Traditional Watch Sales Drop 14% in the U.S. Following Apple Watch Launch [Video]

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Posted August 8, 2015 at 10:32pm by iClarified

U.S. watch sales fell 14% in June, the most in seven years, in what may be the first sign that Apple is eroding demand for traditional timepieces, reports Bloomberg.

Retailers sold $375 million of watches during the month, 11 percent less than in June 2014, according to data from NPD Group. The 14 percent decline in unit sales was the largest since 2008, according to Fred Levin, head of the market researcher’s luxury division.

“The Apple Watch is going to gain a significant amount of penetration,” he said Thursday in a phone interview. “The first couple of years will be difficult for watches in fashion categories.”

Traditional Watch Sales Drop 14% in the U.S. Following Apple Watch Launch [Video]

Customers looking for a watch under $1,000 are most likely to buy an Apple Watch. NPD found that watches costing between $50 and $999 registered a drop in June but the biggest drop was 24% in timepieces costing $100 to $149.99.

Watch makers also suffered as retailers discounted their products due to their "saturation" with consumers. “In the short term, brands at accessible price points are going to have to think very seriously,” said Levin.

Are you considering an Apple Watch for your next timepiece purchase?

Let us know in the comments!

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MUKAI - August 9, 2015 at 9:18pm

I think there was a guy on here saying that the watch was garbage or trash. I think he was right.

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Briansm - August 9, 2015 at 2:41pm

The only corellation is the release of a video. Not solid ground to make such a blatant statement if you ask me. Going to share this with others on Affimity, so they too can weigh in.

dkdk - August 9, 2015 at 10:39am

Anyone with even a basic understanding of statistics and logic would note that this article does not show any causality between the drop in "traditional" watch sales and the release of the Apple Watch. There may be one, but it certainly hasn't been shown by this article. My birthday was on the same day as the release of the Apple Watch, but I certainly don't go around thinking that my birthday caused a decline in traditional watch sales.

Just saying… - August 9, 2015 at 4:10pm

This article doesn't claim any causality; it simply notes the possibility. So what is your point?

dkdk - August 9, 2015 at 10:12pm

"in what may be the first sign that Apple is eroding demand" = causality. Any other questions?

You can't read obviously - August 9, 2015 at 10:17pm

Note the word MAY. You clearly can't read.

No Worries - August 9, 2015 at 11:27pm

Your apology will be gladly accepted once you reread the article 9 or 10 times and realize how badly you butchered Reading Comprehension 101.

yas9in - August 9, 2015 at 6:38am

it's not just the apple watch, it's more that. no one is buying watches anymore because they just check the time on their iPhone and when you're used to doing that, even if you do wanna buy a watch, it's more than likely you'll buy the apple watch. the whole market is shifting towards smart stuffs and watches under $1000 are definitely going to be in trouble at first but they'll recover afterwards.

marc767 - August 9, 2015 at 5:32am

I have one. It does more than traditional watch. Native apps will be good though with independent sim, and at least 48 hour battery life.

Kornmehl - August 8, 2015 at 11:59pm

Nah. Only busybodies get Apple Watch.

gamerscul9870 - August 9, 2015 at 3:59am

Many people are busy so...