Sales of analogue watches slump as children go digital

Sales of children’s traditional analogue watches have slumped as youngsters are more likely to check the time on a mobile phone.

In fact, research by eBay.co.uk found that 49 per cent of children aged ten to twelve years of age learned to tell the time this way.

During 2010/11, sales of children’s watches fell by 37.5 per cent on the popular auction website.

This year the trend continues, with digital children’s watches outselling traditional analogue styles by 6 to 1.

Boys still favour analogue styles more so than girls, but girls are more likely to check the time on their mobile than boys.

Spokesperson for eBay, Ruth Szyszkowski said: “Young or old, we all know that when it comes to telling the time people check their phone, even if they happen to be wearing a watch! What we’ve been surprised at is that 1 in 2 children aren’t learning how to tell the time using a traditional clock face. We’ve seen the sales of children’s analogue watches decline on eBay as a result.”