Post by robeiae on Jan 22, 2018 9:28:55 GMT -5
Once upon a time, everyone dreamed of a Rolex. Now, they're so common as to be little more than well-made Timexes (not really).
Anyway, here are two articles about the industry and the slump it has been enduring:
Is the Swiss Watch Export Slump Over?
Despite Consumer Demand, The Luxury Watch Industry Will Have To Shrink Before It Recovers
And of course, there's the tech angle: who really needs a watch when a smartphone not only tells the time, but does it better than any watch and automatically adjusts itself for location. Even the functionality of pilot watches--like those of Breitling--are easily duplicated with a smart phone and/or a SAT phone (and even the latter is less expensive).
I happen to have a thing for watches. I have quite a few, though the most expensive one I own cost only around five grand (which is a pittance in luxury watch world). But I still check out the high-priced ones and drool. For Christmas this year, I actually got each of my kids a nice watch, which they all wore for about a week and half, then they started to forget about putting them on (but that's okay, as I bought them so the kids would have them for special occasions, really).
Anyway, there was a big watch show in Switzerland this weekend. Check out some of the pieces: www.realclearlife.com/fashion/2018s-swiss-watch-show-4-top-timepieces/#1
What's up with #1?
? That watch is gonna cost in excess of $300,000! For a watch that--imo--is akin to a pack of dirty playing cards...or one of those pens where the woman's bathing suit disappears when you turn it upside down. How douchey would one have to be to buy that watch?
Which I guess is the basis of my question: is the industry bottoming out because it's catering to filthy rich douchebags?
Or does someone think that watch is actually classy?
Anyway, here are two articles about the industry and the slump it has been enduring:
Is the Swiss Watch Export Slump Over?
Despite Consumer Demand, The Luxury Watch Industry Will Have To Shrink Before It Recovers
And of course, there's the tech angle: who really needs a watch when a smartphone not only tells the time, but does it better than any watch and automatically adjusts itself for location. Even the functionality of pilot watches--like those of Breitling--are easily duplicated with a smart phone and/or a SAT phone (and even the latter is less expensive).
I happen to have a thing for watches. I have quite a few, though the most expensive one I own cost only around five grand (which is a pittance in luxury watch world). But I still check out the high-priced ones and drool. For Christmas this year, I actually got each of my kids a nice watch, which they all wore for about a week and half, then they started to forget about putting them on (but that's okay, as I bought them so the kids would have them for special occasions, really).
Anyway, there was a big watch show in Switzerland this weekend. Check out some of the pieces: www.realclearlife.com/fashion/2018s-swiss-watch-show-4-top-timepieces/#1
What's up with #1?
? That watch is gonna cost in excess of $300,000! For a watch that--imo--is akin to a pack of dirty playing cards...or one of those pens where the woman's bathing suit disappears when you turn it upside down. How douchey would one have to be to buy that watch?Which I guess is the basis of my question: is the industry bottoming out because it's catering to filthy rich douchebags?
Or does someone think that watch is actually classy?
