Latest news with #Swatch
WIRED
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- WIRED
These Are Our Favorite Wristwatches Under $1,000
Few would have expected the Omega x Swatch Moonswatch to create such a furor both in and out of watch fandom when it was released in 2022, yet in just a few years, it has become one of the most desirable watches today due to its initial scarcity, dual brand recognition, and attractive price. Thankfully, it's much easier to buy a Moonswatch than when it was first released, including online, and the days of needing to pay scalpers for one through eBay are happily over. The Moonswatch takes its name and design from the classic Omega Speedmaster, also known as the Moonwatch, due to it being the first watch on the moon. Unlike the Omega Speedmaster, it's made of bioceramic (which feels a lot like plastic), doesn't have a sapphire crystal, has a quartz movement, is only water resistant to 30 meters, and most definitely hasn't been to the moon. None of this matters, though, as there's so much to like about the Moonswatch, from how it bridges the divide between normal people and watch fans, how it's practically guaranteed to stir up some kind of emotion, and that there's almost certainly a color scheme or design feature that will appeal. Just don't expect it to have the best build quality, or for it to feel anywhere near as expensive as its price suggests. Some also complain about the Velcro strap, but the branding looks great, and it's perfect to throw on your wrist when you're in a hurry. Once it's on, it's so light you barely know it's there. A rubber alternative strap is available if you do hate the Velcro, though. Even if you haven't heard of any other brands and watches on our list, I bet you have heard of the Omega x Swatch Moonswatch, but don't pass it off as just clever marketing. It's a Swatch at heart, and that makes it a fun and affordable gateway into watch ownership. Specs Case and strap: 42 mm, 20-mm band Movement: Quartz (ETA G10.212) Glass: Hesalite Water resistance: 3 ATM Warranty: 2 years Rotate North started out in 2019 with its Atlantic dive watch, but it has expanded its range to include several other models since then, and I love the Tempest aviation watch. Built in Germany and finished in the UK, the Tempest comes in a 40-mm case size with a choice of bright rubber straps, and I love the 12- and 24-hour markers on the dial, the date window, and the 300-meter water resistance rating. Perhaps best of all, Rotate North gives you the choice of movements. You can choose the Tempest with a Seiko NH35A automatic movement, which the company says it chose due to its 'exceptional durability, reliability, and impressive accuracy (-20 to +40 seconds per day) rating.' The movement will turn up more than once on this list for these very reasons. Alternatively, you can choose a Ronda 715LI quartz movement if you want the watch to always be ready to go, and to save a little on the purchase price, too. Specs Case and strap: 40 mm, 20-mm band Movement: Automatic (Seiko NH35A) or Quartz (Ronda 715LI) Glass: Sapphire Water resistance: 30 ATM Warranty: 2 years
Nylon
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Nylon
Swatch returns to the Locarno Film festival with a limited-edition timepiece
Locarno Film Festival is one of the world's leading events in film that will take place from 6 to 16 August 2025, and as a main sponsor, Swatch is celebrating the 78th edition of the festival with a stunning limited-edition timepiece inspired by the iconic festival poster created by Turner Prize-winning German artist, Wolfgang Tillmans. Image courtesy of Swatch. Image courtesy of Swatch. Aptly named LOCARNO78, this exclusive watch captures the spirit of the iconic Pardo d'pro and style of this year's event, featuring the signature leopard motif on both its dial and strap, and mirroring the poster's hypnotic swirl of holographic abstraction. The dial showcases a mesmerising iridescent Solar Spectrum effect, complemented by printed spots for indexes, while a dedicated loop highlights the festival's name. The LOCARNO78 is priced at $167 and available online at
Business Times
21-07-2025
- Business
- Business Times
When will luxury's perfect storm pass?
LUXURY is out of fashion. The sector is facing a perfect storm. Chinese spending, the industry's growth engine for so long, has stalled. There are question marks over whether US shoppers, who held much promise after President Donald Trump's election in November, will pick up the bling baton. And over-aggressive pricing has shut out many younger customers who gorged on Gucci handbags and Rolex watches during the pandemic. It will take time for this indigestion to work its way out of the system. Add in the threat from tariffs and a weak US dollar, which translates into less revenue in euros, and it is little wonder the MSCI Europe Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods Index has lost about a quarter of its value since February. The second-quarter reporting season, which starts in earnest this week, is likely to be grim. But over the past week, there have been some glimmers of hope. The worst is not over exactly, but it might soon be. For a start, the appetite among Chinese consumers for Cartier Love bangles and Burberry trench coats does not seem to be getting any worse. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 2 pm Lifestyle Our picks of the latest dining, travel and leisure options to treat yourself. Sign Up Sign Up Chinese spending in Japan is contracting – with Richemont's sales in the country down 15 per cent in the three months to the end of June, compared with a 59 per cent increase in the year earlier – due to the stronger yen. This will be a drag on sales across the industry. But Swatch said it has seen the first signs of improvement in China, with a pickup in online sales and a reduction in stocks of watches at third-party retailers. Swatch chief executive officer Nick Hayek often looks on the bright side. But Richemont also saw a 7 per cent fall in sales in China, Hong Kong and Macau in its fiscal Q1, about half the rate of decline in the preceding three months. This was echoed by Burberry Group, which generates about 30 per cent of sales from Chinese consumers at home and abroad. Chief financial officer Kate Ferry said the British luxury brand was also seeing a quarter-on-quarter improvement and 'a little bit of stabilisation' in China. In the US, financial markets appear to be shrugging off the tariff trauma, with the S&P 500 index reaching a new high and Bitcoin touching a record US$120,000. Given that US luxury demand is correlated with financial wealth, this bodes well. It is possible this is feeding into demand for Brunello Cucinelli cashmere already: The