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English => News => Topic started by: Redaktion on February 07, 2020, 16:49:58

Title: The Apple Watch handily outsold all Swiss watch makers in 2019
Post by: Redaktion on February 07, 2020, 16:49:58
Apple's Smartwatch outsold all Swiss watchmaker brands combined by 3 to 2 in 2019. Younger consumers prefer smartwatches, a shift that has continually driven sales away from Swiss watchmakers over the past five years. Still, considering their luxury status, it's unlikely that Swiss watchmakers will disappear overnight.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-Apple-Watch-handily-outsold-all-Swiss-watch-makers-in-2019.453212.0.html
Title: Re: The Apple Watch handily outsold all Swiss watch makers in 2019
Post by: _MT_ on February 08, 2020, 11:07:12
Frankly, Swiss watches make little sense at the price point of an Apple Watch. If you want a mechanical watch, the Japanese are the kings below a thousand dollars/ euro. The Swiss can only beat them on brand. Where the Swiss shine, is above about 5k. That's where the Japanese can't really compete outside of Japan, even though they have a few models up there and they're really interesting. Between 1 and 5k, it's a mixed bag and, for example, German brands are an interesting choice (have you heard of the NOMOS Glashütte, for example?).

My problem with the so called smart watches is obsolence and longevity. I'm willing to spend thousands of euro on a mechanical watch because it's going to last me decades. It's like buying expensive, made to order shoes. The sticker price is high, but they can last so long while still looking great (because they're made from quality materials, as long as you care for them) that it's not really a problem. As long as you can afford the price of entry. My grandchildren can inherit my watches (and I'm still young, I don't have kids yet). Even the stainless steel version of an Apple Watch is poor value to me because it's going to be a piece of trash in a few years. Not to mention that asking $300 just for an upgrade to a stainless steel case is a complete rip off. In watches, stainless steel is the standard. Not a luxury. Even cheap watches have them. Because of skin compatibility. They're just taking the p***.

As for "smarts," all I would really like in a watch are notifications. Just an LED or perhaps a vibrating motor. A "look at your phone!" There are other features which are nice (UTC time, time zones, etc.), but if I'm to go with an electronic watch, I very much value battery life. Solar charging being the proverbial cherry on the top. "Smart" watch is just another thing that needs charging. And that's annoying.