If you were asked what brands you think have the largest market share in Swiss watches, which brands would you name? Earlier this year, Morgan Stanley and the Swiss consultancy LuxeConsult published a report outlining the biggest players in the Swiss watch market. Here’s what they found.
The Swiss watch market is made up of 350 brands and retail sales totaled 51.8 billion Swiss francs in 2018, the report said. This is no surprise, but Rolex is far ahead, with more than twice the turnover of runner-up Omega replica and an implied retail value.
There are two crucial points to bring up. First, some of these brands are private companies that do not divulge official sales figures, so Morgan Stanley had to work out some figures using several sources. Second, we doubt that there was an error when compiling this special “Billionaires’ Club in 2018” table where the fake Longines and Cartier were possibly mislabeled – the average price for Longines watches and Cartier watches would make more sense if they were switched.
The Swatch Group has the largest slice of the pie with 19 watch brands under its umbrella. For context, fake Rolex has two brands, Richemont has 12 watch brands, and LVMH has three watch brands in their portfolio.
The Morgan Stanley report lists the following Swiss watch brands with the biggest retail market share: Rolex (21.2%), Omega (9.2%), Longines (6.3%), Patek Philippe (5.9%), and Cartier (4.8%).
So in conclusion, the five largest Swiss watch brands were Rolex, Omega, Longines, Patek Philippe, and Cartier. It is an interesting mix of watch brands with average price points that range from $1,600 to $54,000 and production outputs that vary from around 50,000 units to over a million units per year.
Yet, Rolex once again dominates by a huge margin, with potential retail sales of 11.55 billion in 2018 — a sign that global demand for Rolex fake watches seems insatiable, as confirmed by retailers who have been waiting for years to buy certain models of Rolex Daytona and Submariner.
Barring any unforeseen events, we fully expect the same name to take the top spot in the 2019 report.
Month: September 2019
A Rolex Sea-Dweller, New Dive Fake Watches
Rolex, the company that invented the world’s first waterproof watch, has been a leader in making watches that can survive in water. In the late 1960s, however, deep-sea experiments required a different kind of watch — one that could withstand the extreme pressures of saturation diving. From this initial need, fake Rolex reinvented the diving watch, creating the first Marine inhabitant.
The French deep-sea diving company, COMEX was among the first to experiment with saturation diving – a method of diving in which helium replaces nitrogen in the air, allowing divers to work at much greater depths and for extended periods of time without the need to resurface. The numerous hours spent in pressurized chambers would force helium molecules inside the divers’ replica watches, and during decompression, the trapped helium would expand, causing the crystals to pop clean off their fake Rolex watches.
The solution to Rolex’s pressurization problem came in the form of a helium gas escape valve on the Sea-Dweller. These valves allowed trapped helium molecules to exit freely, without generating pressure inside the watch. The first-ever helium escape valves appeared on standard reference 5513 Submariners that were prototypes made specifically for COMEX. These Submariners received 5514 reference numbers and were never released to the public.
Experimentation with these modified Submariners led Rolex to create the Sea-Dweller, tripling their previous depth rating. The first-ever Rolex Sea-Dwellers were modified Submariners, and they did not feature helium gas escape valves. It is said that 30 such watches were created, although few remain as many failed at some point or another during saturation dive testing.
What’s more, when the first ocean watch was made, Rolex had patented a helium relief valve but had not yet patented it. The reference to the people who lived at sea in 1665 is significant to Rolex’s history, as it represents the brand’s long-standing commitment to producing high-quality timepieces that perform well in extreme conditions. Once advances in diving technology created a demand for a new kind of diving watch, the Rolex replica would meet it with a watch that exceeded all necessary specifications.
Inside the Fake Rolex Explorer II
Not all popular replica Rolex references that are highly regarded today had successful receptions when they were first released. Just look at the mega-collectible “Paul Newman” Daytona: when these “exotic dial” chronographs first started to appear at dealers, many people considered they were ugly, and some even went so far as to have their exotic, “Paul Newman” dials swapped out for standard ones during routine servicing.
Regarding vintage fake Rolex watches, oftentimes it is the original cold response to a very unique model that ultimately leads to a better level of rarity and desirability for more collectors.
Rolex introduced the very first version of the Explorer II in 1971: the reference 1655. At the time of its launch, Rolex watches were not taken as the status symbols that they are today, and the Explorer II 1655 was aimed specifically at speleologists, intended to be much more of a ‘tool watch’ than a luxury item.
As a company that built its fame producing high-end watches that were viewed as items of necessity instead of premium-priced accessories, this approach was very much in-line with Rolex’s roots. The Explorer II 1655 was only ever manufactured in stainless steel, with absolutely no solid gold or two-tone options available. What’s more, like many of Rolex’s other sports watches, the reference 1655 Explorer II was exclusively offered with a black dial.
