iWatch gets some "Swiss avant-garde" flair as TAG Heuer sales director joins Apple

Remember that piece about Apple's efforts to bring Swiss watch-making experts on board for the iWatch? We got the impression they ended in vain, as horologists from the likes of Swatch and LVMH weren't too hot for smart-watches, but it appears the fabled iWatch got at least one of the horology elite excited enough to book a one-way flight to Cupertino. A LVMH executive told CNBC that the sales director of TAG Heuer, which also owns the Hublot and Zenith luxury watch brands, left for Apple last week. For better or worse, Apple didn't score other high-profile hires from the Swiss watch industry.

Reportedly, the iWatch will be marketed as "Swiss made", which would be an intriguing sales point to have if the timepiece is produced at Foxconn. Bernstein analyst Mario Ortelli suggests the "Swiss have got no great interest in working with Apple" and THEY "do not want to create a device like the iPhone - designed in California and assembled in China - so they don't want to dilute the value of the Swiss name". Giving another miniature clue about the iWatch, Ortelli explained that Apple's product is superior to low-end Swiss watches and an opportunity for luxury watch brands, as it will introduce younger customers to the market.

source: CNBC via AppleInsider