Editor’s Note
This article traces the evolution of the mechanical watch from its artisanal roots to its current status as a symbol of industrialized luxury, highlighting how exclusivity and high value became the industry standard in the 21st century.
The mechanical watch has been an exceptional product for a wealthy clientele since its origins. However, it was not until the 21st century that exclusive, rare, and expensive creations became the norm and set the tempo for the entire sector.
Modern, mechanical, and portable watchmaking was established as a product intended for great fortunes from the 17th century onwards. But it is over the last three decades that the luxury watch has become a standard. Pierre-Yves Donzé, a historian specializing in the watch economy, highlights this pivotal shift in an expanded reissue of his work *History of the Swiss Watch Industry, 19th and 20th Centuries*, which has just been published by Editions Livreo-Alphil.
It was during this period that the major groups emerged (LVMH was created in 1987, Richemont in 1988), in a context of economic globalization. This marks a breaking point, the expert emphasizes. Luxury goods, which were based “on artisans and small businesses,” would take “the form of industrialized products” supported by brands.