Christmas slump reverses early gains for watch sales in 2025
In 2025, watch sales in the UK experienced a significant downturn, particularly in the fourth quarter, which saw a decline of 10.2%. This slump effectively negated the earlier gains made in the first nine months of the year, where a 6.6% growth was reported in the first quarter. The lack of consumer confidence was attributed to the government's mismanagement of economic messaging and the timing of the autumn budget, which was pushed to the week of Black Friday, creating uncertainty around potential tax increases. As a result, the British watch market concluded the year almost flat, with a negligible sales change of -0.4% year-on-year for 2025. This trend was mirrored by major retailers like Watches of Switzerland Group, which reported only a 2% increase in sales despite opening new flagship stores. The overall sentiment leading into the holiday season was one of hesitation among consumers, impacting the peak sales period traditionally anticipated during the Christmas shopping rush.
