This Watch Brand Shows Exactly How Much Trump’s Tariffs Are Costing You

Of course, it’s tough to blame the British brand for these hikes: Absorbing such a hefty duty isn’t an option for a small(ish) firm like Christopher Ward. The 39% tariff placed on Swiss imports is causing pain even for multinational corporations. For those Americans who wish to purchase CW’s watches online, they may be better served waiting until they travel to England to fork over their hard-earned dollars. (Mike French, the brand’s co-founder and CEO, reported to WatchPro that he hasn’t raised prices in two-and-a-half years, making this recent tariff-induced price hike perhaps a bit more palatable.)

In the broader watch world, effects of the 39% duty seem to be less pronounced: Nick Hayek Jr, CEO of the Swatch Group, reported to Reuters last week that he had sent increased stock to the United States following the initial tariff announcements back in April, noting that there’s roughly three to six months’ worth of runway before the U.S. market begins feeling the tariff’s effects on watches from Omega, Longines, and Swatch itself. Still, the Swatch Group already increased prices by roughly 5% earlier in the year, pricing in some of the uncertainty surrounding tariffs ahead of the 39% duty taking place this week. (Many other Swiss watch brands did the same, bumping prices between 3 and 10%.)

The U.S. market captures a significant slice of the Swiss-made pie, while the Chinese import market for Swiss watches has been cooling lately. And while the rest of Europe is “enjoying” a tariff of only 15%, the American administration couldn’t reach a deal with the Swiss, who are now subjected to the highest tariff level among developed nations. The situation has the potential to make business untenable for US-based importers and distributors of smaller and less expensive Swiss watch brands, which will be especially affected by the 39% duty. American buyers of watches from larger luxury brands, meanwhile, will undoubtedly still feel the pain, though certainly to a lesser degree.

It’s not all doom and gloom, to be sure. The watch industry is broader than just the Swiss watch market, and pieces made in France, Germany, Japan, and elsewhere will—for the moment—avoid such tremendous price hikes in the US. As far as Swiss watches are concerned, maybe it really is a good idea to snag your grail soon, before American shelves run out!