The land of the rising sun is looking increasingly like a twilight zone, but Swiss watch brands still have faith: in spite of its problems, Japan remains an important market for the sector.

Abundance of brands in fashion, lifestyle and luxury offers plenty of options to choose from. But only few of them stand out and their appeal is crystal clear. Such brands have strong following among the rich and the rulers. That is why King Edward VII said about Cartier that it is “The Jeweller of Kings & the King of Jewellers.” Interview with Cartier President and CEO Mr. Bernard Fornas.

Over 1,000 journalists, 12,000 visitors, 19 brands. And hundreds of precious watches on display, the result of thousands and thousands of hours of work and selfless devotion to the year's new creations. All these figures pertain to the recent Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie in Geneva, and they all give me grounds for reflection and, why not, a suggestion that is perhaps less practical than visionary and, who knows, even a little prescient.

In 2010, the Swiss watch sector came through the turbulence of the previous year. After wristwatch exports pulled in CHF 15.1 billion, the sector is within a hair's breadth of equalling its record of 2008. The blots on the horizon: a strong Swiss franc and higher raw material costs.