The future of the watch industry

I recently watched an interview between Teddy Baldassarre and Jean-Claude Biver on YouTube, called The Future of the Watch Industry with Jean-Claude Biver.

I really liked the personality of Mr Biver. He is very passionate and has insightful takes about the industry.

What will stay with me is the part where he talks about the relationship between mass produced watches and more unique pieces. The way I understood it is that there will always be a place for artfully designed timepieces, just like there will always be a place for a beautiful photograph. Technological progress democratizes access to the underlying tool (a watch, a camera, etc.). It makes it more accessible, which in turn leads more people to seek more specialized (and expensive) versions.

Something I learned in the interview is the role Swatch played in the world of watches. By introducing an industrial process for producing more watches, they made watches cheaper, which normalized wearing a watch at the wrist. From there, when people looked for a way to reward or distinguish themselves, buying more unique or specialized pieces became was natural. In a sense, introducing an industrial process ensured the future of luxury brands.