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Swatch Co-Inventor Predicts Apple Will Bring an 'Ice Age' To Swiss Watch Market
MojoKid writes It seems that these days everything Apple touches turns to gold, hence why the company was able to post an $18 billion profit for its fiscal first quarter of 2015. Be that as it may, can Apple popularize the smartwatch market as others have been unable to do so far? Not only is that the expectation, but according to Swatch watch co-inventor Elmar Mock, Apple is going to bring about an "Ice Age" to the Swiss watch market. Elmar noted that he expects the Apple Watch to quickly reach sales of 20 million to 30 million units per year. For the sake of comparison, Switzerland exported 28.6 million watches in 2014, none of them with smart capabilities. "Apple will succeed quickly. It will put a lot of pressure on the traditional watch industry and jobs in Switzerland...I do expect an Ice Age coming toward us," Elmar said. Analysts for Barclays noted to investors that the Apple Watch launch could result in a 6 percent annual decline in Swatch Group AG's revenue. To keep up with the times and fend off Apple, there are at least three Swiss watch companies planning to make smartwatches, including Swatch Group, which will unveil a smart model sometime this year.
My $30 Timex tells me the time just fine.
While the idea of a "wrist communicator" sounds almost as cool as a Star Trek chest badge, I just can't see spending hundreds of dollars on such a thing when I don't even own a "smart phone" because I rarely leave the house. Quite frankly, I don't see the point of devices that have to be tethered to a smart phone, because that means you still have a pocket full of phone to bend or break.
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
I can't imagine the differences in any Swatch watches from the past 15 years is anything but external. I imagine they're mostly a watch face theme company, if not, then engineering was failing. But, external design isn't going to go completely away, unless they make ugly rectangles with ugly bands like all of the current smart watches (besides the Motorola 360). These first gen smart watches *can't* be as good as it gets. Put micro batteries in the bands and blow everyone away in terms of thickness. Add functionality to the bands (would love control on the band (swipe or whatever) in addition screen since my finger isn't transparent). I'd prefer a much smaller screen than what's available.
The Apple watch presents no threat to such Swiss watches, any more than a Tesla car presents a threat to Porsche.
And back in 2007 you'd be telling us the iPhone would present no threat to BlackBerry. And before that you'd have told us that the iPod would pose no threat to other mp3 players. The sheer amount of fault predictions that Slashdot nerds have made about Apple are hilarious.
I can't understand the fuss, since the iWatch and a Swiss watch are two different markets. It's equivalent to saying the new Nikes will kill Louboutin's couture high heel market because sneakers are lighter and more practical. Or TV dinners will destroy the three hat restaurant scene because food is now easier and more convenient I know a few people with expensive watches ($10k+) These people are not interested in flavour of the day gadgets, they prefer hand made shirts, and shoes, and fine dining, and associate with brands that are conservative, exclusive and stand the test of time. None which Apple qualify for.
Except no one will buy that watch. Why would you buy a disposable 18k gold watch?
If you buy an expensive watch you're buying the skill and craftsmanship of the watchmaker. You're buying something that will stand the test of time and pass down to generations. While i'm not a huge watch guy I have a very nice watch that was my great-grandfather's and has been passed down for several generations and it still works well.
Who's going to buy a $10,000 18k gold Apple Watch that will be obsolete in 6 months? There are no nice pieces, no craftsmanship; you're paying $10,000 for a disposable gold watch made by Chinese peons instead of a quality timepiece made by a master craftsman. There's a huge difference.
The recent strength of the Swiss Franc isn't helping Swiss watchmakers export more of their products. Granted, currency isn't helping Apple either, but Apple has tremendously more pricing flexibility than the entire Swiss watch industry.
Yeah and back in 1991 you were probably telling us Apple could never fail at anything ever. Keep riding the hype wave, everyone knows they always last forever...
fyi the Swatch group has many luxury brands like Omega, Breguet, Rado, etc. /.
I'd expect him to have more of a clue than most of the posters on
Your fatal assumption is assuming the word "Swiss" or the company name "Swatch" means that it is high-end. I guarantee you that the Swiss do not sell 30million Rolex equivalent watches every year.
The reality is Swiss watches encompass a wide range of companies with a wide range range of styles and price ranges. My girlfriend has a "Swiss" watch. It cost $130. Made in Switzerland. The Swatch group's own main brand "Swatch" is also a very low-end company making watches that range from kids toys (I had a $60 swatch when I was younger). I mean even the company name "Swatch" came from the idea of owning a "second-watch" that was cheap and fun and you could bash it around and wear it while doing the gardening etc, and they are not the only cheap watch manufacturer in Switzerland.
Swatch nowadays is a group that owns about 15 brands which sell watches for well under $1000. They do also own really high-end brands like Omega.
In 2007 there was a 4Gig iPhone that was $499. The $599 model was 8 Gig.
6.1 million original iPhones were sold in spite of the shortcomings you mentioned.
iPhone sales surpassed blackberry sales for the first time in the 4th quarter of 2008, - less than a year and 1/2 after it had been introduced. Overtaking a market leader within 18 months is pretty remarkable, especially considering Apple had never sold a phone before.
Bill Gates recognized the threat right away. RIM didn't and has never recovered.
I'm not sure the Apple Watch is going to have the same level of success. The smart phone solved a real problem by combining a cellphone with a PDA, and an MP3 player, - two or three devices that many people were carrying. The iPhone was a better implementation of the smart phone than what had existed at the time.
The Smart Watch doesn't solve those kinds of problems except for perhaps people who carry fitness gadgets with them.