national newswatch com

Swatchwatches have experienced a surge in popularity in recentmonths, perhaps driven by the brand's fashionable designs and retrostyling.New figures released by Swatch Group AG showed that sales in thefirst half of 2010 jumped by 22 per cent, resulting in companygrowth of 55 per cent.Chairman Nick Hayek, who prepared the statistics prior to hisdeath in late June from heart failure, said: "We have been able togrow in all regions and across all our price segments."His daughter Nayla has since inherited his role of chair of theboard.Last month, Emma Messenger of the Daily Mail said Swatch watchesare iconic timepieces, as they pioneered the idea that watchescould be fun and trendy without costing a fortune.The classic Swatch plastic style was introduced in 1980 and thewriter said it has since enjoyed lasting popularity from people inall walks of life.

Swatch watches have been flagged up as an iconic timepiece by a national news***.According to Emma Messenger of the Daily Mail, Swatch watches were the very first cheap and cheerful watches to be introduced.She said the product pioneered the notion that a top-quality watch could be fun, trendy and disposable - and not necessarily a luxury accessory.This, she continued, ensured that Swatch watches were popular with a wide range of people, including children and keen followers of fashion.Ms Messenger commended Swatch watches for their "bright colours and quirky styles", before noting that even late artist Andy Warhol was a fan of the watches.She was writing after the death of Nicolas Hayek, who founded the Swatch brand in the early 1980s.Mr Hayek has received many tributes since his death was confirmed, with author Nicholas Foulkes this week telling the Telegraph the design of Swatch watches is a work of genius.