'No watch' millenials a challenge for luxury watchmakers

Zurich

A BIGGER threat than smartwatches is no watches at all, according to Omega president Stephen Urquhart.

The maker of luxury watches - some tied to the James Bond movie franchise - that sell on average for more than US$6,000 is trying to attract younger consumers. More than half of 16-34 year-olds use a mobile phone as their main way to tell the time, according to a Yougov poll.

"For me, that's a bigger challenge than smartwatches: to make sure that we are reaching out to them f…