U.S. Tariffs on Swiss Watches: The 39% Levy Reshaping American Collecting (2025)

The border etched into every balance wheel: How import duties have transformed watch ownership into an unwitting act of economic allegiance

In August 2025, the United States imposed a 39 percent tariff on Swiss watch imports, targeting an industry that represented CHF 4.4 billion in annual exports to America. The levy—among the highest e…