Looking back at the market of watches 2012

We look back on the ups and downs of the watch industry, 2012 and 2013 may be wondering what to wear

This function is written, George Daniels Space Traveler pocket watch, which, as the same Daniels, contains all the complications that you should space - just sold for $ 1.3 million, almost double the original booking. I think a good contact point as any from which to look back at what 2012 was for the sale of replica watches and predict what will happen next year.

If BaselWorld this year was anything to go by, this was the year of the Rolex GMT watches that are inspired by those who have entered the space and chronographs. However, while this great show is often seen as a litmus test for trends, like fashion weeks, does not necessarily translate into what consumers are willing to get your credit card.

"One area that surprised the market has been the growth of the chronograph watches, which are up 12% in value," says Jonathan Hedges, director on the company's market research GfK, which analyzes consumer purchasing market clocks. "The other thing that surprised me was the poor performance of sales in London during the Olympics. This was 30% in volume between July and September compared with the same period of 2011."

The higher level of growth
However, it was not all negative. Even if the volume is decreased by 11% during the year to date, the value is increased by 1.6%. And, as always, the high-end sector is doing well.

GfK has detected that there is a large growth in this area. According to Hedges, watches over € 2000 were 9% in 2012, with "no signs of abating in the near future."

This is also being tested in the face of the box, as Leigh Jones, area manager for Fish Brothers Group - which includes jewelery and watch retailer and brothers Charles Fish Fish lenders - has found.

"The high-end is still as optimistic as ever, like swiss replica watches of this caliber are still considered not only as an investment, but as an aspiration too much," he says. "Buy Wise approaches the light, with many more customers ready to save to buy the watch consider buying a rational and sensible. Interrupt range Omega quartz movement is confirmed automatically migrates only. Tag Heuer seems that this opens the door for brand, but sales so far have not supported his theory.

"And with all the technology and information available to consumers, the number of market intermediaries brands are becoming more aware of what you are getting for your money. ETA quartz or stainless steel Ronda movements simply no longer guarantees a high price that Consumers are getting smarter. "

This is something that supports research GfK. "When the market is losing share in the middle and premium [£ 500 - £ 800 and £ 1,500 - € 2,000] The price ranges are already 7.5% of the combined market share and the value of these. Were down as the gap between the mass market and premium becomes even wider, "says Hedges.

Unbalancing act
However, as with the high-end segment, another segment of the market that is growing is the mass market and the field of fashion. But this has led to this white sand is ready to launch a brand, making it more committed than the camp in front of the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

"The watch market has undergone a huge imbalance in the £ 70 -. £ 250 price points have been flooded with the arrival of so many new brands, none of which can be known watch brands, but fashion brands," says Jones. "This has made the market very competitive and, as such, has somewhat affected the most successful fashion brands such as DKNY, Armani and Guess."

Jones believes that this may have led to retailers seeing a decline in sales of the most recognized fashion brands. "I think, because of this, we are always waiting for the next big trend, both ToyWatch, which in turn has led to brands like Ice-Watch or Michael Kors, which has led to distinct changes in other brands such as the 'style as boyfriend, "she says. "I also think that the price increases in several major brands of fashion watches had an effect -. A classic brown leather Armani £ 99 is much more realistic than £ 499 ceramic"

Strong competition
Despite the overcrowding, the British consumer is not easily seduced by the shiny new. "There is a huge population of brands in the UK market, in particular less than 150 pounds where more than 300 brands are available for sale. Having said that, however, the British consumer likes to stick to what they know," says Hedges. "As a result of the total volume of best replica watches sold less than 150 pounds, the top 20 account for 50% of sales on the market, which makes it very difficult for brands to establish itself as a strong presence in this sector."

Everyone is anxious to see if 2013 will continue on this path.

"I expect 2013 to be on par with the entry of this year and mid-market, perhaps a very negative growth, and to provide high single-digit growth compared to last year," says Jones. "I also believe that a combination of sensitivity to price and service levels will determine the success of the distributors of watches many new customers shop for the best buy."

As for what trends will be greater than in the case of a type of Zenith Montre of Aéronef 20? You just have to wait for our May issue for what it has BaselWorld in Serbian.

Times have changed for the watch industry

Wristwatch purchase - the time-honored staple of the holiday shopping season - seemed to be in a fatal crisis six or seven years, about the same time that cultural experts began to predict how cellular clocks would obsolete the clock.

But in the last three years, sales have recovered from affordable replica watches that speak most fashionable timekeeping. And luck is up, sometimes three-digit percentage for luxury brands selling several thousand dollars, said Andrew Talbert market monitoring LGI Network.

