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Swiss watch exports experienced a notable increase of 11.2% in June 2026, reflecting a strong rebound in the luxury goods sector. The rise signals robust global demand for high‑end timepieces and underscores Switzerland’s pivotal role in the international watch market, reinforcing its reputation for quality and craftsmanship.
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The auction market for collectible watches is expanding and diversifying, attracting a younger, globally connected audience that includes first‑time bidders and digitally savvy enthusiasts. While traditional powerhouses such as Rolex and Patek Philippe remain popular, demand is shifting toward brands like Cartier, Piaget, and independent makers, with dress watches
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Liljenquist Beckstead has opened a new 2,800‑square‑foot Rolex Boutique in Tysons Galleria, McLean, Virginia, creating a dedicated space for the Mid‑Atlantic watch‑collecting community. The boutique occupies a prominent location at the mall’s main entrance, featuring a sawtooth storefront, bronze‑brass façade, travertine and walnut
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Worn & Wound has acquired Lorier, allowing founders Lauren and Lorenzo Ortega to remain partial owners and retain creative stewardship while Lorenzo assumes the role of Creative Director. The partnership grants Lorier access to Worn & Wound’s extensive infrastructure—including customer service, fulfillment, product procurement, and logistics—enabling the
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The premium on Rolex Certified Pre‑Owned (CPO) watches has narrowed, with the gap between authorized retailers and the broader secondary market decreasing from almost 40% to around 30% according to the latest Morgan Stanley and WatchCharts data. The median global CPO premium sits at about 30.2%, while the
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The secondary market for luxury Swiss watches is experiencing a notable rise in value retention, with Patek Philippe leading at a 15.4% increase, followed by Rolex at 9.8% and Audemars Piguet at 3% for the second quarter of 2026. Seven of the eight tracked brands have improved their
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China’s economy slowed in the second quarter of 2026, with GDP growth falling to 4.3% from 5% in the first quarter, missing the annual target of 4.5%‑5%. The decline reflects weaker domestic demand despite a 27% rise in June exports, creating uncertainty for luxury watch brands
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The secondary market for Cartier watches is experiencing a sharp rise, with heat scores increasing 3.5 times faster than any other luxury brand, according to Chrono24’s ChronoPulse Index. While Cartier watches trade at an average discount of 28.1% off retail in early 2026, price gains on Chrono24
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Richemont opened its 2026 fiscal year with a strong first‑quarter performance, reporting revenues of €6.3 billion, which represents a 20 % increase at constant exchange rates and a 17 % rise at actual rates compared with the same period in 2025. Growth was driven primarily by the Jewellery Maisons, whose
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Audemars Piguet’s UK operation experienced a strong year in 2025, delivering sales of £105 million (about $140 million), a 29 % increase over the previous year and nearly doubling its 2022 turnover. The growth was driven by a joint venture with the Watches of Switzerland Group that opened an AP
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Bezel, a US‑based luxury watch marketplace, reports that while Rolex accounts for 28% of its sales, about 38% of Rolex units are rejected during the multi‑stage authentication process aimed at eliminating fakes, Frankenstein watches, mis‑described pieces and stolen items. The rigorous checks involve digital AI screening, physical
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Watches of Switzerland Group rejected a takeover proposal, confirming its continued independence while reporting a strong fiscal year. Revenue rose 11% to £1.8 billion and profit before tax increased 76% to £133 million, driven by robust sales of luxury watches, expanding pre‑owned offerings and continued investment in showrooms
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Citizen Watch UK achieved an 8% increase in sales for the year ending March 2026, reaching a record turnover of £36.8 million, while operating profit rose 11% to £2.5 million. The growth was driven by strong performances from brands such as Bulova, which celebrated its 150th anniversary with
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The surge in ultra‑high‑value watch sales marks a transformative moment for the luxury time‑piece market, with seven watches surpassing the $10 million threshold and three of those transactions occurring in 2026 alone. Historic milestones, such as the 2017 $17.75 million sale of Paul Newman’s Rolex
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Watches of Switzerland has added the LVMH‑owned independent brand Daniel Roth to its roster, highlighting the watchmaker’s storied heritage and recent resurgence. Daniel Roth, founded in 1988, gained acclaim for limited‑run complications such as tourbillons, perpetual calendars, and minute repeaters, and was later acquired by Bulgari before
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Norqain has introduced the Freedom GMT Enjoy Life “Holiday” Limited Edition, a collection of 500 travel‑inspired watches that features a hidden “Golden Ticket.” One lucky owner will win a six‑night, full‑board stay for two at the luxury Ayada Maldives resort, with the winning watch’s identity to
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Tudor has become an official partner of the UTMB World Series, aligning the brand’s “Born to Dare” ethos with one of the most demanding trail‑running circuits in the world. The partnership follows recent collaborations with elite athletes such as Courtney Dauwalter, Miao Yao, Rémi Bonnet and Baptiste Chassagne,
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British watchmaking is experiencing a revival, with independent brands such as Studio Underd0g, Bremont, Christopher Ward, and notable artisans like Roger W. Smith and the Struthers, expanding manufacturing, assembly, and training facilities across the UK. While graduate employment rates are high and events sell out quickly, the sector faces a
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The rise of Cartier among Gen Z reflects a shift toward quiet luxury, where understated design, cultural relevance, and historical significance outweigh technical specifications. Young buyers favor iconic pieces such as the Tank, Santos, Panthère, and Baignoire for their clean lines and timeless silhouettes, often choosing them over traditional steel
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Geneva Seal has moved from its long‑time Oak Street location to a spacious, multi‑brand concept in Chicago’s rapidly growing Fulton Market district. The new development houses four separate boutiques for Omega, Breitling, H. Moser & Cie, and Hublot, alongside the appointment‑only Geneva Seal Gallery, which offers
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Gerald Charles announced its official entry into the world of padel by appointing current world No. 1 player Gemma Triay as the brand’s first ambassador. The partnership highlights the Swiss watchmaker’s desire to align with sports that embody precision, performance and passion, building on its existing ties to
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The report highlights the growing acceptance of cryptocurrency, particularly Bitcoin, among luxury watch retailers and auction houses. Secondary‑market dealers such as BitDials, Chronext, WatchBox, Crown & Caliber, TPT Timepiece Trading, Bob’s Watches, Ben Watches, and Gray & Sons Jewelers now accept crypto, while primary‑market boutiques like Watches
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Trump Watches, launched in 2024, has quickly become a significant player in the luxury watch market through a licensing deal with TheBestWatchesOnEarth LLC. The brand generates roughly $4.7 million in royalty income, suggesting wholesale sales between $47 million and $94 million, and possibly $80 million to $160 million at
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Damiani Group has finalized the acquisition of the historic watchmaker Baume & Mercier, adding the 200‑year‑old brand to its portfolio of luxury jewellery and watch houses. Richemont will continue to provide transitional operational support while Damiani integrates Baume & Mercier, which will benefit from the group’s extensive
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Antoine Pin has taken the helm as CEO of De Bethune, marking a strategic shift for the independent watchmaker owned by The 1916 Company. Pin arrives as the brand celebrates its 25th anniversary, bringing extensive experience from LVMH, Berluti, Bulgari, Zenith, and a recent stint as chief executive of TAG
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Phillips, in partnership with Bacs & Russo, achieved a historic spring season by generating over $235 million in watch auction sales across Geneva, Hong Kong, and New York during the first half of 2026. The remarkable performance set new records for total sales in a six‑month period, with Geneva
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Former Audemars Piguet chief executive François‑Henri Bennahmias is launching a new luxury Swiss watch brand called N3W5, pronounced “news.” Backed by 30 million Swiss francs from private investors, the brand will debut at Dubai Watch Week 2027 with mechanical watches starting at 20,000 CHF and higher‑end pieces
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François‑Henri Bennahmias, the former CEO of Audemars Piguet, has launched his first independent watch project under the Honorable Merchant Group’s N3W5 brand. The initiative brings together a network of specialists—from designers and dial makers to engineers and artisans—to create luxury timepieces that emphasize craftsmanship, authenticity, and
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Swatch Group is pursuing $170 million in damages from Samsung over alleged trademark infringement involving digital watch faces that mimic designs from its Omega and Tissot brands. The claim argues that the value of licensing Swatch’s intellectual property across ten of its brands justifies the hefty sum, despite Samsung’
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The Watches of Switzerland Group has abandoned its £3 billion sales target originally set for FY28, reflecting a strategic retreat amid a weakening luxury market. The original plan, announced in November 2023, aimed to double revenue from a FY23 base of £1.54 billion through aggressive expansion in the United
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Bamford London has entered the United States market by appointing Collective Horology in Ventura, California as its first authorized retailer. The partnership marks a major milestone for the British brand, known for its bold, British‑designed watches that house Swiss movements and a playful aesthetic. Collective Horology, founded in 2018
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The new National Geographic Museum of Exploration, set to open in Washington, D.C., showcases a vast collection of historic artifacts and interactive exhibits that celebrate humanity’s spirit of discovery. Highlighted by a $100 million donation from Rolex, the museum features iconic items such as Jacques Cousteau’s diving
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Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2027 menswear runway in Milan highlighted the brand’s watches as a central element of its narrative, integrating timepieces such as the American Western watch with a turquoise dial and various chunkier and sportier models into the Purple Label and Polo collections. The styling, featuring rolled‑
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Breitling’s House of Brands will join the prestigious Watches and Wonders 2027 exhibition in Geneva, scheduled for April 5‑11 at Palexpo. The participation marks the first appearance of the group, which includes Breitling, Gallet, Universal Genève and Damiani, alongside founding partners such as Rolex, Patek Philippe and Richemont
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Matias Galarza, a midfielder for Paraguay, unintentionally became the center of a viral moment at the 2026 World Cup when he seized the referee’s watch during the match against Turkey. The incident occurred just before halftime as a scuffle broke out on the field, causing referee Ivan Barton’s
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MB&F has opened its first international subsidiary and client lounge in New York City’s luxury watch district, located in the Fuller Building at 595 Madison Avenue. The space serves both as a subsidiary office and a gathering place for MB&F Tribe members, collectors, and watch
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Studio Underd0g has launched The D0ghouse, a fully operational watchmaking workshop in Maidenhead that brings all stages of watch assembly in-house for the first time in the brand’s five‑year history. The new facility, now owned outright after acquiring the former Horologium stake and Christopher Ward’s old
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The United States watch market experienced a strong acceleration in sales during the first five months of 2026, with overall growth outpacing the previous year despite a decline in Swiss watch exports. Data from the Luxury Watch Barometer shows average sales per door rising 28.9% in Q1, slowing slightly
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Rolex and Rockefeller Center have partnered to unveil a permanent Rolex Clock above the iconic rink, marking the upcoming opening of Rolex’s new North American headquarters at 665 Fifth Avenue. Positioned on 50th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, the clock serves as a permanent horological landmark, featuring design
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The EPHJ 2026 trade show in Geneva gathered over 20,000 visitors and 800 exhibitors from watchmaking, jewellery, microtechnology, and medical technology, showcasing a wide range of innovations. Highlights included Vaucher Manufacture’s VMF 5500 micro‑rotor calibre with a power reserve boost to 65 hours, Dubois‑Dépraz’s DD630
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Tom Brady’s F.P. Journe Vagabondage II fetched $960,000 at Sotheby’s New York auction, setting a new record for the reference that was produced in limited numbers in 2010‑2011. The sale reflects a broader surge in demand for independent watchmakers, with several F.P. Journe pieces
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Philippe Stern, who led Patek Philippe through pivotal moments such as the quartz crisis and the creation of the Caliber 89, passed away at 88 on June 14, 2026. His tenure as President from 1993 to 2009 secured the brand’s independence, expanded its manufacturing capabilities in Geneva, and introduced
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The F.P. Journe Souscription Chronomètre à Résonance no. 007 sold at Phillips New York on June 13, 2026 for $13.922 million, becoming the fifth‑most expensive wristwatch ever sold and the third‑most expensive non‑charity piece. The record‑breaking price reflects growing demand for high‑end independent
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In May 2026 the overall watch market index fell by 1.4%, with Rolex leading the decline at 2.2% and its GMT‑Master, Daytona, and Yacht‑Master collections each dropping more than two percent. Patek Philippe and Audemars Piguet saw modest losses, while mid‑market leaders Cartier and Omega
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Ronda’s new R01 movement represents a significant step forward in mechanical watch technology, combining a full‑silicon escapement and hairspring with a free‑sprung balance to deliver enhanced resistance to magnetism, temperature changes, shock, and wear. The caliber offers four precision tiers—from élaboré (±7 s/d) to excellence
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The collaboration between Casio and Coca‑Cola has produced a limited‑edition GA‑2100CC watch, nicknamed the “Casioak,” that incorporates iconic Coke branding into its design. The timepiece features a bottle‑shaped day‑date indicator, a dial resembling poured cola, a green silicone strap with a Coke‑bottle motif, and
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Bucherer has recently opened three new Rolex boutiques in Germany, Switzerland, and China, marking a rapid expansion of its presence within the luxury watch market. The latest openings include a 5,275‑square‑foot showroom in Stuttgart that offers Rolex watches, Certified Pre‑Owned pieces, and fine jewellery across two
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Bucherer has opened the world’s highest Rolex boutique at the summit of Mount Titlis in the Swiss Alps, situated at 3,238 metres above sea level. The boutique is housed within the renovated Titlis Tower, a former telecommunications structure that now features a striking cross‑shaped design by Herzog
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A Texas businessman filed a lawsuit against Liberty Media and the Circuit of the Americas, alleging that inadequate security allowed a criminal gang to steal a $750,000 Richard Mille watch from his wrist during the 2025 Formula 1 United States Grand Prix. The plaintiff, Dean Whitlock, claims the thieves,
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Baume & Mercier has been appointed the Official Timekeeper for the inaugural Gran Premio Storico d’Italia, a historic motorsport event scheduled at Italy’s Mugello Circuit from October 2‑4, 2026. The race, organized by HVM Racing in partnership with Ferrari Corse Clienti, will showcase historic Formula 1 cars