail

Paris: Galeries Lafayette opens pre-owned watch and jewellery space

Galeries Lafayette Haussmann, the flagship department store of Galeries Lafayette in Paris known for its Art Nouveau Dome, has opened a dedicated space for pre-owned watches and jewellery. On LinkedIn, the Galeries Lafayette group explained that the opening of this new space reflects a strong demand from its clientele. Located on the ground...

BusinessMember

Charles Leclerc invests in Chrono24

Formula One driver Charles Leclerc has invested in Chrono24, the online marketplace for luxury watches, for an undisclosed amount, following in the footsteps of famed footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, who invested in 2023. Leclerc, who is second placed in this year's Formula One championship and just won his home race at the prestigious Monte Carlo...

Fashion

Swiss watch brands making time for India

Swiss watchmakers are increasingly turning their sights towards India thanks to a new free trade agreement that is due to gradually open the doors for luxury timepiece exports. While some brands are already in the starting blocks, others are waiting to see whether India will become a new land of plenty. "India represents enormous potential,"...