4 articles with this tag
Swiss watch exports jumped 11.2% in June 2026, the best month of the year, yet the first half still finished slightly negative. A working dealer's read on the rebound, the widening split between cheap and mid-luxury, and why a strong export month does not lower the price of the pre-owned watch you actually want.
Swiss watch exports fell about 4% over the first four months of 2026, and a distorted April print made it look worse. But the average hides a market splitting in two: the top end and the big three of Rolex, AP, and Patek hold firm while the mid-luxury middle contracts. A working dealer's read on the barbell market, why the April number misleads, and where pre-owned value is quietly widening.
The secondary market is recovering in 2026, which is exactly when the investment pitch sounds smartest and is most misleading. A working dealer's read on what the public data actually shows: gains concentrated in a few references, decade returns built on survivorship bias, and an ownership cost stack that eats most of what is left.
The 15% U.S. tariff on Swiss watches is permanent. Gold sits above $4,500 per ounce. New-watch retail prices are up 20% since late 2024 on gold references. A working dealer's analysis of what this means for the pre-owned market and where the value math has shifted.