Hodinkee
Business News: Trump Pauses Reciprocal Tariffs For 90 Days Giving Swiss Watch Industry More Time For A Deal
Swiss watchmakers get 90-day reprieve even as a 10% tariff stays in place.
5,021 articles · 36 videos found · page 19 of 169
Hodinkee
Swiss watchmakers get 90-day reprieve even as a 10% tariff stays in place.
Worn & Wound
Last week, midway through the watch industry’s biggest trade show, Donald Trump announced 31% tariffs on Swiss imports. The proposed tariffs, enacted as of this morning, immediately became the focus of many discussions in Geneva between brands, retailers, and the press, at Palexpo and beyond. The United States is the largest importer of Swiss watches in the world, so a new tariff of 31% on Swiss imports to the US has the potential to reshape not just the watch market in the United States, but the industry as a whole. The announcement could not have come at a more pressure packed time. The entire watch industry – retailers, brands, manufacturing partners, collectors, and executives – was gathered in Geneva last week, doing the business that normally shapes the arc of the year. As the news was absorbed on Thursday, we witnessed brands and retailers reacting in real time, changing or solidifying plans as appropriate. The inescapable nature of the topic in meetings meant to showcase new products underscored the seriousness of Trump’s announcement, and the potential implications. In seeking to understand the ramifications of the planned tariffs, we sought out an economist to help firm up our understanding of what the administration is seeking to accomplish. Brendan Cunningham is a professor of economics at Eastern Connecticut State University, and the author of Horolonomics, a website dedicated to “economic complications in watchmaking.” We started by defining o...
Fratello
While my colleagues and most of the industry have been in Geneva, enjoying Watches and Wonders and devouring the sights and sounds of the year’s biggest trade fair, I have been watching on from home this year. I welcomed my firstborn son into the world and moved house less than two weeks later (apparently, I […] Visit Trump’s New Tariffs Rock The Swiss Watch Industry to read the full article.
Hodinkee
Watch CEOs react to news of potentially devastating US tariffs on Swiss watches.
Fratello
Another Sunday, another showdown! This week, we’re matching up two professional titanium dive watches that come in under €5K. The first is the recently introduced Seiko Prospex Marinemaster SLA081. This new version of the popular Marinemaster was released to celebrate 60 years of Seiko dive watches. The second is the Sinn T50, which debuted in […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Sinn T50 Titanium Vs. Seiko Prospex Marinemaster SLA081 to read the full article.
Monochrome
This article is a guest post by one of our readers and contributors to the Collector’s Series, a gentleman who prefers to remain anonymous but who’s very active on Instagram @winewhiskywatches. We’ve long suspected that Chinese cost structures might provide compelling competitive advantages for high-end watchmaking, assuming that a Chinese watchmaking brand could effectively establish […]
Fratello
You blink once and it’s Sunday again, folks! Get ready for another battle royale between two competitive offerings from different brands. This week, we’ll pit two rather different watches against each other. These aren’t necessarily directly comparable except for one distinguishing feature - twice the number of crowns you usually get. Daan takes the red […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Mido Multifort 8 Two Crowns Vs. Baltic Aquascaphe Dual-Crown to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Whether diamond-set bezels or statement jewels on watch dials, understanding diamond cuts will only enhance your appreciation for them.The post All the different kinds of diamond cuts, and how they’re used in watchmaking appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Another Sunday, another showdown! This week, we’ll dive headfirst into the world of luxury dive watches, and two examples with legendary lineage will go head to head. The first is the latest iteration of the Rolex Sea-Dweller, a watch that finds its roots in the late 1960s as the professional brother of the Submariner. The […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Blancpain Fifty Fathoms Tech BOC IV Vs. Rolex Sea-Dweller Ref. 126600 to read the full article.
