Small Rise in US Watch and Jewelry Sales

The modest increase largely reflects a rush by exporters to get their goods into the US before the tariff deadlines and retailers stockpiling for the same reason.

It offsets low consumer demand, which is being compounded by ongoing anxiety over US reciprocal tariffs which are expected to force up prices.

Average monthly growth in watch and jewelry sales so far, for the first seven months of this year, has been around 0.6 per cent, compared to over 5 per cent last year.

Sales in June were down 0.9 per cent, a figure that has been revised up from the original -1.7 per cent, based on actual transactions rather than estimates.

Exports of Swiss watches were up 6.9 per cent, largely driven by manufacturers front-loading their shipments to avoid 39 per cent US tariffs.

Source: DCLA

US Watch and Jewelry Sales Dip in June Ahead of Tariffs

Watch and jewelry sales in the US slipped into negative growth during June – down 1.7 per cent – after 19 months of almost uninterrupted increases.

The decline, after such a prolonged positive period, reflects growing concern over the impact of US reciprocal tariffs which came into force on 1 August, along with broader economic uncertainty in the market and higher gold prices.

Meanwhile the US Department of Commerce has made significant changes to figures published last month. Sales for May have been revised down from +2.8 per cent to +0.7 per cent, based on actual transactions rather than estimates, and April is down from +2.3 per cent to +1.8 per cent.

The original figures indicated that things were better than they actually were, especially after a number of months when monthly sales increases were hovering just above zero. The June dip appears to signal a downturn ahead of the 1 August implementation of tariffs.

Source: IDEX

Al Capone’s Diamond-Studded Patek Philippe Pocket Watch Heads to Sotheby’s Auction

Al Capone’s Diamond-Encrusted Pocket Watch to Be Auctioned at Sotheby’s

A dazzling piece of underworld history is heading to auction: Al Capone’s custom diamond-studded pocket watch, crafted from platinum and set with 90 diamonds, will go under the hammer at Sotheby’s next month. The extraordinary Patek Philippe timepiece, dripping in gangster-era flair and opulence, is expected to fetch between USD $80,000 and $160,000.

Nearly a century before “bust-down” watches became a mainstay in hip-hop culture, Capone was already setting trends. Dissatisfied with the understated design of his factory-made Patek Philippe, the infamous Chicago mob boss commissioned a local jeweller to completely rework it. The result? A solid platinum case housing the original movement, with a striking caseback spelling out “AC” in 90 single-cut diamonds—a bold, custom feature unheard of at the time.

“This type of gem-setting would have been extremely rare during that period,” says Geoff Hess, Sotheby’s Global Head of Watches. “Capone wasn’t just ahead of his time as a criminal—he was ahead of his time in style.”

This is not the first time Capone’s lavish timepiece has appeared at auction. In 2021, it was sold alongside other personal items—including his diamond tie bar and favourite Colt .45 pistol—by his descendants through Witherells, a California-based auction house. Estimated at $25,000 to $50,000, the watch far exceeded expectations, fetching $229,900.

While the dial shows signs of age and the minute hand is missing, the watch remains a compelling piece of Americana. It’s less a horological grail than a conversation-starting symbol of 20th-century notoriety and excess. Today, collectors tend to frown upon aftermarket diamonds, especially in vintage watches—but this piece is a bold exception. Capone’s customised pocket watch stands as a testament to his legacy: extravagant, defiant, and unmistakably iconic.