Collective Horology LLC, an independent watch retailer, is making a stand against the Trump Administration over new tariff duties, deeming them ‘unlawful’. In a lawsuit filed in July on behalf of the Ventura-California company, it’s alleged that the new tariffs lack congressional approval, and inflict damage upon American businesses.
The tariffs, imposing levies of 10% and 12.5% on goods imported into the U.S, are claimed in the lawsuit to exceed the President’s authority for such measures. This decisive action from Collective Horology signifies a significant response from the watch industry which financially, has had its legs cut off by these levies. These, alongside a strong Swiss franc, a challenging economic environment and record high precious metals prices, have hit the industry hard.
June 2026 marked a promising recovery for the Swiss watch industry with an 11.2% surge in exports, nearly reaching a total of 2.4 billion francs. This follows a remarkable 8.5% sales increase reported by the Swatch Group and a similar upward trend indicated by Richemont.
After a two-year downturn in 2024 and 2025, this marks the second month of significant recovery for Swiss watches, casting a hopeful light on the industry’s future. The year commenced on a less promising note, with the first quarter barely registering growth. However, with the latest models from Watches & Wonders being distributed worldwide, the exports have seen a substantial upswing in May and June.