$1 Billion Increase in 2012 Swatch Group Sales

Swatch Group, the world’s leading supplier of finished watches and watch movements, said Thursday that annual gross sales for 2012 increased by $1 billion, year-over-year. Its 2012 gross sales totaled 8.143 billion Swiss francs ($8.88 billion), a 14 percent increase over 2011 gross sales.

The Swiss company said in a statement that its 2012 watch and jewelry gross sales increased 15.6 percent year-over-year, to nearly 7.3 billion Swiss francs ($7.96 billion), led by sales in China, with double-digit increases for all of its brands.

In the production segment of the company, capacity was expanded, resulting in improved performance. This led to a 10.1 percent increase in gross sales to 2.21 billion Swiss francs ($2.41 billion). Bottlenecks, which had been a problem in past years due to robust demand, were reduced in 2012, the company said.

Its electronics systems segment “is still exposed to a combination of strong price pressure and adverse exchange rates,” the company said. As a result, gross sales decreased by 7.4 percent in 2012 to 311 million Swiss francs ($339,373).

The Swatch Group brand, Omega, is the official timekeeper for the Olympics, which meant that the company had major marketing expenses during the 2012 London Summer Olympics. This along with “unsatisfactory currency developments” will hit projected operating profit and net income. However, the company said it still expects “good results.”

The company also said that the first 10 days of January saw strong sales, indicating “healthy growth” for 2013.

Based in Biel—the vertically integrated company with full manufacturing capabilities, branded retail outlets and alliances with other retailers throughout the world—owns and operates the following brands: Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega, Longines, Rado, Union Glashütte, Tissot, Calvin Klein Watches + Jewelry, Balmain, Certina, Mido, Hamilton, Swatch, Flik Flak, Endura and Tourbillon.

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