The appeal of classic designer wristwatches remains as strong as ever, and sales continue to swell every year despite the arrival of smartwatches from global tech giants like Apple and Samsung, dealers said.

Demand for sporty, casual and classic timepieces is on the rise as the wristwatch has redefined itself as a status symbol, style statement and even personality reflector. Moreover, watches have a history of more than 500 years and have outlived wars and technological revolutions.

“Premium wristwatch brands are facing no threat from smartwatches, at least not in Nepal where web connectivity is not available all the time,” said Janardan Adhikari, sales manager at Timex Nepal. “Designer watches are here to stay, and the impact of digital innovations on the overall watch industry of Nepal has been minimal.”

According to Adhikari, Timex has witnessed a growth of around 24 percent in the last fiscal after the company expanded its online presence and acquired fruitful business-to-business sales.

Although brick-and-mortar businesses have seen a slump in footfall, online sales have increased. Online platforms like Thamel.com, Muncha.com, Kaymu.com and BhatBhatenionli-ne, among others, are the most visited online shops when it comes to buying watches.

Nevertheless, the presence of global brands which are much admired for their craftsmanship by enthusiasts and collectors has expanded in the Kathmandu Valley. Rolex, Titan, Timex, Tissot, Casio, Fossil, Kenneth Cole, Nautica, Tommy Hilfiger, Skagen and Seiko, among others, are the most sought-after brands which have a high presence both online and on physical storefronts.

Luxury watches like Rolex Oyster and Cellini have hefty price tags. Rado falls under the mid-priced category with replicas available in the market.

Likewise, Titan watches are available in Nepal at prices starting at Rs3,500. Timex watches start at Rs2,500 and go as high as Rs65,000. Similarly, Fossil watches come under the price range of Rs15,000 to Rs26,000. Nautica watches are priced between Rs30,000 and Rs90,000.

“Among all the models available, those which are sporty and feature a big dial account for most of the sales,” said Mandira Maharjan, store in-charge at Watch and See which offers products from Fossil, Kenneth Cole, Tommy Hilfiger and Skagen. “Even youths attached to electronic gizmos find designer watches charming and purchase it as a personal symbol.”

According to Maharjan, watches have continued to remain popular as gifts, accessories and status symbols, but sales have slowed at traditional stores because of the online marketplace.

“Unlike smartwatches, technical obsolescence is no threat to classic watches. That is why designer wristwatches have an edge over smartwatches,” she added.

According to worldwatchreport.com, a digital luxury group intelligence research company, worldwide consumer interest in luxury watches has been growing at the rate of 10 percent annually and has doubled since 2012 with Asia accounting for 68 percent of the growth. Moreover, 50 percent of online searches are related to brands while models accounted for 21 percent and prices only 10 percent. 

As per the report, mechanical watches accounted for only 8 percent of shipments from Switzerland in 2000. In 2013, the figure had exploded to 27 percent. In 2015, global customers sought Tag Heuer, Rolex and Omega to see whether the luxury brands had ventured into the smartwatch business or not.