The idea behind this particular set of features was to make a good watch for cave explorers working for days in total darkness, who Rolex claimed would “soon lose all notion of time: morning, afternoon, day, or night.”
The Rolex Explorer II 1655 experienced rather poor sales upon its initial introduction and remained in production for about fifteen years until it was discarded in 1985. The very narrow and specific target group, combined with what many collectors at the time considered “messy” and “illegible” dials, hampered its popularity and sold relatively few samples.
During its 1971 to 1985 run, the reference 1655 went through five slight dial changes, four bezel variants, and two different second hands. All changes were very small; however as was the case with the “Paul Newman” Daytona, none of the changes succeeded to stimulate Explorer II sales, and reference 1655 watches lingered on dealer shelves. Even celebrity endorsements fell short of drastically increasing the number of replica watches.
As it stands today, the Rolex Explorer II 1655 is somewhat of an oddball in Rolex’s history. It was made explicitly for cave explorers, yet promoted by actors and professional athletes. In production, sales were disappointing; however, it is now one of the more desirable and rare classic Rolex references. It seems that almost every fake Rolex watch makes is a classic — even if it misses, it may take decades to catch on!
Panerai CEO Talks New Replica Products
We know that Jean-Marc Pontroué is hardly a stranger to the luxury world. He acted as sales manager for Givenchy from 1995 to 2000, then went to Montblanc from 2000 to 2011, where he finally became executive vice-president for product strategy and brand development. In the latest interview with Luxury London, the seasoned exec discusses various topics that show he is more than ready to meet the challenges facing a fake watch brand, which has sometimes seemed to be stuck in the 1990s, despite having developed a cult following. The Q&A session shows that some of Pontroué’s strategies, including offering special experiences together with limited-edition pieces, have paid off.
The headline news is that the brand plans to release many new products next year across its iconic Luminor and Radiomir lines, as well as the more professional diver-focused Submersible, and the thinner-cased Luminor Due range. “All luxury brands strive to create an iconic product family, whether they’re in eyewear, telephones, watches, or handbags,” Pontroué says. “We had two families, now we have four. We have no plans for new products, but next year could be the biggest year of its kind — new size, new dial, and new strap.”
The brand has recently been making forays into distinguished colored dials, so we expect more of that across the different collections in the coming future. Who’s in for a purple dial Panerai?
U.S. retail sales of Swiss luxury replica watches jumped by double digits in the first half of 2018, and Panerai seems to be riding that wave – with caution. “The price isn’t really the issue; it’s how much-added value you bring to your product,” Pontroué opines.
“The price is a cocktail, how many ideas you can bring, how many limits you can bring. We want to maintain an exclusive brand; No increase in production for five years; Business growth will come through innovation: new materials, new sports, more complex things.”
Panerai is a brand of content – it’s expressive, with a bold product, bold performance, and an association with high-performance and extreme sports. As long as we have that, we have a voice on social media and in e-commerce.” Panerai’s plans also include new retailing strategies, such as e-commerce. “I totally believe in e-commerce because e-commerce and social media is about content – product is what you get at the end,” he says. “Content is what provides your brand with relevance.
Expect more replica watches bundled with exclusive experiences, as those did well for the brand in the past year. “We would like to offer customers access to more than just watches,” Pontroué says. “We are running three experiences in the next six months, allowing customers who order certain fake Rolex watches to dive alongside French free-diving world champion Guillaume Néry; accompany extreme explorer Mike Horn to Svalbard; Or two days of training with Italian navy commandos. This is an experiment, to be honest because we don’t know what the reaction is going to be; But it was a huge success. One of our customers has taken all three replica watches.
1939 Omega Replica Model
To promote the rectangular watch, I think we will launch the second one this week. Until you get your tin foil hat ready, I don’t have a tank-style fake watch now, nor does the skin have any intention and purpose in the game. Having said that, I really believe this is a corner of the market that deserves more attention, and after reading this article carefully, I’m sure you’ll agree. While it may not have any illusions, open the case to say that this replica watch is purely a matter-like form. Forgive the irony, but on closer inspection, I think it makes more sense.
This Omega dates back to 1939 – when sex was safe and watches were drop-dead gorgeous. A quick glimpse at some timepieces instantly reveals how certain components are undoubtedly overlooked in the design process, though this couldn’t be further from the truth concerning this fake Rolex watch. Every component has a trump card, so to speak, from the dial of two tones to the hand that makes itself a blue steel Angle. In my opinion, even this case is more complicated than you think, and it is likely to be the main character of the show.
Focus on the lugs and you’ll find that each lug wraps around your wrist and reaches a certain point. They are almost like little parallelograms extending from the box, much like pseudo-staircase borders, adding a lot of dimension to the basic rectangular shape along with the obvious crystals. While the replica watches do look polished at some point in the past, the lines are still visible, ensuring a future experience. Just make sure you stay away from anything like a polishing wheel.
