Young, especially male, buyers are increasingly looking for high-quality, mechanical watches.

"Demand is not concentrated on the most well-known Swiss brand, but rather on the broad range from Switzerland, the Black Forest, and Glashütte - whereby the respective brand is certainly important," said Joachim Dünkelmann, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Jewelers, Jewelry and Watch Shops (BVJ).

A similar trend is also evident in vintage models and previously owned watches whose authenticity is certified. This can also be seen on online platforms. "In the relevant watch enthusiasts' groups and forums, you increasingly see male watch fans in their mid-20s and younger," Dünkelmann reported to the German Press Agency in Karlsruhe.

In addition to so-called self-purchasers, the high-quality mechanical watch is a popular gift for special occasions. "When someone graduates from school, training, or university, a very specific brand-name watch is often on their wish list," says the BVJ managing director. Depending on the occasion and budget, models costing between €1,000 and over €5,000 are not uncommon. As gifts, they are often engraved.