Collections

Is the Gray Market Slowing Down?

CollectionsMar 23, 2018

Is the Gray Market Slowing Down?

Yes, say watch retailers and a market analyst, but it will never go away completely.

20180323_grey_market_header.jpg

New York--The main complaint about “gray market” watches—new watches sold by unauthorized dealers—is that they make it harder for authorized dealers to turn a profit on luxury watches.

Some quality brands are harder to find from non-authorized dealers than others, and discounts vary, but in many cases, a gray market watch can be bought for 25 to 35 percent less than what an authorized dealer would ask.

These aren’t fakes; they’re the real thing, although they are often close-outs or less desirable models. But if a customer tells an authorized dealer, “I can get this $40,000 watch online for $30,000,” that dealer will have to choose between negotiating or losing the sale.

The gray market probably never will go away entirely. Indeed, some retailers say it must be tolerated; otherwise the manufacturer would have to find less acceptable methods of disposing of surplus product, such as simply destroying it.

Retailers who sell authorized pieces, however, do have some advantages, which they should stress to the customer. Mainly, they sell peace of mind. They can assure the customer that the warranty is ironclad. They can provide expert information on watch technology, functions, and provenance, and the watch’s value as a collector’s item.

Navigating the Gray Area
Many watches found on the gray market in the United States were meant for sale overseas, but were sold to distributors who sold them to unauthorized distributors in North America. In this way, an individual consumer can buy a high-end piece by a big-name maker not only at a discount, but considerably faster than he or she could get it from an authorized dealer.

That consumer will often know that he’s buying a gray market watch. Authorized dealers, as a rule, don’t discount high-end watches significantly.

There’s nothing illegal about buying a watch from an unauthorized dealer. To the consumer, the downside only appears if and when the watch needs servicing. Gray market watches have no manufacturer’s warranty, and it’s easy for authorized distributors to identify watches that they didn’t sell.

“As the mainstream market continues to improve, and as some of the larger producers make efforts to ensure their product isn’t getting into gray market channels, the gray market is likely to get tighter in the future.” – Jon Cox, Kepler Cheuvreux
Gray market distributors offer their own warranties, of course, but those are hit-or-miss. Skilled watch repairers are hard to find,
and these distributors often can’t afford to hire them.

Moreover, repairers who aren’t working with an authorized distributor will often be unable to access genuine spare parts. They might be able to put a watch back in working order, but if it now carries a generic part or two, its value as a collector’s item will be severely compromised.

Of course, consumers can get a factory repair from the original maker, but will pay for it. Thus, buying gray is a gamble—but many consumers believe it’s an acceptable risk.

A Way to Unload Old Goods
Some industry insiders concede that the gray market fills a need, and that it isn’t entirely a bad thing.

Selling to unauthorized vendors is a way for distributors to get rid of product that isn’t selling through at the retail price, and/or product that’s being discontinued, to make room for new goods.

The very finest and latest watches are usually better protected, and hard to find outside of authorized channels. In many cases, the manufacturer must choose between tolerating the gray market, or reclaiming and destroying unsold product.

Many market observers also agree that the gray market is to some degree a problem of the manufacturers’ making—and that it’s becoming less of a problem.

Watchmakers seem to have realized that they’ve oversupplied the market, and have become more careful about not turning out more product than will sell through.

“With increased demand overall for luxury watches and the previous efforts by small independent retailers, who often use the gray market to offload unwanted inventory, to reduce inventory, the gray market has probably slowed down,” says Jon Cox, head of Swiss equities and European consumer equities at the Zürich-based research firm Kepler Cheuvreux. “You can see this by ordering trends. It takes longer to get the product through the gray market, while the discount to official prices has been cut.

Cox continues, “As the mainstream market continues to improve, and as some of the larger producers make efforts to ensure their product isn’t getting into gray market channels, the gray market is likely to get tighter in the future.”

However, it’s unlikely ever to disappear.

“The market benefits an industry, which remains overwhelmingly wholesale, with watch producers mostly using independent retailers to sell product,” he said. “The watch producers can’t control every stage of distribution, and some turn a blind eye to the gray market, because it frees up space at independent retailers to order new product.”

Cox noted that Richemont, which owns brands including Roger Dubuis, A Lange & Söhne and Vacheron Constantin, has drastically reduced the availability of its pieces on the gray market by buying back their Asian overstocks—but they’re an exception.

Tony Wasserman, vice president of sales and marketing for Old Northeast Jewelers in St. Petersburg, Florida, which carries Glashütte, Omega, Grand Seiko, TAG Heuer, Ulysse Nardin and many others, said all major brands, and all major types of watches, are legally available on the gray market, but he agrees that the inflow of such product seems to be slowing down.

Old Northeast is one of the most prominent authorized dealers of high-end watches in the southern U.S., and Wasserman admits that it’s sometimes hard to get a good margin on watches at retail because of the readiness of gray market product.