"It is the rich getting richer" and buying a Rolex Replica better even in difficult times for most people, motivated Talbert. "We are not in business to understand or ask why. Just track sales."

Stiles, 32, of Shawnee, Kansas, is not buying a Timex base in the short term.

"I had a watch before joining the army, which - for 12 years," said Stiles.

"I see a watch as formal wear ... a status symbol in my (electronic) devices, I have a calendar of all -. Strike a watch strap."

For some, the wrist pinches. The glass is scratched, the calendar date is going. The spring is broken, or the battery runs out.

A dinner for 19-year-old student at the Center in Overland Park feared that if carried a bulky watch in the nursery where she worked, could be a liability when moving the arms in a certain way. No clock is a thread about a guy said.

"I have two watches as gifts - swiss replica watches are fantastic - and I have not used for months," student echoed Permyakov Romano, 21. "With the new Google Goggles that will come out, why bother?" It will be able to see everything you need before your eyes. "

At least two competing schools of thought in the world of 21st century watch: consumers who could not be out, and they do not care.

"I took 100 calls, at least, on the subject of mobile phones and the end of the watchmaker," said Jim Lubic business group known as the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. "Among the younger, yes, you are seeing less wear watches on a regular basis." I'll just carry a cell phone to tell time to the university.

"But once they reach their 30s and find their career path, will have a watch as a status symbol."

The truth is that the Jewelers of America said "fine watches" still clinging to nearly 13 percent of the jewelry market, as it has been in recent years, and that global sales of watches increased by 3.5 percent this summer compared to last year.

Domina future sales are those naked wristed millennials: Less than a third of Americans between 18 and 29 Report wear a watch, at least most of the time, according to surveys conducted by Ypulse, a market researcher.

The most cited reason? "It's no s ... as always look at my phone to tell time."

However, more than a quarter of young adults say that look Ypulse watches occasionally as fashion accessories.

This means that you want to buy, then buy it again, but the clocks in most of the days we spent in the comfortable, while the phone goes everywhere.

For millions of people, the phone is the return of the pocket watch, the preferred time-telling instrument before the Second World War a number of applications that can display the time, as if it was a pocket watch with roman numerals the face of a clock, a second hand and popping noises also in command.

If faults are forming business wristwatch, Borel family of Kansas City - one of the largest distributors of watch parts of the nation - has not missed a beat.

"You can not know if one day the phones are watches obsolete," said Paul Borel. "All I can say is that we are committed to doing what we've always done. Addition, clock parts for sale."

Recently rounding to the parties and other small springs for a repair order from Maine, has recognized the need to monitor the service as a classic Jaeger LeCoultre.

"This guy is trying to fix something that should be 60, 70 years," he said. "We see a lot of that."

A quiet central body, Jules Borel & Co. has operated outside the six-story building on Grand Avenue for more than half a century. Founded by a Swiss immigrant who came to America with a suitcase full of watch parts, the company is a maze of boxes that look like a library file - every little drawer containing crowns stocked packages clocks, glass, frames , stem stainless steel spring or seals microscopic.

CEO Mark Borel, 90, leaning on a bench with an increase Optivisor tied around their eyes while performing surgery on a mallard watch your design.

His grandson, Gary Borel, shows his copper-colored watch with a face surrounded by a vacuum case ruby ​​crowned by a sapphire crystal.

"I got this for 38 years, and appears intact," said Gary Borel. "This is what happens when you put the ruby ​​and sapphire together. Scratches None of that."

Imagine a cell phone for a period of 38 years.

Not that cellular technology fades into the background.

With dozens of GPS satellites in the network head to speak receptor cell tower on the floor, telecommunications companies like Sprint Nextel may "have always synchronized with precision micro-second," said director Ben Bellinder Sprint. "We call network time."

The network also knows when you cross time zones.

Some of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world have begun to combine this technology with fashionable wristwatch. For about $ 150 per minute, slap on the wrist Sony SmartWatch a channel 2 square inch screen Android phone in your pocket. You can control the time and read e-mails and texts without a mobile device.

Not to be outdone, the Swiss watchmaker Omega mechanical plastering images of James Bond film "Skyfall" on its website.

Actor Daniel Craig is wearing an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean, at a price of $ 10,000 or more. (As of mid-1990, the character of Bond was a Rolex man.)

Omega is part of the Swatch Group, owner of 19 high-end brands, which in July recorded double-digit growth in revenue and EBITDA for the second consecutive year.

Outputs, Rosas said the rejection of the clock back to JCCC Student Center: some disconnect here or what?

"If I had $ 10,000 to spend, I'd buy a bike and ride around the country," he said, "and leave the watch at home."