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Swatch: the saga continues  Rate Topic 
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 Posted: Wed Dec 14th, 2011 12:10 am
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Graham
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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/business/swatch-group-to-trim-sales-of-watch-parts-to-rivals.html?_r=2&pagewanted=2&ref=business

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 Posted: Wed Dec 14th, 2011 06:59 am
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bigrustypig
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Thanks for sharing, Graham. If Swatch wins the much larger dispute at the anti-trust courts, I think the end for those that depend on Swatch will be very fast.


Just wondering if our ETA-based pieces will appreciate in value or collectibility....or if there is even any true connection at all
homerthinks.gif

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 Posted: Wed Dec 14th, 2011 11:08 am
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Hammerfjord
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Very true comments at the end... It was said, announced and promised by Swatch. Anybody with some brain would have anticipate it as well: Still very few who had the fonds, chosen to invest those in marketing apparently.
Now, it's a bit late to wake up on investments and developments when the guillotine is falling.
Before Sellita arrives with a new load of movements from the future factory, many will have gone bankrupt. Some brands will maybe try on Miyota, maybe surviving but loosing the "Swiss Made" status anyway...
I heard that the Chineses are working hard to produce higher quality movements destined to "luxury watches" as well: Maybe hoping to fill a gap...? Good luck with that!
I think that there is still some old Swiss movements who have been abandoned during the big quartz era, who could be produced again...It may be an alternative who could spare time in developments , who knows...

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 Posted: Wed Dec 14th, 2011 09:09 pm
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BA211
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Very interesting comments in the article. I my feeling is Swatch does control the market in many ways for components. But whose fault is that? I think there is probably a grain of truth in the end comment by Swatch saying others chose to invest more in marketing than development.

As a WIS, though, the fallout could really impact new watch prices. :(

Last edited on Wed Dec 14th, 2011 09:10 pm by BA211

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 Posted: Thu Dec 15th, 2011 03:30 am
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Khronos
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An interesting article but I would hazard an optimistic (and lawyeristic, being one myself...) guess.

Have a look at the names mentioned as plaintiffs and the annual volumes of watches discussed. We are talking about big ticket manufacturers who have been making a fairly easy buck on the back of Swatch's / ETA's movements.

Those are the real threat to Swatch's dominance, not your small independent makers we all know and love who, collectively, do not even touch the volumes of, for example, Edox alone.

Swatch would have little interest in stopping supply to the boutique makers and, as a matter of marketing strategy, may even consider branding itself as a "sponsor of innovation" by continuing to supply the little guys.

Or, maybe I am just thinking like this because I do not want to lose this perfect balance of quality and price we seem to have at the moment around the $1,000 mark; a balance which has been struck by people (makers and consumers) with a love affair with timepieces...

K.

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 Posted: Wed Dec 21st, 2011 03:02 pm
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afc14284
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It's an interesting perception.. If they are allowed then Swatch can do whatever it wants with it's companies, including ETA.. Now I think we will be affected because those smallish companies that depend on the Swatch group will most certainly go under and hence, we won't get those nice pieces @ reasonable prices...

Let's wait and see what'll happen..

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