What Jing Daily referred to as the “spreading wildfire of luxury second-hand shops in China” last year continues to rage in China’s first- and second-tier cities (as well as over the border in Hong Kong).

Following its recent collaboration Shanghai fashion designer Uma Wang, the art-obsessed Swiss watchmaker Swatch has rolled out with another collaborative timepiece, this time with Ji Weiyu and Song Tao of the photographic duo Birdhead.

While other Swiss luxury watchmakers play the waiting game in China, hoping for a significant sales rebound within the country in 2013, Swatch-owned, Vallée de Joux-based Breguet seems confident that demand at the ultra-high-end remains strong.

Swiss watchmaker and jeweler Piaget recently pulled out all the stops for the grand opening of its new Asia flagship boutique at the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, throwing a blowout gala attended by 160 execs, local celebrities and VIPs.

Amid concerns about the strength of luxury watch demand in Hong Kong and mainland China, Swiss watchmaker Brietling is taking brand promotion into the stratosphere with its "Brietling Dragon Tour."