When the Apple Watch was introduced, I don't remember if the first time (September 2014) or the second time (March 2015), some analysts said that they would put classic watches in trouble, referring more specifically to the swiss watches. There were many of us who put our hands to our heads because it seems that they are items that cannot be compared, but the last fiscal balance seems to agree with those who predicted problems for conventional watches. And it is that the Swiss watch industry has seen its sales down 8.5% compared to the previous quarter.
According to analysts, this decline is born in Asia and will spread to other markets, which should raise all the alarms of not only Swiss watch manufacturers, but of all conventional watch manufacturers. In my opinion and looking at the figures, the manufacturers they must know how to renew or they could be seen in a scenario like the one experienced by Blackberry, who has already presented its first Android smartphone but it could be too late.
The decrease began to be noticed in the month of May, more or less when the Apple Watch went on sale. Sales fell 9,9% in the fifth month of 2015, but were even higher in June, reaching up to 10%. The third quarter of 2015 is the worst since 2009. However, analysts also say that conventional watches will suffer a "fatal disease" in Asia this year.
The reports assure that the most affected clocks are those of Midrange, who fell 14,5% and have prices ranging between 200 and 500 francs (€ 184,56 and € 461,40). Those prices match some Apple Watch Sport models. In short, if the Apple Watch has something to blame for the decline in sales of Swiss watches, it is in its most economical version. Customers would continue to prefer classic watches as a general rule when it comes to a luxury model. In that sense at least, sanity reigns.
