The Business of Watches [46] What New York Watch Week's Unbridled Enthusiasm Says About The Market With Griffin Bartsch And TanTan Wang

About this episode

This week on The Business of Watches we regroup and recount the events known as New York Watch Week. From INDIES.NYC, to the FHH Forum to WatchTime and Windup NYC, Griffin Bartsch and TanTan Wang hit the highs and lows of what is now considered the premier calendar week event in the U.S. watch world. The U.S. market's rapid ascension to top dog among timepiece destinations is fully confirmed with more than CHF 4.3 billion worth of watches being imported from Switzerland in 2025, accounting for 17% of overall Swiss watch exports. It's an elevation driven by a surge in enthusiasm and interest in the post-pandemic era with publications like Hodinkee - started way back in 2008 - laying the groundwork for a new generation of watch enthusiast, collector, and buyer. But is the growth sustainable and is the industry catering enough to American tastes and needs? Is the U.S. market strength a fleeting diversion or is it in it for the long haul? Hodinkee editors Andy, Griffin and TanTan weigh in on the products and activations conjured by some of the world's biggest watch brands in the largest market for luxury and premium timepieces. Who's getting it right and who's missing the boat? What