Watchmaking Year 2025 – A Review of Highlights, Controversies and Innovations, Part 3: July, August and September
Before the watchmaking world descends into the busy and sometimes hectic preparation phase for the upcoming trade fairs and events, it's worth taking a look back at the past year in the watch industry. And while many things can be said about it, one thing that can't be said is that it was boring.
Watch year 2025, Part 1: January, February, March
Watch year 2025, Part 2: April, May, June
Every month, we make it a point to remind ourselves and you of the most important events and new developments.
July 2025
In July of last year, there were some [events/events] in the watch industry. forward-looking announcements.
It all started with the end of a recurring rumor about the impending... Sale of the watch brand Parmigiani Fleurier. The Sandoz Foundation, which owns Pôle Horloger including Parmigiani Fleurier, definitively refuted this in the summer, clarifying that they would retain the watch division.
We also reported on the course Seiko set for the future by... Credor, a luxury brand founded in 1974 is being introduced in Europe.
The Online watch platform Chrono24 The company also intends to continue its international growth strategy and has therefore created the new position of Chief Growth Officer. José Gaztelu will fill this position.
The Swiss Fondation Haute Horlogerie (FHH) and the German trade fair Inhorgenta They will announce a long-term partnership in the summer of 2025. For the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg (FHH), this is the first collaboration of its kind with an international watch and jewelry fair. In its 20th year, the organization will also open its doors to a wider audience. outside the watch industry.
The Japanese watch group Casio It draws on traditional technology to open a new chapter in the future and presents its „EKF-100“. first mechanical watch.
Even if the Hermès Watch Division Despite the fact that, like other luxury brands, the market has stagnated or declined in recent months, the French company is nevertheless investing in this segment and expanding its watch production with an optimistic outlook for the future.
And that brings us to the Business figures for the watch industry, which we reported on in July 2025 on Insight Luxury. And those were not exactly characterized by soaring successes.
With this future-oriented approach, the watch industry is defying the ongoing slump in the sale of timepieces, which is also affecting some of the big players.
Thus, the figures published in July by Watch exports Exports continued to decline in June, falling by 5.6 percent to CHF 2.2 billion. While exports to the USA plummeted, the German market developed positively from the Swiss perspective.
In Germany, the Federal Association of Jewelry, Watches, Silverware and Related Industries (BVSU) reported in July on one Slight lull for the German watch and jewelry industry in May.
Looking at the major players, they reported mixed to poor figures:
Richemont The first quarter of the current fiscal year, which ended on June 30, concluded with an increase in sales, driven by the jewelry segment, as the watch segment suffered significant losses.
This compensation was achieved by the Swatch Group not in the first quarter of the 2025/26 financial year, and it had to announce a significant drop in sales and a slump in profit.
The French group also LVMH remained stuck in the luxury slump and reported a decline in sales and a slump in profits for the first half of the current year in July 2025.
And also the Gucci parent company Kering had no good news, but rather to report a slump in sales and profits for the first half of 2025.
And now the good news: While Richemont, LVMH, Kering and the Swatch Group published rather lackluster figures in July, the French luxury goods group reported Hermes For the first half of 2025, a solid increase in sales and profit was recorded. However, watches did not perform well here either.
The good atmosphere was ensured by numerous new features, There was no sign of a summer lull anywhere.
And what else was going on in July 2025? You can find the answers here:
Eberhard & Co.: A tribute to sports history the Lancia, a car brand steeped in tradition
One of the best-managed companies in Switzerland is the Sowind Group.
Oldtimer Grand Prix at the Nürburgring: Not without Junghans!
Rowing world record in the Pacific: Traser watches on board!
Maurice Lacroix celebrates his 50th birthday with a multifaceted trio.
MeisterSinger wins the Red Dot Design Award 2025 with the new „Kaenos“.
Panerai, in collaboration with jeweler Wempe, opens its first boutique in Stuttgart
Christ contributes 50 percent to the revenue of the Morellato Group.
According to Breitling CEO Georges Kern, only a few Swiss watch brands are doing well.
TAG Heuer is the timekeeper of the TCS New York City Marathon
„"Only HSV" – Jeweler Wempe becomes official co-partner of Hamburger Sportverein
Doxa unveils the special edition „SUB 750T Clive Cussler”
Junghans: Exhibition in the terraced building on the history of wristwatches from Schramberg
August 2025
Then, in August, it finally struck. Summer lull. This is mainly due to a tradition of Swiss watch manufacturers, the so-called Watchmakers' holidays. Even today, the employers' association of the Swiss watch industry recommends a period each year in which many manufacturers simultaneously close their production facilities and offices.
