Amidst the chaos and extreme uncertainty of our present circumstances, watch enthusiasts know one thing for sure: getting the watches we want has never been more difficult. Around the world, popular watches have become so scarce that they are no longer even displayed in stores. These are not limited edition models, mind you, but regular production core collection watches. As we and other observers have noted, some brands are no longer in the retail business… This state of affairs predates the pandemic, but lockdowns and other related measures have hurt supply, just as they have done across many sectors. Demand, on the other hand, has skyrocketed to unprecedented levels. Everyone wants what they cannot have, and the more out of reach some watches get, more and more hands stretch out for them.
Things have gotten so dire that brand executives are openly discussing it, and articles such as this are being written, even by the general press. The editors of this magazine thought that the pandemic would tamp down both supply and demand, but we were only partially right. The inability of key brands to get watches onto waiting customer wrists has drawn the interest of speculators interested in easy money, and others who see watches as a reliable store of value. For collectors, this is a major issue because we often buy watches just for fun, or for intensely personal reasons. The editors of WOW Singapore and Thailand exchange frank views on the current situation.
Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av World of Watches.
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Denne historien er fra Spring 2022-utgaven av World of Watches.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
BRAND ELEVATION
On the sidelines of Geneva Watch Days, Bulgari CEO JeanChristophe Babin talks about the challenges of having one brand identity across all categories, and tells us what he really thinks of watch fairs.
EVEN MORE HANDS
For the third year in a row, the collective WOW team shares the watches we ponied up for. As always, we include a couple of fantasy pieces and more than a few fails.
CONCEPTS AND CONSEQUENCES
What is the legacy of concept watches? What happens when the show is over and it is time to actually manufacture them? How do these ticking research labs translate into actual, wearable timepieces...if they ever do?
THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION
In the watchmaking industry, a company’s longevity is oftentimes measured not in decades but in centuries. What then happens to a brand beyond its founders? We speak to three CEOs to answer this question.
LEAPS AND BOUNDS
The quest to add one day to a month every four years may seem like a mundane task in the digital age, but achieving this mechanically is anything but.
FLIP SIDE
Omega celebrates the first human flight orbit the moon with a new Speedmaster Dark Side of the Moon.
SNAPPING BACK
A powerful showcase for a one-of-a-kind constant force mechanism, the Girard Perregaux Neo Constant Escapement is now available for everyone.
GO FOR GOLD
Forty-five years after Piaget released its allgold Polo 79 luxury sports watch to critical acclaim, the maison revisits this iconic collection with a new ultra-thin movement.
CLEAR WINNER
Hublot's fourth collaboration with Takashi Murakami puts the artist's joyful flower motif at the centre of a bold new case design.
HISTORICAL TRIBUTE
Parmigiani Fleurier launches a new version of their Tonda PF Hijri Perpetual Calendar with a vivid green dial.