The Apple Watch is expected to benefit Chinese sapphire suppliers by driving demand for the highly durable sapphire glass, a Taiwan-based research firm said yesterday.
More smartphone and consumer electronics manufacturers are likely to adopt sapphire material for their future products, according to analysts.
Apple Inc was set to launch the Apple Watch yesterday in California. The watch glass is made of sapphire glass which is supplied by Chinese companies.
"Apple has provided an unprecedented, game-changing opportunity for China's sapphire industry," said Figo Wang, Trendforce's senior analyst.
"The sapphire production will likely become a globally competitive segment of China's materials industry."
Apple is expected to sell 20 million Apple Watches in 2015. Except for the Sport series, all other Apple Watch models use sapphire glass cover, Wang added.
Chinese companies, including Lens Technology and Harbin Aurora Optoelectronics Technology, may benefit from the expected Apple Watch wave.
Apple unveils Watch, available later this month in China
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