High-end fashion houses and world-renowned precision watchmakers say they have unique selling points for their respective luxury brands
The storied history of top Swiss watch brands - Patek Philippe, Rolex, Piaget, Chopard and Vacheron Constantin - makes them some of the world's most coveted timepieces.
They are precision works of art, expensive, and their names are recognised worldwide.
Top fashion houses, such as Dior, Chanel, Gucci and Hermes, are similarly envied worldwide for their design style, quality and social cachet. Over the years, fashion brands have capitalised on the desire for merchandise bearing their name, and have branched out into an array of accessories, including elegant watches.
Has this set up a clash of the titans as fashion houses encroach on Swiss watchmakers' territory? Yes and no, according to those in the industry.
'Any product which enters the market takes market share,' said Roland Buser, managing director of Chopard (Hong Kong). But that doesn't necessarily mean he is concerned about the competition.
