Swiss Watch Exports Set 18-Year Record
By William George Shuster -- JCK-Jewelers Circular Keystone, 5/1/2008
Swiss watch exports in 2007 had "a record year, and growth unrivaled for 18 years," says the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry FH.
For 2007 as a whole, watch exports tallied about $14.6 billion, a 16.2 percent gain. Watches in two categories, 18k gold and steel, made the biggest gains in export value, up 24.9 percent and 14.7 percent, respectively.
In total, 25.9 million wristwatches left Switzerland, over a million units more than in 2006 (up 4.2 percent). Timepieces with an export price of more than 3,000 Swiss francs (about $2,746), had very high rates of growth. They increased 25.3 percent in value and 16.7 percent in numbers. Watches under 3,000 Swiss francs rose 7.4 percent in value and 3.7 percent in volume.
| Country | Value (U.S. dollars) | % increase or decrease |
| United States | 2.233 billion | +6.7 |
| Hong Kong | 2.226 billion | +25.0 |
| Japan | 1.1 billion | -4.7 |
| Italy | 934.4 million | +13.3 |
| France | 899.4 million | +20.9 |
| Germany | 702.5 million | +7.9 |
| Singapore | 613 million | +24.3 |
| Great Britain | 602.4 million | +11.6 |
| China | 510 million | +43.0 |
| United Arab Emirates | 482.6 million | +36.6 |
| Source: Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry |
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