Luxury Watch Revival Cut Short as Iran War Adds to Sector’s Woes

Before the war in Iran began, the Middle East was one of the few pockets of growth for luxury timepieces.

The region, accounting for about 10% of the global watch market, had partially sheltered the sector from a string of blows like the tariff turmoil, falling Chinese demand, a strong Swiss franc and soaring gold prices. With the Middle East now mired in conflict, Geneva’s flagship “Watches and Wonders ” fair opened this week to fears that the war would stamp out any signs of a nascent recovery.