Watches news and archive

Swiss watchmakers halt US shipments awaiting lower tariffs

Zurich, Switzerland – Swiss watch exports to the US plummeted again in November, as manufacturers delayed shipments in anticipation of a tariff reduction to 15 percent. According to data from the watchmaking federation published on Thursday, exports to the US fell by 52.3 percent in November. This follows declines of 46.8 percent in October,...

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Swatch responds to US tariffs with special "39%" watch

Zurich - Watch brand Swatch has responded to US tariffs with a special edition watch. The design plays on the 39 percent levy imposed on Switzerland. The brand has pledged to stop selling the watch "as soon as the US changes its tariffs". The Swiss brand, known for its multicoloured plastic watches, has launched a model where the numbers three...

Fairs

Independence, informality and a touch of tradition: Relaxed gathering of the watch industry

An important summer meeting for watchmakers took place in a nautically designed pavilion in Switzerland. With a brand-new format and a varied programme, Geneva Watch Days is a relatively new entry in the industry calendar. It aims to remain fresh and forward-looking. Founded as a one-off antidote to the economic downturn during the Covid-19...

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Swiss exports face collapse: US tariffs threaten jobs and GDP

US tariffs have sent shockwaves through Switzerland: US President Donald Trump has imposed a 39 percent tariff on Swiss imports. “Everyone's prosperity is at risk,” warns Swissmem, the industry association for the tech industry. While importers and US consumers pay the tariffs, this makes "Made in Switzerland" so expensive that orders are likely...

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Switzerland: Watch exports fall in May after record sales in April

Following substantial deliveries to the US in April, in light of impending tariffs, Swiss watch exports declined in May. However, the ‘boomerang effect’ proved less pronounced than anticipated, according to the Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry (FH). After a significant increase of 18.2 percent in April, Swiss watch exports across all...

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Fashion

Gen Z driving the second-hand luxury watch market

Swiss watches are in high demand these days, but sales of second-hand timepieces are also booming, driven by Generation Z buyers who want luxury goods but are also sustainability-minded. The global second-hand watch market is estimated at nearly 20 billion Swiss francs (21.7 billion dollars) and could reach 35 billion francs by 2030, according...

Fashion

Watchmakers tinker with new materials to attract younger consumers

Lab-made diamonds, recycled plastic and 3D printing: this year's Geneva watch fair was teeming with timepieces crafted from new materials, aimed at seducing a new generation of luxury watch connoisseurs. H. Moser, a niche brand producing 2,000 watches a year for wealthy collectors, this year presented a watch covered in Vantablack, a super-black...

Fashion

eBay hosts authentication events for luxury items

Online marketplace eBay has seen a surge in popularity of collectible goods, such as sneakers, luxury watches, and trading cards. To combat fraud and counterfeit items in the luxury category, eBay announced it would host a series of events to authenticate items for customers. Mirroring its Authenticity Guarantee Service for sneaker sales on the...

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Hodinkee acquires pre-owned luxury watch specialists Crown & Caliber

Hodinkee, a New York-based media and commerce company focused on watches, has acquired online pre-owned luxury watch specialists Crown & Caliber. The move will see Hodinkee “put a stamp” on the watch resale market, the company said. “With smart pricing tools, quick payment services, and a tremendous level of trust from their customers, Crown &...

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Lid Project acquires Tayroc Watches

British watch brand Tayroc has been acquired by independent agency Lid Project for an undisclosed amount. Created in 2014 by two sets of brothers, Kristian and Reiss Edgerton, and Dominic and James Owen, Tayroc, which offers premium men’s, ladies and unisex timepieces at accessible prices, has grown significantly through its UK e-commerce and...

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Fashion

Furla signs licensing deal with Timex Group

The Furla Group has signed a licensing agreement with watchmaker Timex Group for the production and worldwide distribution of Furla-branded watches starting from February 2020. The move is part of the Italian label’s strategy to reposition itself as a lifestyle brand by “diversifying its offer and strengthening its product categories” through...

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Luxury watches driving the rise of microbrands

Dan Henry Watches has published a study saying that sales of luxury timepieces are on the rise, and according to the creator of Dan Henry Watches, that growth has contributed to a new trend in the industry: the emergence of microbrand watches. Purchases of luxury timepieces, for more than 100 years a fashion staple and functional accessory for...