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Even though the Swatch Group recently lost it's iconic leader, Nicholas G. Hayek, the company shows no signs of slowing down after reporting recording earnings for the first half of 2010. The world's largest watchmaker reported a 54 percent increase in profits ($446 million US) through June 30th as sales rose to record levels ($2.72 billion US) thanks to strong demand from the fast-growing Chinese market, which represents 25-30 percent of the group's sales. The upbeat report comes just over a year after Swatch reported its worst earning news in a decade.Swatch Group includes Swatch, Omega, Rado, Breguet, Tissot, Hamilton, and many other brands.Related PostsSwiss Watch Titan Nicholas G. Hayek, Dies at 82Swatch Group Upbeat About 2010Omega's Ambitious PlansSwatch Numbers Worst in a Decade

The Tourbillon Boutique is a chain of retail stores operated by the Swatch Group that offers its most exclusive watch brands (and Swatch). While most of the shops are located in Switzerland, the US is about to see its second Tourbillon Boutique store, due to open in New York City sometime in May, located in the Financial District on Wall St. Recently, Swatch owned Omega opened up its flagship store on 5th Avenue, and this second new opening indicates a distinct focus on the US market for the Swatch Group watch brands. Until now, the only Tourbillon store in the US was located in Costa Mesa, just south of Los Angeles. The purpose of the store is to house the most luxurious brands and timepieces that the Swatch Group offers. This includes Breguet, Jaquet Droz, Blancpain, Glashutte Original, Leon Hatot, Omega, and Swatch (though I am not sure how the Swatch branded watches fit in as they are mainstream as opposed to luxury watches for the most part). The Tourbillon Boutique stores are not limited to watches with the expensive and complex tourbillon complications, but any of the firm's best timepiece offerings. Questions arise as to why the Swatch Group is currently expanding during difficult economic times. My guess is that the US market has more promise in terms of expansion than Europe, while at the same time the Swatch Group is investing in the future when the economy will eventually bounce back. Lower real estate prices and the availability of labor makes it an enticing environment for market positioning once the demand for fine timepieces edges its way back up, once again. Ariel Adams publishes the popular watch review site aBlogtoRead.com.