A fascinating sector, that of timepieces, also because it is extremely varied: the Special Watches of June 1st, a free thirty-page insert attached to the Sole 24 Ore on Wednesday, starts from the data of the Italian marketwhich in 2021 almost recovered pre-Covid levels, and that ofalta orologeria Swiss made, which instead has already exceeded the numbers of 2019, as happened to the entire high-end sector. The geopolitical unknowns weigh on the medium- and long-term future, with direct and indirect effects on companies and consumers.
The transversal themes
The first part of the Special deals with the major issues that the watchmaking of each segment must address: sustainability, distribution channels, new digital frontiers, generational change of customers. Recurring themes also in the articles dedicated to the individual houses and brands, which describe their respective strategies and investments in technological and stylistic research.
Four pages of shop windows
Finally, in the Special there are four pages dedicated to the novelties presented in 2022 by the most important Italian, Swiss (and not only) watchmaking brands, increasingly focused on finding the right balance between DNA and tradition – especially for those with a hundred and more years of history – and the need to renew the range of products, with an eye to technology, which no longer means just smartwatches. There are those who prefer limited editions and exclusivity, those who opt for what in English is called value for price. But one thing is certain: wristwatches remain the most fascinating object to measure time and tell who we are. No smartphone will ever do it.