The latest research from Strategy Analytics shows that the fourth quarter of last year was the first time when shipments of smartwatches surpassed those of Swiss watches. A total of 8.1 million smartwatch units were shipped in Q4 2015, rising a healthy 316 percent from 1.9 million in Q4 2014. In comparison, Swiss watch makers managed to move 7.9 million units.

Apple Watch led the [smartwatch] category with 63 percent share, followed by Samsung with 16 percent. These two companies alone command 8 in 10 of all smartwatches shipped worldwide.

“The Swiss watch industry has been very slow to react to the development of smartwatches,” Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, said in a statement. “The Swiss watch industry has been sticking its head in the sand and hoping smartwatches will go away. Swiss brands, like Tag Heuer, accounted for a tiny 1 percent of all smartwatches shipped globally during Q4 2015, and they are long way behind Apple, Samsung and other leaders in the high-growth smartwatch category.”

Beyond helping the wearables industry grow, the rise in smartwatch shipments also helped other market segments, mHealth included.

Another recent survey, from Canalys, estimates that Cupertino-based company has managed to sell 12 million Apple Watch units during 2015.