tech bros' favourite outfitter said sales excluding currency movements rose 11 per cent in Q2, and it forecast a 10 per cent increase this year. Investors should not get ahead of themselves, though. Some of the surprises so far have been company-specific. Cucinelli sells to the 1 per cent, and while it might not have a logo, it has become a signifier that the wearer is part of an exclusive club that can afford to pay US$400 for a T-shirt and US$8,000 for a cable knit cardigan. Not many other brands command this type of clientele. Richemont's jewellery is also shining bright, thanks to the luxury market maturing – many who bought bags 20 years ago are shifting to baubles – and the fact that price increases for leather goods have made bangles and necklaces better value for money. As for Burberry, which reported a 1 per cent decline in fiscal Q1 same-store sales – less than the almost 4 per cent fall that analysts had expected – this compares with a period a year ago when same store sales slumped 21 per cent. LVMH, the industry bellwether, reports Q2 earnings this week, and they will not be pretty. The behemoth has gone from being one of the strongest performers to one of the weakest, thanks to its reliance on leather goods, which are suffering the most from consumer fatigue. It is also facing some company-specific issues, such as a hard landing after spectacular growth at Dior, difficulties in its drinks division and supply chain problems at Loro Piana, a rival to Cucinelli. Yet, even though we are probably closer to the bottom of the bling bloodbath than the top, many valuations are pricing in the worst. LVMH is trading on a forward price-to-earnings ratio of about 19.5 times, towards the bottom of its five-year average, while Prada shares have lost about 30 per cent since February, as investors took fright at its 1.3 billion euros (S$1.9 billion) purchase of Versace. While the earnings side of the equation could fall further, this looks harsh. Not all luxury stocks are showing a bust. Investors in Hermes International are paying about 50 times the next 12 months' earnings because the brand typically outperforms in tough times, given that demand for its iconic Birkin and Kelly bags outstrip supply. Burberry's shares have more than doubled since September. A successful turnaround, and the company being able to keep any challenges in check, is already priced in. Kering stock has risen about 14 per cent since the Gucci owner named Renault's Luca de Meo as its new CEO last month. That looks optimistic. Even if de Meo is able to sell Kering's 30 per cent stake in Valentino, he still has 10.5 billion euros of net debt and creative transitions at most of the company's brands to deal with. For investors, a return to bling's boom years still looks far off. But by the time we get to fashion month in September, conditions might look a little less grim. New designers at Chanel, Dior and Gucci are likely to delve into the archives for inspiration this fall. A brighter luxury market would be another retro trend worth embracing. BLOOMBERG
Stuff.tv
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Stuff.tv
Swatch teases an AI tool that could let you design your own MoonSwatch
Swatch is teasing a new service that could let you design your own watch using artificial intelligence – and as a fan of its previous customisation efforts, I'm intrigued. I've used the Swatch X You platform in the past and loved being able to pick out my own colours and patterns. The idea of doing the same for a MoonSwatch? Yes please – especially if it means unlocking colour combos we've never seen before. According to a financial update from Swatch Group, reported on by Watch Pro, the new service is set to launch this summer and is being described as a 'world first' in personalisation. At the heart of it is something called AI-DADA, a generative tool developed in-house by Swatch. The idea is that customers will be able to interact with this 'artistic intelligence' to create unique watch dials. It's trained on more than 40 years of Swatch design history, meaning anything it generates should still look and feel like a proper Swatch. 'Swatch will launch the ultimate in personalisation,' the report claims. So far, though, the company hasn't confirmed whether this AI tool will work across all collections, including the MoonSwatch. In fact, it might not involve the MoonSwatch at all. This could be a brand-new model created specifically for the AI-DADA platform. Still, if MoonSwatch personalisation is on the table, it could mark a shift in strategy. Rather than releasing endless new editions like the Mission to Moonshine models, Mission to Earthphase, or Snoopy collabs, Swatch could hand the creative power over to fans themselves. There's no word on pricing, but if it mirrors the Swatch X You programme, we could expect a small premium over the standard model. Personally, I'd love a MoonSwatch inspired by the neon of the 1990s Grand Prix Chronograph – bright pinks, greens and yellows on a black dial. Sign me up! Liked this? AVI-8 and Peanuts team up for the Snoopy Flying Ace watch collection, and I want all five
Fashion Network
17-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
Swatch UK results show sector facing tough market
Swatch Group on Thursday reported its half-year global results showing the watch market is still tough. And it has also filed its UK-specific accounts for 2024 highlighting the challenges in the British market. The company said that British turnover from continuing operations dropped 11% to £193.768 million and profits fell as well. In fact profit before tax was down as much as 33% at £7.516 million for the year. That was due both to the turnover fall and an increase in the cost of sales and distribution/administrative expenses. Those expenses increased 6% for the year. Other figures in the accounts included operating profit from continuing operations falling to £12.365 million from £15.819 million and its net profit for the financial year dropping sharply to £3.791 million from £8.315 million. Swatch may have another tough year in 2025 too as it has already said that the increase in employers' National Insurance contributions in the UK that began in April will increase its costs, and the results from its operations globally have also shown that the market hasn't become easier for watch specialists. That's something Richemont 's results showed this week too with the Swiss luxury giant's Specialist Watchmakers segment being its worst performer in the latest year. Looking back at the UK specifically, in the accounts filing Swatch said it's 'maintaining the strength of [its] brands through new and innovative products, strategic advertising and maintaining strong relationships with its customers'.
