ETA Restrictions Back On?

[ctimrun]

There are rumors of a more exclusive deal between ETA and Richmont. Interesting, given most Richmont brands use in-house.

https://quillandpad.com/2019/12/15/b...atch-industry/

[tribe125]

I don’t see any reference to Richemont in that article?

I’d be interested to see another take on this story from the Grenchen local newspaper, because this one doesn’t seem that coherent.

[Rdenney]

I don’t see any reference to Richemont in that article?

I’d be interested to see another take on this story from the Grenchen local newspaper, because this one doesn’t seem that coherent.

The reference to Richemont was in the comments—long with a reference to the Grenchen local paper.

It’s hard to imagine what Comco is thinking about. Nothing new there.

Rick “Richemont also has (had?) a deal with Sellita” Denney

[Dimman]

COMCO then: "Swatch, you may not stop selling ETA movements to competitors."

COMCO now: "Swatch, you may not sell any movements to your competitors."


Rick "Seems familiar with Swiss business stuff" Denney, is it just me or does this smell like some somewhat corrupt backdoor maneuvers by a competitive, such as Sellita, or a Sellita-dependant brand? Perhaps Sellita is losing their contract with Richemont to ETA, and they are trying to pull some strings? Events and timing just seem shady...

Half a million mechanical movement sales in lost revenue is catastrophic. Especially with essentially zero notice.

[Rdenney]

Beats me.

But it’s not as though Swatch Group has been consistent. Their desire to halt outside supply vanished in the 2016 downturn, when ETA was making money continuing to sell movements.

Of course, they want the monopoly no matter what they say.

Rick “thinking that after the resurgence of mechanical watches, Comco should have made SMH/Swatch spin off the part of ETA that supplies the industry” Denney

[ctimrun]

The inference I got wasn’t they would no longer be allowed to sell, externally. I think they just won’t be forced to any longer.

[tribe125]

That would make sense.

[Dimman]

According to news today it seems they cannot sell to customers with more than 250 employees.

[Henry Krinkle]

According to news today it seems they cannot sell to customers with more than 250 employees.

That actually leaves them a lot of room. There aren't really that many brands with 250 employees. The Google claims Tudor had fewer than 200 in 2016. Eterna may have as few as a couple of dozen.

[tribe125]

The whole thing is quite bizarre. Comco are in mental disarray, if they’re being reported accurately.