Analyst projections for sales of luxury watches vary from a slight decline to a small rise this year. Mr. Ortelli says he expects the global luxury watch market to slide 2% this year, to €35 billion ($37 billion), after tumbling 7% in 2016. If that happens, Mr. Ortelli thinks it could spur U.S. growth and asset values, and provide tailwinds for the rest of the world. Mr. Pasche, the Swiss watch federation president, expects exports to be flat in 2017. Mr. Cox, who estimates that global Swiss watch sales fell 8% in 2016, thinks the market will rise 4% this year.

Source: Wall Street Journal January 16, 2017 03:07 UTC