“It’s nothing new,” he said. “It’s being done globally, because of inordinate pressure to increase sales. It has slowed down, though.”

It was rampant in the U.S. in the past two years, and its effect on authorized retailers was obvious.

“If a consumer can easily buy a product for not much more than wholesale, you’re not going to sell the same product at retail,” Wasserman said. “If a distributor counts gray goods as sales, they increase their sales but they don’t do much for their bottom line. It’s like getting rid of cars at the end of a model year.”
“The watch business has become a global market. I would liken it to how the diamond market has been affected by the internet … Consumers walk into your store with the four Cs on their smart phones, and they know of eight other places where they can buy what they want for such-and-such a price.” – Tony Wasserman, Old Northeast Jewelers
Gray market watches are easy to find, he said. They’re available on eBay and on various dedicated watch websites. And gray market pieces sometimes find their way into brick-and-mortar retailers like Costco and Walmart.

(Costco famously won a decade-long battle with Swatch Group-owned brand Omega over gray market watches in 2015. Walmart, meanwhile, made headlines this past Black Friday when watches from Cartier, Rolex, Omega and IWC were spotted for sale on its website. Cartier pointed out that Walmart is not an authorized retailer but stopped short of publicly asking the retailer to stop selling the watch.)

“This affects us on a daily basis,” he added. “You can shop online and find someone in Germany who’ll give you a better price. The watch business has become a global market. I would liken it to how the diamond market has been affected by the internet. Diamonds used to be a blind price commodity. Now, consumers walk into your store with the four Cs on their smart phones, and they know of eight other places where they can buy what they want for such-and-such a price.

The only jewelry that has margins, now, is non-branded, he said.

“There was a time, with watches, when the customer didn’t have the wherewithal to shop 30 places for an item. The jeweler could sell it at a price. Now, even brands that aren’t known as ‘discount brands’ are being discounted at the retail level. If a brand is over-distributed, and several retailers in your area are selling it, you’re going to discount it to get it out of your showcase.”

Wasserman said some customers come to his store for repairs, claiming they bought the watch new and boxed. They did, but the warranty is void since it didn’t come from an authorized dealer.

Many customers, he said, aren’t aware that the unauthorized dealer might have bought the piece with a warranty, but that warranty doesn’t pass to the final owner.

“If we sell through a distributor in North America, we track the serial number,” he said. “If you call me about a watch with a serial number, we can track whom we sold it to.”

Some Gray Product Is Inevitable
Jeffrey Hess, CEO of Duber Time, a St. Petersburg-based distributor who also owns two Old Northeast Jewelers stores in the area, admits that that he has closeouts from time to time, but adds that he’s careful about ensuring that they are indeed old pieces, and that the amounts on the streets are minimal.

“We understand that many brands have older, unpopular merchandise that will be discounted,” he said. “Since we are authorized dealers for so many brands, we can appreciate the brands that do it in a discreet and careful manner. The brands that are less discreet are quickly jettisoned from our store.” Hess refused to give the names of the worst offenders.

“Grand Seiko, just for one, takes great care of its authorized dealers on the close-out market. They’ll buy your product back from you,” he said. “Some brands, though, seem to manufacture for the close-out market. We see the same watches turn up constantly. Sure, they’ll sell a few pieces to their authorized distributors at the regular price, but then they’ll sell to the close-out guys at 30 cents on the dollar. If they were American companies, they’d be in court all day.”

Another problem the authorized retailer faces, Hess noted, is the tendency of customers to spend 60 to 90 minutes in a store, looking at high-end watches, making their purchase decision and then finding that item online at a discount.

Paul Altieri, CEO of Bob’s Watches in Huntington Beach, California, specializes in pre-owned watches.

He calls the internet the “biggest disruptor” of the watch industry, adding that most brands don’t have a strategy for protecting authorized retailers from gray goods.

“It’s a matter of time until the major watch brands find a way to offer their products online,” he said. “That will surely have a negative impact on the gray market dealers. There’s a huge upside to brands selling online through established marketplaces.”
Brecken Branstratoris the senior editor, gemstones at National Jeweler, covering sourcing, pricing and other developments in the colored stone sector.

The Latest

Asian Star’s diamond manufacturing facility in India
SourcingMar 27, 2024
Compliance, Caution, and Concern: The Current Outlook of Indian Diamantaires

There is a willingness to comply with new government-mandated regulations, with an insistence that they should be practical and realistic.

Kira Diam solar plant
Lab-GrownMar 27, 2024
Indian Lab-Grown Diamond Manufacturers Keep Growing

A combination of factors is driving growth in the industry despite the precipitous drop in prices across the board.

