Over the last 10 years Asia has become the top market for Swiss watches, with exports in 2012 worth $12.84 billion. Though growth has slowed this year, the region remains a key market.
Two major watch fairs are taking place in Hong Kong this month: the Hong Kong Watch and Clock Fair and Watches and Wonders, the latter billing itself as Asia’s first haute horlogerie exhibition.
Traditional watchmaking techniques like producing repetitive linear patterns and enameling, known collectively as Métiers d'Art, are experiencing a rise in popularity across the globe.
Gold granulation is a decorative process that consists of applying miniature beads of gold to a metal surface and then heating the entire piece to form a permanent bond.
Before plunging into the Chinese market, it is testing Asian waters with a recently opened standalone boutique in Singapore, where watch buyers are known for their hard-headed discernment.