The Apple Watch outsold the entire Swiss watch industry by a wide margin in 2019, according to new data shared today by Strategy Analytics.
Apple shipped an estimated 30.7 million units worldwide in 2019, up 36 percent from the estimated 22.5 million units shipped in 2018.
Comparatively, the Swiss watch industry (which includes all Swiss watch brands) is estimated to have shipped a total of 21.1 million units worldwide in 2019, dropping 13 percent from the 24.2 million watches shipped in 2018.
According to Strategy Analytics, the Apple Watch is "wildly popular" in North America, Western Europe, and Asia due to its user-friendly tech, sticky apps, and attractive design. Analog watches, meanwhile, remain popular with older consumers, but young buyers prefer smartwatches and computerized wristwear.
Traditional Swiss watch makers, like Swatch and Tissot, are losing the smartwatch wars. Apple Watch is delivering a better product through deeper retail channels and appealing to younger consumers who increasingly want digital wristwear. The window for Swiss watch brands to make an impact in smartwatches is closing. Time may be running out for Swatch, Tissot, TAG Heuer, and others.
Apple beat Swiss watch shipments with its own Apple Watch shipments during the holiday quarter of 2017, but 2019 marks the first full year where Apple has shipped a larger number of Apple Watches.
Apple does not break out Apple Watch sales numbers so estimates on shipments are based on guesswork, but the large margin between estimated Apple Watch shipments and estimated Swiss watch shipments suggests that the conclusion the Apple Watch outsold Swiss watches in 2019 is accurate.
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Timing
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Image credit: Reddit user No_Highlight7476
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90% of the time I see someone wearing an Apple Watch, I wonder, sometimes aloud, WTF do they need notifications on their wrist for.
They look ridiculous - they're the Pager of the current generation. Most people who had a pager them kept them as a fashion accessory.
Conspicuous consumption of a device that depreciates to $0 in 5 years. TOTAL waste of money.
I always enjoy reading comments like these, makes me laugh.
I remember people said the exact same thing about the iPod, iPhone, iPad, AirPods... And all of these products came BEFORE Apple turned into a one trillion dollar company.
90% of the time I see someone wearing an Apple Watch, I wonder, sometimes aloud, WTF do they need notifications on their wrist for.
They look ridiculous - they're the Pager of the current generation. Most people who had a pager them kept them as a fashion accessory.
Conspicuous consumption of a device that depreciates to $0 in 5 years. TOTAL waste of money.
90% of the time I see someone walking around with their face buried in their phone I wonder if they just cant afford an Apple Watch and cut that cord.
Or maybe its just because I come from people that actually do work, pagers never were a fashion accessory for them but a vital communication tool. Likewise the watch has a role for those that can appreciate it.
With a $199 option, it’s no wonder. Talk about sucking up all the oxygen in the room... similar to $159 AirPods. Excellent product and entry level pricing. It’s very difficult for anyone else to compete, especially if a customer is already in the ecosystem.
The people who don't want to disturbing everyone with their stupid phone making noise and drawing attention all the time. my notifications all come in the form of a silent pulse and I can check them without being conspicuous at work. Plus the health features nearly saved my life this year.
