Business of watches

Statue of Liberty From crisis to resolution: the tariff journey concludes The turbulent tariff saga that shook the Swiss watch industry throughout 2025 has officially concluded. On December 10, 2025, the United States and Switzerland formalized their agreement reducing import tariffs on Swiss goods from 39% to 15%, with the rate applying retroactively to November 14, 2025. For watch enthusiasts and collectors who watched prices climb dramatically after August, this represents

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak By Walty, Pre-owned Watch Specialist at Waltana, Lausanne The savior: Nicolas G. Hayek and the Swatch revolution When Swiss banks hired Nicolas G. Hayek in the early 1980s to oversee what many assumed would be the liquidation of Switzerland's two largest watchmaking groups, ASUAG and SSIH, few could have predicted what would follow. Born in Lebanon in 1928, Hayek had studied mathematics and physics before building a successful management consulting c

The crossroads: when everything changed In the luxury watch industry, where heritage spans centuries and tradition governs nearly every decision, a single strategic choice can elevate a brand to global dominance or condemn it to irrelevance. These aren't subtle course corrections or incremental improvements. They're watershed moments when visionary leaders bet the company's future on radical departures from conventional wisdom—investments in celebrity partnerships, controvers

Mechanical watch movement Hermès Apple watch By Walty, Pre-owned Watch Specialist at Waltana, Lausanne The convergence of luxury watchmaking and high fashion represents one of the most sophisticated expressions of luxury branding. From Hermès' collaboration with Apple Watch to Jaeger-LeCoultre's partnership with Italian leather goods master Valextra, these alliances create timepieces that transcend pure horology to become fashion statements, lifestyle accessories, and wearabl