How a 72-Year-Old Watchmaker Survived the Quartz Crisis Twice

In this episode of The Turnaround Podcast, Lucas and Luna examine how a 72-year-old Swiss watchmaker — founded in 1954 — survived not one but two existential threats: the quartz crisis of the 1970s and the smartwatch disruption of the 2010s. Using the specific case of a mid-market brand that refused to abandon mechanical movements, they break down the three strategic decisions that kept the company alive: doubling down on in-house movement manufacturing, creating a cult-favorite entry-level mechanical watch, and pivoting distribution from department stores to direct-to-consumer. Along the way, they reference today's market context — the S&P 500 at 7,572 and the Dow above 50,900 — to remind listeners that even in a booming market, old-economy survival stories hold lessons. No hype, just the mechanics of a real turnaround. #Watchmaking #QuartzCrisis #SmartwatchDisruption #MechanicalWatches #SwissWatchIndustry #Turnaround #Restructuring #BusinessSurvival #DirectToConsumer #InHouseManufacturing #LuxuryGoods #Manufacturing #BusinessStrategy #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast #TheTurnaroundPodcast #LucasAndLuna #MidMarketBrands Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo