Rates on Switzerland contribute to the tempting luxury watches

(Bloomberg) -Luxury Watch Reformers say they see an interest in their products in their products, with the US to impose a 31% levy on Swiss exports to the US. John Reardon, the founder and CEO of Collectability, an online platform for preceding and vintage watches made by Patek Philippe, Switzerland, said he heard of customers who wanted to make purchases immediately. “Their logic is that a Patek Philippe is better than gold, better than bitcoin and definitely better than money in the bank,” Reardon said. The timetables of the brand, which usually cost tens of thousands of dollars, are one of the most popular in the world. A spokesman for Patek Philippe declined to comment. Reardon predicted “a sudden upward hump in demand for vintage and preceding watches” in the US. Some customers may even go directly to Geneva to buy hours if watches in the US become more expensive, he added. Luxury goods sales could suffer if the US economy delayed in the aftermath of the global trade war, as some economists predict. But the leading market can benefit from an increase in supply, says Eric Wind, founder and owner of Wind Vintage, who buys and sells vintage watches. Tighter economic times can encourage luxury watch owners to sell their hours to generate extra cash, he said. Wind said customers peppered him with more purchase requests. He also sells directly to other traders who were in a madness. “Your average consumer did not necessarily think how it would affect them,” Wind said about the rates. Traders, who are preparing for an increase in interest, realize that consumers realize the potential impact of the new duties, respond by ‘literally buying hundreds to secure stock’, he said on Friday. “I’ve never seen anything like that.” In the 1950s, the US imposed high rates on the import of Swiss watches, which initially helped to promote the fortunes of US -made watches, according to Wind. But the watch companies were not innovative enough to compete with Swiss watchmakers when the rates were finally lifted, he added. More stories like these are available on Bloomberg.com © 2025 Bloomberg LP