Similar to the jewellery category, watch sales are impacted by decreased consumer spending thanks to consumers’ price sensitivity and eschewing of non-essential items. Consumers’ disposable incomes have decreased at the end of the review period in the face of uncertain economic conditions, low GDP growth, the increased cost of living, social and political instabilities as well as declining consumer confidence.
The significance of style and design of watches in the fashion space have given products in the watch category value and consumers an appreciation of their beauty beyond their functionality, as mentioned above. Previously, value was attached to the brand name, and this has not changed much over the years.
The Swatch Group (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd retained its overall lead of watches in 2020, a fairly fragmented competitive landscape, due to its lead of mechanical watches and quartz analogue watches with a wide range of price points including brands that are available in basic, mid and high watches for men and women. The company’s well-known basic quartz analogue watch Swatch continues to appeal to lower- to mid-income consumers and is the leading brand within overall watches, although the brand lost value share in 2020.
Watches is predicted to record decreased constant retail value sales growth over the course of the forecast period, although the decline in sales is expected to slowly decelerate. Many local consumers will continue to prioritise their spending in the wake of economic instability, already impacting the country prior to the emergence of COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdown measures, making watches a non-essential purchase, certainly in the first half of the forecast period.
Similar to the jewellery industry, watch manufacturers are also taking a keen interest in the environmental impact that production of watches has as consumers are becoming increasingly concerned regarding such matrices. Many watch manufacturing companies track and publish their environmental performance with regards to factors such as carbon dioxide emissions, the water and energy consumed during the manufacturing process as well as the amount of packaging that is used.
Despite the e-commerce channel seeing retail value sales growth over the review period, the channel’s sales growth exploded in 2020 as many consumers avoided brick-and-mortar stores to avoid contracting COVID-19, taking value share from the main channel, jewellery and watch specialist retailers. However, e-commerce’s value share will decline again in 2021 with jewellery and watch specialist retailers taking back some of its value share.
Delivery:
Files are delivered directly into your account soon after payment is received and any tax is certification is verified (where applicable).
This report comes in PDF with additional info in Excel included.
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Traditional Watches industry in South Africa with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
If you're in the Traditional Watches industry in South Africa, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
Traditional Watches
Watches are timekeeping instruments usually worn on the wrist or carried as an accessory in a pocket. Includes wristwatches, pocket watches, and watch jewellery (gemstone-studded watches).
See All of Our DefinitionsThis report originates from Passport, our Traditional Watches research and analysis database.
If you purchase a report that is updated in the next 60 days, we will send you the new edition and data extraction Free!