Swiss watch makers face increased competition from smart devices

Export volumes drop 32 per cent in the three months to September, Bank of America says

The top three private watch brands – Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe – will be the quickest to recover from the negative effects of Covid-19, according to a report by Bank of America Securities. Bloomberg

The value of Swiss watch exports declined by 10 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, according to Bank of America Securities.

The headline figure masked a bigger decline in sales volumes, which fell 32 per cent, as average selling prices continue to rise - up 20 per cent in Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

“Our cautious mid-term outlook for the industry is shaped by our view that the industry will see little volume growth, increased competition from smart watches and is beginning to be disrupted by online watch marketplaces, which removes an element of pricing power and creates a more liquid second-hand market," the BofA Securities note added. Online watch marketplaces, even for second-hand pieces, compete for the same customer base as traditional retailers, it said.

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A 6300G Grandmaster Chime wristwatch of Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe is displayed at BaselWorld in Basel. AFP

Demand for expensive watches has bounced back in some markets as affluent consumers emerge from their homes and spend some of the money they saved during lockdown.

This so-called “revenge spending” phenomenon has expanded from China to the US and Europe, as wealthy individuals divert money they would have splurged on overseas vacations and restaurant dining to high-end purchases.

Mainland China was the one bright spot globally, with Swiss watch exports growing by 67 per cent in the third quarter. Feedback from watch retailers in Asia suggest that the repatriation of spending – more luxury goods bought in domestic markets as opposed to during foreign holidays – is the key driver for demand, the report added.

The laggards in the sector continue to face a more challenging mid-term outlook, with the return to pre-Covid-19 levels of revenue likely taking several years

Swiss watch exports growth to the US was flat during the third quarter. Lack of tourism has affected sales in Europe, with exports down 20 per cent in the same timeframe.

BofA Securities said the top three private brands – Rolex, Audemars Piguet and Patek Philippe – will be the quickest to recover from the negative effects of Covid-19. Authorised dealers are now more selective about which brands they are restocking, it added.

These three brands enjoy robust demand for key products, with long waiting lists, “which should give them greater resilience over the coming months”. New product launches from these brands are also expected to re-energise demand.

“The laggards in the sector continue to face a more challenging mid-term outlook, with the return to pre-Covid-19 levels of revenue likely taking several years,” the BofA Securities report added.

Brands that are not expected to perform as well include Richemont and Swatch, whose shares look relatively overvalued as a result. “They trade at peak multiples we believe are unjustified by the lower future earnings growth potential,” the report cited.

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LVMH Watches & Jewellery reported a drop in sales of 14 per cent, with a similar performance across both watches and jewellery during the quarter.

Meanwhile, French luxury group Kering has decided to reduce manufacturing capacity within its watch brands and cut its workforce by 25 per cent. The company attributed the decision to the contraction in sales relating to the pandemic and the watch sector’s weak recovery.

“This seems to suggest that the broader industry outside of the highly desired brands remains much more challenging,” the report added.

Demand for smart watches, meanwhile, continues to grow - up 20 per cent year-on-year in the first six months of 2020, according to Hong Kong-based research company Counterpoint. Apple currently dominates the market with a 51.4 per cent market share, senior analyst Sujeong Lim said in August.

"In terms of shipment volumes, Apple Watch grew 22 per cent globally, with Europe and North America being the fastest growing markets in the first half of 2020.”