SJX Watches
Phillips Perpetual will shortly open a three-day exhibition dedicated to independent watchmaking at its London showroom. Independent Spirit will comprise five notable watchmakers whose work encapsulate the diversity of the genre: Konstantin Chaykin, Raúl Pagès, Theo Auffret, Charles Frodsham, and David Candaux. The watch boutique arm of the eponymous auctioneer, Phillips Perpetual conceived the exhibition as a small-scale event that will allow personal interaction with each of the watchmakers, or in the case of the long-departed Charles Frodsham, the brand’s representatives. The exhibition will be a rare opportunity to meet some of the leading lights of independent watchmaking. Amongst them is Raúl Pagès, a true artisanal watchmaker in the traditional sense. Mr Pages will have on hand examples of the Soberly Onyx, his inaugural watch, and the RP1 Régulateur à détente that won him the Louis Vuitton Watch Prize. Raúl Pagès While all of the other watchmakers at the exhibition are relatively young, Charles Frodsham is a continuously-operating, centuries-old brand – proof that independent watchmaking innovation can come from unexpected places. The movement of the Charles Frodsham Double Impulse Chronometer The only watchmaker absent is Konstantin Chaykin, who unfortunately was not able to travel for the exhibition due to travel restrictions resulting from his nationality. That’s unfortunately as the Russian watch- and clockmaker is a technician and artist whom I ...
Time+Tide
GS opens its second boutique in Australia in The Block Arcade on Melbourne's Collins Street, the main vein of Aussie watch culture.The post Grand Seiko opens a luxurious new Melbourne boutique, a statement of intent from the Japanese brand appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Welcome back to another episode of Fratello On Air! This week, we’re each choosing three non-Swiss watches with a budget of €20,000. The task is tricky, though, because €20,000 is enough to afford great pieces from the usual suspects, but it means being picky if choosing just one from a costly brand. Get ready for […] Visit Fratello On Air: Three Non-Swiss Watches For €20,000 to read the full article.
Fratello
Is it Sunday already? Yes, it is, and we’ll make sure you have a good last day of the weekend with this week’s episode of Sunday Morning Showdown. Daan and Lex will go head to head with two colorful chronographs. In one corner, Daan represents the Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue,” which gives off […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Tudor Black Bay Chrono “Flamingo Blue” Vs. TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph Glassbox In Purple to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Australia might not be the first place you think of when you're talking watches, but the Land Down Under is home to some seriously interesting watch brands.The post The 8 best Australian watch brands forging a new watchmaking tradition Down Under appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
We know Yema as an accessible French brand that offers fairly affordable watches. However, with the introduction of the company’s in-house Calibre Manufacture Morteau movements, its prices shifted upward a bit. To ensure that the watchmakers have enough time to work on the higher-end in-house movements and still offer watches at a more affordable price […] Visit Yema Introduces Its Superman Swiss Edition To Mark A Strategic Turnaround to read the full article.
Time+Tide
China can't be ignored when it comes to horological significance, as these top Chinese watch brands prove with their artisanal quality.The post These 12 brands prove Chinese watchmaking shouldn’t be overlooked appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Hodinkee
Nobody loves great watchmaking more than me – but these things have just got to change.
Monochrome
Finland has birthed some of the most fascinating watchmakers outside of Switzerland and has long left its mark on the watchmaking industry. Think of names like Kari Voutilainen and Stepan Sarpaneva, to name just two. Perhaps lesser known, but not to be overlooked, is Reima Koivukoski, whom we introduced to you about a year ago. […]
Fratello
Good morning, dear Fratelli. It’s Sunday again, which means we’re pitting two watches against each other. This week, Daan defends the recently released Omega Seamaster 37mm Milano Cortina 2026. In the other corner, it’s Thomas with the Chopard L.U.C XPS ref. 61948-5001. That’s right; after the battle of the integrated-bracelet sports watches last week, get […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Omega Seamaster 37mm Milano Cortina 2026 Vs. Chopard L.U.C XPS to read the full article.
