Fighting their way back from peak sales a few years back, watch companies have been facing two trends: the growing importance of the female client, and the growth in sales of high-end timepieces that would have once been regarded as an extravagance for the few.

If the Swiss are selling fewer watches – a fact – it’s also true that revenue is increasing thanks to a growing fondness to strap something special onto our wrists. That means something that not only looks the part, but has the internals to back it up.