Swatch and Rolex tap buoyant demand for Swiss timepieces 

Swatch shares rose 7% while, at the upper end of the market, shares in a major retailer of Rolexes surged as much as 18%

Queues formed at the launch last year of the Moon Swatch. Demand has been strong for Swiss timepieces, from the affordable fashion watches made by Swatch, and more upmarket brands such as Rolex. File picture

Swatch and the UK’s biggest retailer of Rolex watches have signalled the appetite for Swiss timepieces remains healthy even as prices go higher.

Swatch shares rose as much as 7% as CEO Nick Hayek said revenue may reach a record this year helped by demand in China and the US. Separately, UK retailer Watches of Switzerland surged as much as 18% saying demand for luxury timepieces is still solid despite price increases by some of the biggest brands.