Worn & Wound
Today, if you ask nearly anyone, “What’s the epicenter of watchmaking?” the answer will resoundingly be, “Switzerland,” but you might be surprised to learn its neighbor to the west is largely responsible for the birth of modern watchmaking as we know it. In France, the earliest clocks date back to the Middle Ages, primarily used by clergymen. Fast forward a few hundred years, you’ll find the first “wearable clocks” emerging in France by the end of the 1400s. Over the next couple hundred years, watchmaking became an increasingly thriving industry in France. However, the horological community experienced its first disruption in 1685. That year, King Louis XIV revoked of the Edict of Nantes, which had granted the minority Calvinist Protestants of France, also known as Huguenots, substantial rights in the nation, which was predominantly Catholic at the time. As a result of the revocation, there was a mass exodus of Huguenots from France across the border to Switzerland, many of whom were-you guessed it-watchmakers. King Louis XIV Still, the real golden age of French watchmaking came in the 1700s in conjunction with another major moment for the country: the Age of Enlightenment. During this time, Paris became the heart of the watchmaking industry. Here, in the Île de la Cité (one of two natural islands in the Seine River right in the center of the City of Light), is the Place Dauphone, a public square on the western end of the island opposite the ico...
Fratello
You blink once, and it is Sunday again! Fear not - we have another big horological battle prepared to help you softly transition into action this morning. This week, we pit the Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 against the iconic Audemars Piguet Royal Oak “Jumbo” 16202. It is the watch world’s latest darling reissue versus the […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 16202 Vs. Vacheron Constantin Historiques 222 to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Florida-based, Swiss-inspired, and thankfully, affordable!The post What makes Montreux’s affordable straps ‘Swiss-inspired?’ appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Monochrome
The Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry has just released their export statistic for 2024 – December ended the year on a negative note with exports down 5.4%. For the year as a whole, the Swiss watch industry exports recorded a decrease of 2.8% compared to 2023. Following two years of robust growth and all-time […]
Fratello
Welcome to another episode of Sunday Morning Showdown. Last week, we put the vintage and modern steel versions of the Vacheron Constantin 222 up against each other. Even though there are quite a few years between those two watches, you’d probably be happy with either. This week, however, we expect the matchup to be more […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Omega Speedmaster Moonphase Meteorite Vs. Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Control Chronograph Calendar to read the full article.
Fratello
Beware, this is a low-brow edition of Sunday Morning Showdown! We usually stick to watches, but this week, the emotions may run a lot higher. This is, after all, a battle between former lovers. It is a showdown between former spouses, even. Daan and Thomas will perform some post-marriage counseling for a certain Miss Piggy […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Oris ProPilot X Kermit Edition Vs. Miss Piggy Edition to read the full article.
Time+Tide
Zaratsu polishing can achieve a distortion-free mirror finish on a watch case. But what is it exactly, and where did it come from?The post A distortion-free explanation of what Zaratsu polishing actually is, and its not-so-Japanese origins appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
Fratello
Welcome to our last Sunday Morning Showdown of the year. Next week, Jorg will share this year’s Sunday Morning Showdown highlights, so let’s go out with a bang. Today, we put the new Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified up against the Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback. The leaks of the Speedmaster Pilot for US military […] Visit Sunday Morning Showdown: Omega Speedmaster Pilot Flight Qualified Vs. Zenith Pilot Big Date Flyback to read the full article.
Fratello
Welcome back to Fratello Talks. Everyone knows Switzerland is home to some of the world’s greatest and most renowned watch brands. But plenty of brands outside the Alpine region - and even outside Europe - produce high-end mechanical timepieces that can stand shoulder to shoulder with their Swiss contemporaries. Some of these non-Swiss brands have […] Visit Fratello Talks: Non-Swiss Watch Brands That We Love to read the full article.
Deployant
There are many celebrated heroes from the world of independent watchmaking. But how many of these unsung heroes do you know?
Time+Tide
To Jubilee or not to Jubilee? We debate whether the Rolex GMT-Master II looks better on a Jubilee or Oyster bracelet.The post Oyster vs Jubilee: Which bracelet does the Rolex GMT-Master II look better on? appeared first on Time+Tide Watches.
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