The Party is Almost Over for Free-Loading Swiss Watch Producers

Europa Star, one of the world’s premier providers of international watch industry news and information, has embarked on an in-depth look at the state of the Swiss watch industry.  Starting with the decision by Nicholas Hayek to restrict by 2011 the availability of ETA and other movements manufactured by the Swatch Group, Part 1 of the series notes that that the Swatch Group has an estimated 60 to 70 per cent share of the market for mechanical movements produced in Switzerland annually!

The above statistics translate into ETA and other members of the Swatch Group stable equipping nearly two out of three watches produced in Switzerland. This illustrates the amazing industrial power of the group and it also brings into focus the reliance of many Swiss watch producers on technological investments made into movement design and innovation by the group.   

It appears the party may well be over as smaller watch producers are forced to design and manufacture their own movements or rely of clones produced by others.

Parts 1 and 2 of the article are out now, with part 3 to come.  It makes very interesting reading and can be found here

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