Hodinkee
Business News: Hong Kong Crisis Batters Swiss Watch Exports
Turmoil there knocked five points off global Swiss watch growth in October.
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Hodinkee
Turmoil there knocked five points off global Swiss watch growth in October.
SJX Watches
The latest figures from trade body Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH) show a massive fall in Swiss watch exports to Hong Kong, a statistic that is proxy for sales of luxury watches. According to the FH numbers for the month of October 2019, exports to Hong Kong fell 29.7% to 191.3m Swiss francs. This comes after a more measured, 4.6% drop in September. Exports to Hong Hong have now fallen below those to China, which rose 10.8% to 218.4m francs. Enjoying a 11.2% rise to 227.5m francs is the United States, which was the largest market for Swiss watches in October. For the year to date, Hong Kong remains the world’s largest market for Swiss watches, though the gap between it and the second-placed United States is falling. Hong Kong imported 2.26 billion francs of Swiss watches in the year to date – a fall of 8.8% compared to the same period las year – compared to 1.97 billion francs for the United States. Pedder Street in Hong Kong’s Central business district, ordinarily a shopping paradise. Photo – Hong Kong Tourism Board The drop in watch exports to the city confirm industry talk that the luxury goods has been hard hit by the six months of protests that have roiled Hong Kong. Shops located in the worst affected areas can only stay open for a fraction of a business day, or not at all on some days. Several executives from both watch brands and retailers in the territory have cited consecutive, month-on-month drops in store sales that reach into the double d...
Hodinkee
With Swiss exports there down for six consecutive months, the U.S. is poised to become Switzerland's top export market.
Time+Tide
At first glance, the pairing of a GPS-enabled, solar-powered watch, with a direct lineage to an 800-year-old family tradition in one of Japan’s most culturally important crafts might seem odd, but that’s precisely what we’re looking at with this high-end Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’. Before we get to the sword side of things, let’s have a … ContinuedThe post HANDS-ON: 21st century tech meets Japanese swordsmithing tradition in the Casio MRG-G2000GA ‘Gassan’ appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
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Time+Tide
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Time+Tide
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Time+Tide
Fun fact: Last year the Apple Watch shipped 22.5 million units. In the same period, the Swiss watch industry exported 23.7 million watches. Scary stuff if you’re a Swiss watch brand. Especially scary if your business is rooted in quartz watches - the market sector that’s being most aggressively eroded by the Apple onslaught. This … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: It might be the biggest, but the Apple Watch hasn’t crushed the Swiss appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Louis Vuitton, the watchmaker. As time goes on, this statement is gaining credibility and intrigue. And intrigue is certainly the word I would use to describe this shoot, which involved the Time+Tide team flying to Queenstown in New Zealand with Louis Vuitton to explore the brand’s high watch collection 2019. The setting was, sparing all … ContinuedThe post If you’re interested in Geneva Seal standard watchmaking, this Louis Vuitton ‘high watch collection’ wants to meet you appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
In the history of the 20th century, few years are as loaded with cultural weight as the year 1969. It’s defined in our collective memory as the year of Woodstock and the Moon Landing, but it’s also a year of great significance for watches. Chris Hall has done the heavy lifting here for QP Magazine, … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: 1969 – the year that changed watchmaking forever appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Time+Tide
Sandra has a look at the bright, colourful, and very serious Louis Vuitton Escale Time Zone in this in-depth review.The post A fashionable watch with a watchmaking heart – the Louis Vuitton Escale Time Zone appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
‘Manufacture’ is one of those watchmaking buzzwords you hear fairly frequently. Basically, it’s a fancy word for factory, but in the slow-moving and hallowed halls of horology it’s so much more. Think airy, well-lit rooms with highly skilled watchmakers investing countless hours on minute details most will never see. A far cry from the typical … ContinuedThe post RECOMMENDED READING: 5 watchmaking manufactures you need to know appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
Editor’s note: Next week, Breguet will unveil its 2019 releases to the world, and we can’t wait. So, in preparation, we thought we’d have another look at Justin’s piece on the fundamentals of Breguet’s approach to watchmaking and watch design … With a brand so rich in history, the origins of what can only be … ContinuedThe post The world of watchmaking at Breguet appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
With the appointment of the new Japanese emperor, we take a look at some of the best Japanese watches that are fit for the new ruler.
Time+Tide
This is something we get asked a lot. And not just by newcomers to the industry. To some minds, it instantly sticks out like a sore thumb that the Swiss products are regarded as sacrosanct and that the wares of all other nations should fall in line behind the masters. But to others, it just … ContinuedThe post Why are Swiss watches considered the best? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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Revolution
Revolution co-founder Wei Koh profiles three of the most important men in the Swiss watch industry: Thierry Stern, Jean-Frédéric Dufour and Jérôme Lambert.
Revolution
Hermès marries traditional artisanal skill with watchmaking craftsmanship in its leather marquetry timepieces.
Time+Tide
I’ve been saying for a while now that Chanel are a force to watch when it comes to serious watchmaking. Their recent high-end movements are impressive, to say the least. They’re already investors in Romain Gauthier, and - more recently - F.P. Journe. The latest step in Chanel’s increasing in-house journey is their acquisition of … ContinuedThe post NEWS: Chanel steps up their in-house watchmaking capacity with investment in new factory appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
This watch is pure flex. And not just because it’s a beast on the wrist, thanks largely to that hugely tall domed sapphire crystal. No, the reason the Breguet Tradition 7047 is such a power watch is the movement. Not only is there a whopping great tourbillon whirring away - taking up the top half … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Never break the chain … Breguet’s Tradition 7047 is a masterpiece of fine watchmaking appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Time+Tide
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Time+Tide
In a battle that’s been brewing since the dawn of Time (and Tide, in 2014), Andrew and Felix finally pick up the tools and take on the challenge of taking apart and then rebuilding a manually wound movement. We lay our scene at the Omega Service Centre in Melbourne, and the occasion is somewhat of … ContinuedThe post VIDEO: Oh boy. Andrew vs Felix in watch rebuild battle at the Omega Service Centre. Watchmakers, look away … appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Deployant
Throwback Sunday: We recommend six Japanese watches which we think are worth their salt . From Grand Seiko, Seiko, Citizen, Casio and Credor.
A new watchmaking documentary is being shot now, called Keeper of Time, produced and directed by New York filmmaker Michael Culyba.
Time+Tide
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Deployant
Spot the Watch: Kim Jong-Un and his Swiss watch. What did he wear to the recent peace talks with South Korea? Perhaps his early Swiss education led him to select a design icon: the Movado Moderna.
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