Swiss watch exports plummet after tariff uncertainty hits sales Retail Swiss watch exports fell significantly in May after anticipation of steep tariffs caused a downturn in the US market. Exports fell 9.5 versus May, according to new figures from the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH), reversing a recovery in sales that has been brewing since the start of the year. The market for [...]
City broker downgrades Watches of Switzerland as US prices set to rise A City broker has downgraded its price target for Watches of Switzerland by a fifth, citing lower spending and higher prices as the retailer’s challenges. Peel Hunt downgraded the target price for the luxury watch firm from 500p to 400p. Shares in the retailer were trading at 335p as of midday on April 7, having [...]
Gary Neville joins Swiss watchmaker Norqain’s board ahead of UK launch Retail Gary Neville has joined the board of Swiss watchmaker Norqain as it prepares to launch in the UK. The former Manchester United and England footballer now works as a TV pundit as well as having a portfolio of business interests. They include two hotels in Manchester as well as a property development company and hosting [...]
Rolex Predictions & Discontinuations 2025: What To Expect From Watches & Wonders March 14, 2025 Every year at Watches & Wonders, Rolex dominates the conversation, unveiling highly anticipated model updates, unexpected discontinuations, and rare limited editions that shake up the luxury watch market. Rolex’s presence at the event is thrilling, from groundbreaking new releases to the farewell of iconic timepieces. With 2025 marking the 70th anniversary of the GMT-Master, we [...]
No luxury markets outperformed the FTSE 100 last year March 5, 2025 The once reliable luxury market suffered last year, with even the top performers in the market only posting modest gains in a weak market. The Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index (KFLII), which tracks the performance of 10 popular investments, fell 3.3 per cent for the second year in a row. The FTSE100, meanwhile, posted gains [...]
Who watches the Watches? February 19, 2025 As a newly minted Picture Editor and thus part of the management team of a then-popular left-wing national newspaper, I sat in on a discussion about why the poor ate so badly. Having only recently landed the job and as keen as mustard – and oh so naive – my feet were still planted firmly [...]
Total value of luxury watches stolen tops £1.6bn February 18, 2025 Criminal gangs are “entrenched” in the theft of luxury watches, a chairman of a watch recovery database has warned after registered losses surged. The Watch Register, the world’s largest international database of lost and stolen watches, had over £150m worth of luxury watches reported as lost or stolen last year. Brits made up £60m of [...]
Watches of Switzerland: Rolex retailer bolstered by US sales February 6, 2025 Watches of Switzerland has expressed optimism about the European luxury market and noted momentum in the US, in the latest signs the global luxury market is beginning to recover from a two-year downturn. The watch retailer said the luxury market, which has been under pressure from lower disposable income and changing trends, has stabilised. The [...]
Luxury stocks boom as Richemont kicks off reporting season with a bang January 16, 2025 Luxury stocks across the world have been given a boost by Cartier-owner Richemont’s booming sales figures this morning. Richemont’s report, the first set of luxury results covering the festive season, indicated that the luxury market may finally be recovering from a slowdown that has lasted nearly two years. Revenue from jewellery, Richemont’s biggest division, rose [...]
H Samuel and Ernest Jones owner cuts loss despite £40m sales hit January 6, 2025 The company behind high street jewellers H Samuel and Ernest Jones significantly cut its loss despite sales falling by almost £40m during its latest financial year. The Birmingham-headquartered business has reported a pre-tax loss of £483,000 for the year to 3 February, 2024, down from the £8.9m loss it posted in its prior 12 months. [...]