Nobody, and I mean nobody, in the global watch industry has escaped the clutches of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Shops have been closed for over three months in most advanced nations of the world and watchmaking ground to a virtual standstill for a quarter of the year.
Some brands, however, have handled the crisis better than others; turning to digital communication tools, raising the profiles of their top executives and launching some exceptional watches.
All the while, it must not be forgotten, dealing with sales dropping off a cliff.
These are unprecedented times, and every business that survives the economic damage wrought by the pandemic deserve medals, but here is one man’s view of which brands have nudged ahead and which — perhaps rightly keeping their powder dry for a push later this year — have been less active.
Click below to read Rob Corder’s experience of each brand.
GOOD CRISIS: Ulysse-Nardin and Girard-Perregaux
CRISIS? WHAT CRISIS? Rolex, Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet