Swatch Group is expecting strong and growing momentum in 2017 to lead to “very positive growth” in 2018.
In a note accompanying a full year report showing sales rising to almost CHF 8 billion, the organisation outlined a raft of upcoming highlights that will help the company and its partners this year.
First up is the Winter Olympics, which begin in South Korea in February.
“Omega, as official timekeeper of the XXIII Winter Games, will deliver daily results and all the athletes’ data, and therefore be present in all the media,” the company says.
In addition, Omega will use the event to launch a limited edition Seamaster Collection dedicated to the Games.
At Baselworld, Omega will focus on the 70th anniversary of the Seamaster and the 25th anniversary of the Seamaster Diver 300m, and will market special editions of the collections for these occasions.
Longines is closing in on sales of CHF 2 billion, a target that Swatch Group says will be achieved “in the medium term”.
In 2018, Longines will be the official timekeeper of the Commonwealth Games in Australia.
Tissot already has over CHF 1 billion in sales, and will be the official timekeeper for the Tour de France, where it will introduce Tissot T-Race Cycling models to its T-Sport Collection.
Swatch Group does not refer specifically to smartwatches in its 2018 outlook report, but does describe its growing list of achievements in Electronic Systems. “Demand is currently growing rapidly, thanks to groundbreaking developments, which naturally have been patented. Examples are the so-called miniature watch module, which enables production of ultra-precise quartz watch movements with an accuracy 30 times better than previous quartz movements, and the new real-time clock (RTC), which is used to optimize charging cycles for the battery management system in all batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles. Last but not least, a unique interface circuit for accelerometers was developed, which is used for drones, fitness trackers, mobile phones and other electronic devices,” the company describes.
