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Richemont has announced the sale of its entry-level Baume et Mercier brand to the Italian Damiani Group, which has been a key distributor of the brand through its retail chain Rocca. Although Baume et Mercier has struggled with profitability, the acquisition is expected to leverage its presence in Italy,
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A violent raid occurred at one of Rolex's largest showrooms in London, where six armed individuals attacked the Bucherer-owned boutique in Knightsbridge. The incident, which took place on January 20, 2026, involved the suspects using a moped to breach security, threatening staff and customers with weapons, and
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Used watch prices experienced a notable increase during the fourth quarter of 2025, marking the first broad-based rise in several years, as the secondary market strengthened alongside gains from major watch brands such as Richemont, Swatch Group, and LVMH. Data from a Morgan Stanley report revealed that prices for
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Rolex is experiencing a significant shift in the secondary market, where average prices are approaching the point of dipping below recommended retail prices due to rising retail costs. As of January 2026, the value retention for Rolex watches has decreased by 3.4% compared to October 2025, now standing at
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Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group has experienced an 18% increase in sales during the final quarter of 2025, a promising sign for the luxury watch market's recovery post-pandemic. With nearly 7,000 sales points in Mainland China, Macau, and Hong Kong, the company reported substantial growth, particularly
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Australian tennis star Alex De Minaur has announced a new partnership with independent watchmaker Gerald Charles ahead of the 2026 Australian Open. As the current world No. 6, De Minaur values the collaboration for its emphasis on performance and precision, opting for a brand not owned by a luxury group.
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Fernando Mendoza, the star quarterback for the Indiana Hoosiers, received a luxurious $20,000 iced-out watch from his teammate Elijah Sarratt just days before the College Football Playoff National Championship game. The heartfelt moment, which was shared online, showed Mendoza's surprise and joy as Sarratt placed the
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Patek Philippe is set to reduce prices in the United States by approximately 8% starting February 1. This decision follows the rollback of import tariffs that had previously increased prices by around 15% due to a 39% tariff imposed by the Trump administration on Swiss watches. The initial price hikes,
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Watches of Switzerland Group has made significant changes in its leadership, appointing Jack Gaffaney as the new president for the USA, a position previously held by David Hurley. Gaffaney joins from Prada, where he was responsible for retail operations across several countries in the Americas. This shift comes as the
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LVMH Watch Week, held in Milan from January 19 to 21, 2026, showcased the latest trends in horology with new timepieces from renowned brands including Zenith, TAG Heuer, Gérald Genta, Daniel Roth, and Louis Vuitton. Each brand highlighted distinct designs and mechanical innovations. Notable releases included Bulgari's Maglia
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Watchmakers United has expanded its presence by opening its first showroom outside Switzerland in Monaco, following the establishment of its initial store in Geneva in 2024. Founded by Maximilien Roussel-Galle, the brand aims to provide a platform for emerging independent watchmakers, emphasizing storytelling, education, and retail while maintaining authenticity.
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Seiko UK Limited experienced a 2.5% decline in sales, totaling £27 million ($34.3 million) for the year ending March 2025, alongside a significant drop in operating profit, which fell to -£215,000 ($273,000). Despite these challenges, the sale of the company’s former offices for £3.7
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Antoine Pin, the CEO of TAG Heuer, has departed from the company just before the LVMH Watch Week, which is set to showcase eight watch brands under the LVMH umbrella. His exit was officially confirmed by LVMH, which stated that he has chosen to "start a new chapter in
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Patek Philippe is set to reduce prices in the U.S. by up to 8% for select models starting February 1, 2026, following a significant reduction in tariff rates on Swiss imports. In contrast, prices in other regions are expected to increase by about 4%. This price adjustment comes after
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Patek Philippe is set to decrease prices by 8% starting February 1, 2026, reversing the trend of yearly price increases in the watch industry. This decision comes after a significant price hike in the previous years, and while the decrease may seem modest, it represents a notable adjustment given Patek&
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Tissot has announced a significant 10-year extension of its global marketing partnerships with the NBA, WNBA, and NBA G League, following a successful debut as Presenting Partner. This renewed agreement enhances Tissot's status as the Official Watch and Official Timekeeper for professional basketball, introducing new technology and
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Richemont, the luxury group behind prestigious brands such as Cartier and IWC, has reported an 11% increase in sales for the third quarter of 2025, despite facing a challenging global political and economic landscape. The company attributes this growth to strong local demand across all regions, particularly in the Americas,
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The watch industry in 2026 is expected to be significantly influenced by younger consumers, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, who are making more deliberate purchasing decisions. These younger buyers are willing to forgo other expenditures, such as graduation trips, in favor of investing in quality timepieces that hold
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Tudor has announced its return to competitive sailing as the title partner of Alinghi for the 38th America's Cup, set for summer 2027 in Napoli, Italy. This renewed partnership aligns Tudor's "Born to Dare" philosophy with Alinghi, a team renowned for being the first
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In 2025, watch sales in the UK experienced a significant downturn, particularly in the fourth quarter, which saw a decline of 10.2%. This slump effectively negated the earlier gains made in the first nine months of the year, where a 6.6% growth was reported in the first quarter.
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The world of fine watches is increasingly merging with the realm of jewelry, showcasing innovative designs that transcend traditional boundaries. This fusion is exemplified by various timepieces that highlight unique shapes, vintage inspirations, and luxurious gemstones. The featured watches include Chanel's Première Ribbon with its striking wine-colored
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Jacob & Co. has introduced the God of Time, a remarkable tourbillon watch celebrating founder Jacob Arabo’s 60th birthday. This timepiece features the world’s fastest tourbillon, completing a revolution every four seconds, which is 15 times quicker than the standard. The watch boasts a 44.5 mm case
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Van Cleef & Arpels has opened a new boutique in The Mall at Short Hills, New Jersey, transitioning from representation by London Jewelers to a directly operated store. This affluent area, located just 20 miles from Manhattan, features a mid-sized indoor retail destination with luxury brands like Cartier, Chanel,
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Bob's Watches, a leading dealer in pre-owned luxury watches, has opened its first walk-up boutique at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, specifically in Terminal 8, which serves British Airways and American Airlines flights. The boutique aims to provide travelers with immediate access
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Vacheron Constantin has introduced the first-ever Concours d'Élégance Horlogère, a unique competition in the watchmaking industry developed in collaboration with Phillips and Bacs & Russo. This event invites collectors around the world to submit pocket and wristwatches made between 1755 and 1999 for evaluation by an esteemed
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Chronoswiss has re-entered the UK market through a new partnership with Swiss Gallery on Bond Street, allowing British collectors access to its timepieces once again. This strategic collaboration marks a significant milestone for the brand in a key European luxury watch market, with Swiss Gallery providing an ideal setting
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Van Bergen, a historic watchmaker with roots dating back to 1795, is set to launch its first collection of chiming watches named Heero at the luxury showcase Top Marques in Monaco. Originally established as a manufacturer of church bells and carillon towers, the company was renowned in Europe for its
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LVMH has publicly denied rumors of a potential sale of Zenith, a brand known for its horological accolades and the iconic El Primero chronograph. Despite the denial, speculation persists regarding the brand's financial struggles, including annual losses of 20-30 million Swiss Francs and declining sales since 2023.
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The Horological Society of New York (HSNY) has announced new financial aid opportunities for watchmaking students and professionals for the year 2026, significantly expanding its scholarship budget thanks to the Vogt Foundation. This year marks the first time applications will be accepted globally, allowing watchmaking students worldwide to access various
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Rolex's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program achieved impressive sales of $594 million in 2025, making up over 10% of the brand's total secondary market transactions valued at $5.8 billion. The program, which began in partnership with Bucherer and expanded to include several retailers, has grown
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Citizen has been recognized for its climate leadership by securing a spot on the CDP’s A List for the fourth consecutive year. This accolade highlights the company's commitment to environmental disclosure and action, amidst nearly 22,000 companies evaluated by CDP, a global non-profit focused on
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The 2026 Golden Globes showcased an impressive array of luxurious watches, turning the red carpet into a display of horological artistry. Celebrities like Timothée Chalamet and Leonardo DiCaprio highlighted their style with exquisite timepieces such as the Urban Jürgensen UJ-2 and the rare Rolex Cosmograph Daytona “Le Mans.” Other
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Chanel has acquired a 30% minority stake in Kross Manufacture, which is responsible for producing watches for Kross Studio and other clients. This investment aligns with Chanel's strategy of supporting independent watchmaking through minority investments rather than full acquisitions. The focus of this transaction is on enhancing Kross
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Biver has expanded its retail partner network by signing Ace Jewelers as an Authorized Retail Partner, marking Ace as only the third partner for Biver in Europe, alongside Bucherer and À l’Émeraude. Based in Amsterdam, Ace Jewelers has a strong focus on high-end independent watch brands and aims
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Richemont is undergoing a leadership rotation within its USA operations, affecting several luxury watch brands. Philippe Bonay, who led Panerai's USA division for 14 years, has recently departed and remains unfilled. Meanwhile, Charles Dubos, previously IWC's brand director in the Netherlands and Nordics, is stepping into
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A Singapore watch boutique employee, Soh Jian Kun, has pleaded guilty to a scam that defrauded 14 victims of nearly $500,000 by promising access to rare luxury watches. Claiming he could secure coveted models from brands like Rolex and Patek Philippe through a staff purchase scheme, he instead provided
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Bell & Ross has officially partnered with Defender Rally as the timing partner for the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in 2026. The collaboration will see the French-Swiss watchmaker equip the Defender D7X-R team with its flagship BR-X3 Black Titanium watch, designed to endure the extreme conditions
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Rolex has implemented a significant retail price increase of approximately 7% across its catalog as of January 2026, with gold models experiencing the sharpest hikes of around 8-9%. This pattern of annual price adjustments is not new for luxury brands, and while general inflation is often cited as a
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Andersen Genève has introduced the Rattrapante Mondiale, an impressive addition to its lineup that combines a world time complication with the Venus 179 split-seconds chronograph movement. This watch features a unique two-level world time display, crafted entirely by hand, showcasing Andersen's commitment to artisanal watchmaking. The
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Rolex has increased its watch prices by nearly 6% as of January 2026, continuing the tradition of annual price hikes. Historically, these increases have typically been around 3-4%, but the latest adjustments reflect various market conditions, including rising gold prices. For example, the yellow gold Cosmograph Daytona has seen
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"Man of the Hour," a documentary series focusing on independent watchmakers, is set to stream in the United States starting January 9, following its debut in Asia and the Middle East in November. The eight-part series, hosted by Wei Koh, explores the artistry and innovation of modern
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Eric Macaire, the executive director of global buying and merchandising at Watches of Switzerland Group, has announced his departure from the company and relocation to Dubai. In a LinkedIn post, he highlighted the Gulf region as a land of opportunity, emphasizing the rapid growth and vision of the Gulf Cooperation
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Richard Mille has formed a partnership with French freestyle skier Arthur de Villaucourt, enhancing the brand's foothold in elite winter sports. At just 22 years old, de Villaucourt is a mogul skiing specialist aiming for a spot in the world top 30 and qualification for the 2026 Winter
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Cartier is set to open a significant new three-story boutique on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, marking one of its largest retail investments in the United States. This new location, referred to as a fourth “Temple” for the brand, has faced delays since its initial approval in 2018 but
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Ulysse Nardin achieved impressive double-digit sales growth in the tumultuous year of 2025, driven by strategic stock movements in response to fluctuating tariff rates on Swiss watches. The brand's president for the United States noted that the anticipation of price increases motivated both retailers and customers to
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Kari Voutilainen has stepped down as co-CEO of Urban Jürgensen after four years, transitioning to the roles of Board Member and Senior Strategic Advisor. In this new capacity, he will focus on guiding the brand's long-term strategy and advising on product development, while stepping away from
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Bell & Ross has launched a partnership with Defender Rally, becoming the Official Timing Partner for the team's participation in the World Rally-Raid Championship. The collaboration kicked off with the Dakar Rally 2026 in Saudi Arabia, where Bell & Ross will support the team across various rally-
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The secondary market for Rolex watches experienced a significant rise in prices during the first three quarters of 2025, peaking at a median price of £17,000 by mid-September. However, this momentum faded in the fourth quarter, ending the year with a median price of £16,310, marking an
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Rolex, Tudor, and Audemars Piguet have implemented significant price increases in 2026, with Rolex raising prices in the UK by an average of 5%, while U.S. prices increased by around 7%. These adjustments are attributed to factors such as record gold prices, higher tariffs in the U.S., and
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The 2026 Rolex price list reveals a price increase ranging from 2% to 6% depending on the materials and models chosen. This reflects a consistent trend seen in prior years, where gold and platinum models experience more significant price hikes compared to stainless steel variations. The latest price adjustments are