Smartwatch sales soar by 44% to 12.4 million units in Q2
Swiss watchmakers report they are seeing little effect, no effect or a positive effect from the rise of Apple’s Watch, depending on who you ask. Almost nobody in the premium space thinks that the smartwatch is killing luxury timepieces. In fact, the youth appeal of Apple Watch is rearing a fresh generation of potential customers that are one step closer to become mechanical watch customers. Statistics support this theory. Since the launch of connected watches, the value of Swiss watch exports has risen from CHF 19.5 billion in 2016 to 21.2 billion in 2018. However, this optimism continues to be tested, with sales of Apple Watch and its rivals continuing to rocket. According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartwatch shipments grew an impressive 44% annually to reach 12.3 million units in the second quarter of 2019.