|
Recently we see many famous labels jump into designer watches, with labels like Burberry, Coach, Dolce & Gabana, Emporio Armani and DKNY. Because luxury watches continue to sell at upwards of tens of thousands of dollars apiece, fairly inexpensive timepieces are a welcome addition to the market. These watches offer beauty and quality at just a fraction of the price of other watches.
In the 17th century, watches were an accessory only for wealthy women. Later, in the 19th century, men started to carry around pocket watches. These were expensive so once more they were mostly worn by people who had money. It wasn't until after The Great War that watches were commonplace. During the war, soldiers who happened to own a pocket watch found it cumbersome to have to go through their pockets to look at the time. Some of them had watches with wristbands but most were from working-class families that couldn't afford such things. Since the government needed a way for its troops to be synchronized for their missions, it was decided to issue all soldiers basic wristwatches. After the war, wristwatches became common, even for the lower classes.
Over the years, wristwatches went through many changes. In the course of the 20th century they went from being just timepieces to being fashion accessories to almost being obsolete, only to again be signs of high fashion and wealth. Now, with top designers bringing people fashionable watches, a person has many options to choose from when selecting a timepiece. Even in a world where cell phones can do anything there remains a need for watches. After all, a watch can convey many different things. It can convey style, status quo, and help one get noticed. So watches are here to stay for a long time.
But with the economic recession we're in these days, folks are spending less and less money on luxury goods. Even people who weren't penny pinchers before now hold onto their disposable income. So it makes sense that wasting thousands of dollars on a single watch would fall out of fashion. Companies like Rolex, Bertolucci, Oris, Vulcain, and Versace are selling less and less because of their high prices. While these big brands once paved the way for luxury watches, currently the smaller designers reign supreme in the designer watch market. With the big companies continuing to sell watches at unreasonably high prices, you'll be better off with a watch that costs less but is equal in quality. |
Subscribe
Author Resource Required for Reprint: 
Print