Not surprisingly, a French seller in marseille is selling the rectangular beauty. In other words, the French have good taste. The asking price is reasonable, but again, the offer is optional.
All About Rolex Transitional References
Many of Rolex’s most popular and noteworthy watch lines have been around for decades, with subtle updates and changes from generation to generation. However, these updates and changes are not instantaneous, the development of replica Rolex watch is a continuous process, and each new reference is based on the previous generation of watch design and function.
Certain references have come to represent turning points in the histories of their respective watches throughout the years. These “transitional” models sit along the border between two generations of the same timepiece and combine features of earlier references with traits and features of the subsequent generation. These transitional references serve as connection points between modern and vintage and help to paint a picture of the evolution of Rolex’s fake watches.
One of the most popular Rolex transitional references and one that greatly encapsulates the “transitional” moniker is the reference 16800 Submariner, which took the date-displaying design of the reference 1680 and gave it a completely new case, crystal, bezel, and movement. Instead of having an acrylic crystal and bi-directional, friction-fitted bezel, the crystal material on the ref. 16800 Submariner was updated to scratch-resistant synthetic sapphire, and the case and bezel were redesigned to give the bezel its unidirectional, ratcheting motion.
Internally, the reference 16800 saw an upgrade in the movement to go along with its updated case, bezel, and crystal. While the Caliber 1575 movement used inside the reference 1680 beat with a frequency of 19,800 BPH and lacked the ability to quickly adjust the date, the updated Caliber 3035 fitted inside the reference 16800 had an increased frequency of 28,800 BPH and added the convenience of a quickset date feature.
Despite many major updates, the reference 16800 submarine is equipped with a matte black dial, painted with tritium hours, for about the first half of its nearly decade-long production operation. Although the text on the dial has been updated to reflect the improved depth level of reference 16800, the overall look of the dial is almost identical to the dial-in reference 1680.
Owing to its older dial design, the fake Rolex Submariner 16800 has an appearance that is a mix between the unmistakably vintage reference 1680, and the more-contemporary reference 16610 – hence its “transitional” designation.
Another fake Rolex watch that stands for an excellent example of a transitional model is the reference 16750 GMT-Master. Much like the reference 1675 that preceded it, early examples of the reference 16750 were fitted with matte dials with painted tritium hour markers. Even though the movement inside the ref. 16750 GMT-Master had been updated to the Caliber 3075, which had an increased frequency and added the convenience of a quickset date, the overall appearance of the reference 16750 was almost identical to that of its predecessor.
This combination of new and old aesthetics is what gives the Rolex replica GMT-Master 16750 its “transitional” designation, and allows the fake watch to serve as an important connection point within the history and evolution of Rolex’s iconic pilot’s watch.
There have been lots of transitional references manufactured throughout history, as Rolex continuously works to refine and develop their long-running designs. The evolution process of Rolex watches is a slow and ongoing one, and transitional references have come to represent brief snapshots in a watch’s history, where some updates have already been implemented, while others have not.
Rolex transitional references are often the first to show a particular feature or feature in a replica watch and the last to include completely different features. This combination of retro and modern attributes makes these clocks perfectly positioned at the crossroads of old and new, and their existence is really quite important to understanding the overall development and evolution of Rolex watches.
The Deepest Diving Replica Omega Seamaster Watch
The unique Omega has just stated that earlier this year, adventurer Victor Vescovo set a new world record for the deepest dive, taking his submersible Limiting Factor 10,928 meters below the ocean’s surface into the Mariana Trench. And, importantly, strapped to the outside of the Limiting Factor was a new experimental fake Omega dive watch, the Seamaster Planet Ocean Ultra Deep Professional. Actually, there were three Ultra Deep Professionals on the dive – one on each of the major vessel’s robotic arms and an extra detachable lander vehicle.
Vecovo’s record-setting mission is part of a larger project called the five depths, which will take him to the deepest of the world’s five oceans. Making replica watches for such expeditions is no easy task, and while omega USES the planet of the ocean tailor as a starting point, it’s safe to say that this ultra-professional tailor is different from any tailor before him. To begin with, the shell is made of titanium cut from the body, binding it directly to the submersible itself. Additionally, the way that the crystal is joined to the body of the watch is encouraged by the way viewports are designed on submersibles to better distribute pressure – a patent is currently pending on this design too. The watch is certified to 15,000 meters, so Omega knew it would be well-decorated for its mission, and it comes in just under 28mm thick. While obviously chunky for daily wear, this actually isn’t crazy when it comes to watches like this.
Our correspondent Jason Heaton is in London with the fake omega and will soon have more in-depth reports, including a number of practical photographs of the planet in action by the ocean’s super-deep professional crew. Records like this aren’t created every day, and it’s super cool to see how the world’s top watchmakers continue to push the boundaries of what mechanical timekeeping can do. So stay tuned!