Foreword

WMR - OUR VISION (April 2010)

Pursuant to the World Watch and Clock show at Basel, the entire horological business gears up to open a new chapter. There is a lot of positivity and optimism prevailing that this year will stem the slowdown tide witnessed in the previous year.

Our senior management team of the Watch Market Review Group attended Baselworld 2010 and came away with several impressions and insights into the mindsets of companies and their top management. There was a general impression that year 2010 won’t witness the dizzying heights of 2006-08 but will have steady growth. At Baselworld 2010, the products took centrestage while the emphasis on razzmatazz and high profile celebrities was muted as compared to the previous years.

This year, one witnessed a greater emphasis on affordable luxury. There were elite brands that specially created offerings in the affordable luxury segment. One also saw a reiteration of traditional values such as heritage, culture and history of the brand and the collection/ offering.

The Baselworld 2010 special, which continues to enthrall watch lovers in India, will be released in the subsequent month. This Issue is a summer special that focuses on the activities undertaken by brands recently.  You will get into the SUMMER SPOTLIGHT 2010 zone with wonderful collections that inspire you to soak in the sun and have a good time.

URWERK creates waves again with the scintillating “Tarantula”, which returns to woo the senses. The King of Jewellers and the Jewellers to the Kings, Cartier won hearts of its core target groups with its International Dubai Polo Challenge event. Gc Watches unveiled the Gc-2 Lady. Panerai showcased the Radiomir Regatta 1/8th Second Titanio – 47 mm through an association with marine events. Swarovski won the Best Product Design-2010 award for its fab creations.

Closer home, Titan unveiled its ‘Obaku’ collection and also got on to the Brand Wagon syndrome, wherein a plethora of offerings continue to endear the leading brand to its vast audiences and fans. Citizen opened a new showroom in Mumbai and continues with its march of strengthening distribution network across the length and breadth of India. Vacheron Constantin conducted the formal inauguration of its first boutique in India in the Capital.

The Indian Premier League of cricket thrilled countrymen and it was time for watch brands to forge marketing and promotional associations. The Gitanjali Group’s wonderful brand Morellato got into the IPL mood with a swinging party for the Deccan Chargers from Hyderabad. Bandelier became the official watch licensee of the IPL. Talking of IPL, India’s superstar and co-owner of Kolkata Knight Riders team, Shah Rukh Khan gets up, close and personal with “The more efforts I make the luckier I get!”

Happy Reading

Sunil Karer
Editor

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