Swiss watch manufacturers expect that the effects of the pandemic coronavirus will have a lasting impact on the demand for the watch, which could mean serious job cuts by the end of this year.
Switzerland's watch Exports in may fell by 68%, since the closure of stores associated with the containment COVID-19, led to the collapse of sales in major markets along with the impact of the protests in the United States and Hong Kong. Exports in April decreased by 81%.
In his statement on Thursday, the Swiss Federation of Watchmakers described may as "the second month of quasiparticle".
"it's not that nobody wants to buy a watch, but in the era after COVID many people will consume less, they will be more selective," he told Reuters Francois-Henry Bennahmias, Executive Director high quality the watch brand Audemars Piguet.
According to his forecast, the sale hours will generally fall by 25% this year, below the level of $ 1 billion reached last year.
"we Have not had a single new order for three months. This summer we will have to close for a few weeks," said the Joris Ingis, the head of the watch company Singer, adding that small subcontractors with lower profits can fail.
"I am optimistic in the long run, but quite pessimistic in the end of the year, we will have one or two extremely difficult years," he said. "The company will dismiss employees if they do not see positive signals after the summer."
