The watch market is splitting, with vintage pieces soaring to million‑euro levels while even Swatch gains collector appeal
Executive summary: In a Handelsblatt Invest podcast, watch expert Joram Scher described a bifurcation of the watch market, stating that watches previously priced around 30,000 euros now reach prices of up to one million euros, and that even a Swatch can become a collector’s item. This illustrates growing polarization in luxury goods, where scarcity drives extreme price appreciation for vintage pieces and emerging collectibility of mid‑range pieces affects consumer spending, investment trends, and secondary market dynamics.
Who is involved: Joram Scher (watch expert), Handelsblatt (media outlet), podcast listeners, and potential collectors/investors in the watch market.
Likely next: Continued price appreciation for rare vintage models, increased activity on secondary watch platforms, and possibly more brands positioning mid‑range watches as collectible.
The Handelsblatt Invest podcast highlights a clear bifurcation in the watch market, where certain historical models have risen from around 30,000 euros to as much as one million euros. It also notes that even entry‑level brands like Swatch are being viewed as collectible items by enthusiasts. This reflects a broader trend of polarization in luxury goods driven by scarcity and investor interest.
Timeline
- — Invest: „Uhren, die wir mal für 30.000 Euro in Händen hielten, kosten nun eine Million“ (Handelsblatt)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- Luxury watch manufacturing
- Secondary watch market
Key entities
Sources
- Invest: „Uhren, die wir mal für 30.000 Euro in Händen hielten, kosten nun eine Million“ — Handelsblatt
- Invest: „Uhren, die wir mal für 30.000 Euro in Händen hielten, kosten nun eine Million“ — Handelsblatt
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