But before that, in early August, there was a "slap in the face from Washington," as one newspaper headline put it. "Disbelief," "Debacle," "Confusion and anger"—the international press went into overdrive upon learning of the 39 percent tariff on Swiss exports, which was supposed to come into effect on August 7, 2025. Even the biggest pessimists in the Alpine republic probably hadn't anticipated this catastrophic failure.
Brands certainly didn't hold back when it came to new products. Moreover, the days when watch manufacturers presented their new timepieces to the public only once or twice a year are thankfully over. A small selection of Watch News, Here you can see the watches that Insight Luxury supplied to watch lovers:
And of course, there was plenty else going on as well, including in the German Watch scene.
So, on August 9th, the second one opened. UhrphoriaimFahr plant in Groß-Zimmern, Hesse.
The Eppli family celebrates the official opening of their business with numerous guests. newly designed auction house in Stuttgart, and Frankfurt is getting a new boutique from Vto Cleef & Arpels.
US actor Joe Mantegna wore watches from the German brand Alexander Shorokhoff and thus made her a TV star.
And SINN celebrated its 10th anniversary the branch at Römerberg with a special edition.
Furthermore, expanded Seiko Germany its jurisdiction over Poland.
Meanwhile, the Climate lawsuit by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) against Apple Success. The bone of contention was the description of the Apple Watch as CO₂-neutral.
And last but not least, the Federal Association for Jewelry and Watches and related industries published the import and export figures for June in August 2025: Watches and jewelry remain stable.
And even Switzerland, despite the watchmakers' holiday, delivered some August headlines for Insight Luxury.
The best of both Swiss worlds – the chocolate watch
Audemars Piguet acquires a majority stake in supplier
Swatch apologizes to Chinese customers
Maurice Lacroix becomes Official Watch Partner of FC Basel 1893
September 2025
Clearly, true watch enthusiasts flocked to Geneva at the beginning of September for the Geneva Watch Days. Us too. And our conclusion was similar to that of Jean-Christophe Babin (Bulgari CEO and since April 2025 CEO of LVMH Watches): „The Geneva Watch Days demonstrated their vitality, appeal and unifying power.“
And there were many ticking novelties to discover, from which we have crystallized 6 trends: 1) Precious stones on precious watches 2) Titan ticker on the rise 3) Insight and insight with skeleton watches 4) Elegant metallic sheen for luxury watches 5) Ready to dive 6) Grand complications for exclusive watches
Immediately following the joyful clock festival, a tennis match caused quite a stir. We're talking about... US Open Final at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows. The sponsor of this sporting event is known to be... Rolex. And there they were, sitting on September 7th. Rolex CEO Jean-Frédéric Dufour and the US President and golf enthusiast Donald Trump Together and in good spirits in the watch manufacturer's box – and they didn't let the boos from the spectators spoil their mood.
A cynic might think of the 39 percent US tariff on Swiss watches. … This topic has likely been occupying the executive suites of Swiss watch manufacturers for months. The figures published in September, however, are different. Export figures for the month of September inexplicable.
Among those who critically questioned the Rolex invitation was US Senator Elizabeth Warren, who Investigation into Trump's invitation to the US Open suggested.
But other brands also maintained good contacts with the USA. For example, they informed both Breitling as well as Hublot in September 2025 about their connections to National Football League (NFL).
In addition, there was simply a lot great watches to discover.
What else was going on in the watch world is revealed in the September headlines in Insight Luxury:
With Francesca Bellettini, the Gucci CEO position is being filled for the third time in two years.
4 watch characters from G-SHOCK and NIGO
Tudor takes to the ice and we are partners of the ice hockey club Red Bull Munich.
BVSU statistics for July: Slump in jewelry sales, watches gain ground
Audemars Piguet, SINN and nine other brands at Watches & Wonders Geneva 2026
Event at jeweler Willer: G-Shock inventor Kikuo Ibe visits Vienna
Chrono24 data reveals surprising summer trends in the pre-owend watch market
Audemars Piguet: Rumors about the departure of CEO Ilaria RestaA special exhibition at the German Watch Museum Glashütte is dedicated to the astronomical art clock.
That was it, that Quarter 3 of the watchmaking year 2025 – or at least a small part of it. The fourth quarter was no less exciting and multifaceted.
Stay tuned!
