Horological Meandering

Mine are: - Finally, a reversal (of sorts) to the ever-bigger-watch madness. Oh, there will still be some humungous great Sten-gun-style monstrosities, all poked through with holes and menacingly coated with PVD. But this year's overall zeitgeist demands ... 

Even if I don't see any revolution to come, this year, well, it is my guess. I think we'll have both Innovation and Tradition, and that's fine for me. My hope would be to see some fun and young interpretations of traditional complications, but some brands... 

...due to the market crash early last year, some watch projects probably got canceled, investments and production slowed so I'm expecting fewer new watches will be introduced at SIHH and Basel this year. Probably just more variants of the existing designs... 

Can't wait to hear what our experts have to predict. I agree with the dial treatments. It seems as if we are seeing more watches with a "technical" look at lower price points - some well done and tasteful and some looking like Invicta tried to mate with R... 

Folks, In my quiet contemplation, I glimpsed the Vision. The industry will fall into two camps. In times of trouble, some people revert to their strengths -- both 'inner' and from inspirational outside sources. Those who can, will draw upon their strength... 

Thank you for the very eloquent memo MTF.

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Sorry for that, Melvyn, but your subject line just provoked that ... Anyway, I would not dare to make any prophecies, since my predictions are normally wrong. Several months ago, the economic crisis appeared to eat up at least a dozen or so of the watch m... 

Marcus, I did not say Rolex and Swatch Watch were too big to fail. I meant that their products are too familiar to disappear. Multi-axis tourbillons in fusion case materials, polished to mirror finishes, may come and go but people will still buy a Rolex D... 

50% Marketing (I'd like to say 'looking forward' and hopefully not up their trou de cul) and 50% "Let's wait and see if they buy what's on the market now" kind of logic. Meanwhile, antique/old watches will still be in big demand among collectors and affic... 

Of course, we wil notice a come-back of thin and quiet watches. But we all know that the brands which will bounce back after the crisis will be the ones which are able to offer something new to the customers. They want to be surprised. Fr.Xavier

Main reason: the brands want to cut cost and at the same time maintain or increase sale. I have already seen some watch retailers link with the bank to provide special payment scheme by instalments with free interest. Regards Ling

Could not agree with you more!