Tariffs on the Rise (Again) – New Justifications, Higher Rates – Episode 85
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of rising tariffs on the watch industry, insights from a major trade show, and the realities behind legal changes affecting prices.
Gabe heads to Las Vegas for one of the largest trade shows in the watch and jewelry world — a B2B behemoth that's quietly making a bigger play for watches than ever before. He breaks down what the show gets right, where it falls short of the events collectors actually obsess over, and the one brand on the floor that genuinely stopped him in his tracks across every price point imaginable. Then the conversation turns to the topic everyone assumed was behind us. Tariffs didn't go away — they just changed costume. Gabe and Asher trace the legal shell game playing out right now: what got struck down, the new justifications being rolled out to take its place, and the deadline this summer that could send rates climbing all over again. If you thought the worst was over, this is the segment to hear. Underneath the legal maneuvering are some genuinely serious accusations being leveled at brands the guys know personally — claims they can say, with absolute certainty, simply aren't true. It's a conversation about what's being said versus what's real, what it means for prices and the collectors who love this hobby, and why there's still far more to look forward to than to fear. Openwork is a…
More episodes of Openwork: Inside the Watch Industry
- The Rise of Tudor – How Rolex Wins by Letting Tudor Dare – Episode 88
- Bonus: Reviving the U.S. Watch Industry – Josh Shapiro (J.N. Shapiro) – Episode 41
- The Analog Boom – Watch Sales Surge to Start 2026 – Episode 87
- Bonus: The Watches of Armin Strom – Claude Greisler (Co-founder & Master Watchmaker) – Episode 86
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