Watch buyers unite! http://guruofcomputerwisdom.com/wp/...n-the-u-s-following-apple-watch-launch-video/
This is probably the key part: “The first couple of years will be difficult for watches in fashion categories.” (My emphasis)
In a more complete version of this information I saw yesterday, it was noted that the sales figures they are using do not include a lot of sources, such as large chains like Walmart. I would take the numbers with a grain of salt...
"Retailers sold $375 million of watches during the month" how many of those here on this forum are counted among those? I know, we are a small portion of the watch buying public, but as @kentlinardi says, more used/vintage watches for us!
Some statistics: Wrist Watch Industry Statistics Statistic Verification Source: Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), Convention Patronale, Bank Vontobel, Contrôle officiel suisse des chronomètres (Official Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute, or COSC), Interbrand Research Date: August 2nd, 2015 Questions: Number of watches sold annually in the world ? what is the global watch market wrist watch industry statistics and research data on swiss china watch industry market share held by omega rolex watches watch manufacturing data ? total number and cost revenue of the wrist watch industry ? what is the total number of watches sold to men and women worldwide in 2014? Total number of smartwatches sold in 2014 Share This Watch Industry Statistics Data Number of watches sold annually worldwide 1,200,000,000 Number of smartwatches sold in 2014 6,800,000 Average price of a smartwatch sold in 2014 $189 Number of Swiss Watches sold annually 29,200,000 Number of watches produced by China annually 663,000,000 Number of watches produced by Hong Kong annually 354,000.000 Average cost of a Swiss watch $739 Average cost of a China watch $3 Switzerland watch market share in terms of value 54 % Watch Market Leaders by Sales Revenue Annual Revenue Swatch / Omega annual sales $8,880,000,000 Rolex annual sales $4,500,000,000 Largest Global Watch Manufacturers Market Share Swatch Group 18.3 % Richemont 15.7 % Rolex 11.8 % Fossil (USA) 5.2 % LVMH / Bulgari (France) 4.7 % Citizen (Japan) 3.9 % Seiko (Japan) 3.4 % Patek Philippe 3 % Casio (Japan) 2.1 % Audemars Piguet 1.7 % Others 30.1 % Watch Sales by Type Market Share Mechanical Watch market share 77 % Electronic Watch market share 23 % Largest Buyers of Watches by Purchased Value Percent Hong Kong 20.4 % USA 10.2 % China 7.7 % France 6.2 % Germany 5.6 % Watch Sales by Materials Percent Steel 53 % Other Materials 26 % Other Metals 15 % Gold-Steel 4 % Precious Metals 2 % A watch is a timepiece, typically worn either around the wrist or attached on a chain and carried in a pocket. Wristwatches are the most common type of watch used today. Watches evolved in the 17th century from spring powered clocks, which appeared in the 15th century. The first watches were strictly mechanical. As technology progressed, the mechanisms used to measure time have, in some cases, been replaced by use of quartz vibrations or electronic pulses. The first digital electronic watch was developed in 1970.
Swiss Watch Sales Surge in U.K. as Chinese Hunt for Bargains Thomas Mulier July 21, 2015 — 5:47 AM CDT Updated on July 21, 2015 — 7:11 AM CDT Share on FacebookShare on Twitter U.K. imports of Swiss watches surged 29 percent in the first half of the year as Chinese shoppers find that luxury timepieces are cheaper in Europe. Italy, France and Spain also recorded gains that helped the industry eke out 0.4 percent growth in that period, offsetting a 20 percent decline in Hong Kong, the largest market, according to figures released Tuesday by the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry. “The U.K. is seeing good growth from Chinese tourists,” Rene Weber, an analyst at Bank Vontobel AG in Zurich, said by e-mail. Luxury timepieces are cheaper in the U.K. than in Hong Kong, he said. It’s a small respite for watchmakers, who’ve been buffeted by the strength of the Swiss franc versus other European currencies. The industry group pointed to a slowdown Tuesday after second-quarter exports declined 2.2 percent compared with the first quarter’s 3.2 percent advance. Swatch Group AG, the owner of the Omega brand, and Cie. Financiere Richemont SA, which makes Cartier, have been adding staff in European shops who can speak Chinese to deal with the shifting client mix. In London’s West End shopping district, Chinese shoppers spend an average of 1,378 pounds ($2,144) per transaction, making up more than a fifth of international tourists’ spending, according to Richard Dickinson, chief executive officer of store-representative body New West End Co. Italy’s 14 percent growth in Swiss watch imports made that market bigger than Japan in the first half. Timepieces with a wholesale price less than 200 francs ($208) showed the fastest pace of growth, the federation also said. Greater China still represents about a fifth of the total Swiss watch market, and that region imported more than four times as many watches than the U.K., in value terms. The market has been suffering since late 2012, when China began discouraging extravagant spending among government officials.
Tiny Iota said: ↑ This is probably the key part: “The first couple of years will be difficult for watches in fashion categories.” (My emphasis) Or until the Applewatch battery starts to die. Wouldn't that make it about every 14 hours.