Bharat Ratnam, a Mega Common Facilitation Centre (CFC)
SourcingMar 27, 2024
Reinvigorating SEEPZ, the Epicenter of India’s Studded Jewelry Exports

The zone’s modernization will enhance and increase India’s jewelry manufacturing capabilities while aiding small and mid-sized businesses.

Jewelers of America Fly In Washington, D.C.
Brought to you by
How Jewelers of America Represents Your Business

For over 30 years, JA has advocated for the industry, fought against harmful legislation and backed measures that help jewelry businesses.

SRK Empire and SRK House
Policies & IssuesMar 27, 2024
SRK Exports’ Journey Toward Net Zero Impact

By the end of this year, SRK’s diamond manufacturing complexes will achieve net zero emissions, one of an impressive array of achievements.

Weekly QuizMar 21, 2024
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge with this short test.
Take the Quiz
Georgia May Jagger Tommy Hilfiger ad campaign
FinancialsMar 27, 2024
Movado’s Full-Year Sales Sink 11%

The company plans to invest $25 million in marketing initiatives to boost awareness around its namesake and licensed brands.

Hand holding shopping bags
SurveysMar 27, 2024
Consumer Confidence Held Steady in March

Optimism about the current state of the economy was offset by anxiety around inflation and the political environment.

BTYB-HoBrothers-updated.png
Brought to you by
The Scalable, Professional, and Effortless Solution for High-Demand Custom Jewelry Retailers

Ho Brothers offers scalable solutions for the future of custom jewelry.

Bernadette Mack
Policies & IssuesMar 27, 2024
Mercury Free Mining Hires Bernadette Mack

The former WJA executive director is MFM’s new managing director.

April Is Diamonds Do Good Month
Policies & IssuesMar 27, 2024
Diamonds Do Good Announces Its April Initiative

DDG encourages retailers to educate customers on the positive impact of purchasing natural diamonds.

Tiffany & Co. With Love, Since 1837
MajorsMar 26, 2024
Tiffany & Co. Debuts ‘With Love, Since 1837’ Campaign

Highlighting the most iconic Tiffany collections, it’s inspired by the company’s late window designer, Gene Moore.

National Jeweler columnists Duvall O’Steen and Jen Cullen Williams
ColumnistsMar 26, 2024
Creative Connecting: AI Tools and Tips for Social Media

Jen Cullen Williams and Duvall O’Steen explore how jewelers can save time and money by using AI to analyze engagement and create content.

Nordstrom Men’s Store New York City
MajorsMar 26, 2024
Nordstrom May Go Private, Says Report

The retailer previously turned down an $8.4 billion offer in 2018.

Interior of Miami Lakes Jewelers
IndependentsMar 26, 2024
Miami Lakes Jewelers to Close After 37 Years

The Florida store’s owner Miguel Gonzalez is retiring.

 International Gemological Institute
GradingMar 26, 2024
IGI Announces Tech for ID’ing Lab-Grown Colored Diamonds

The lab stresses the importance of accurate identification, as the difference in price is “substantial.”

Instappraise logo NAJA logo
Events & AwardsMar 25, 2024
NAJA, Instappraise Offering Scholarships for Aspiring Jewelry Appraisers

One is reserved for a NAJA member, the other for a non-member.

Carie Lehrke and Megan Mattice
MajorsMar 25, 2024
Borsheims Announces New VP of HR, Assistant Manager

Longtime employees Carie Lehrke and Megan Mattice have received promotions.

My Next Question graphic vintage jewelry webinar
Recorded WebinarsMar 22, 2024
Watch: How to Buy and Sell Vintage Jewelry

Three guests joined National Jeweler and Jewelers of America to discuss trending time periods, spotting reproductions, and more.

Chris Clipper and Robert Lepere
MajorsMar 22, 2024
David Yurman Announces New CFO, Chief People Officer

Chris Clipper and Robert Lepere join the company with 50 years of combined experience.

Stock image of police cars with their lights on
CrimeMar 21, 2024
Sparks Fly as Burglars Lose Safe on California Freeway

JSA said a man and woman pulled the safe out of an Oakland jewelry store but couldn’t quite get it into their van.

Grizzly Mining rough emeralds
SourcingMar 21, 2024
Grizzly Sells 4,145-Carat Emerald for Over $1M

The miner’s March auction generated $19 million.

Helen McCluskey
MajorsMar 21, 2024
Signet Jewelers Names New Board Chair

Helen McCluskey will succeed H. Todd Stitzer when he meets his 12-year term limit in June.

Julia Roberts wearing a Chopard necklace
CollectionsMar 20, 2024
Julia Roberts Co-Designs New Chopard Jewelry Collection

“Chopard x Julia Roberts” showcases the first gems cut from the 6,000-carat-plus “Insofu Emerald."

Tanzanite white gold ring Jared
FinancialsMar 20, 2024
Signet’s Q4 Same-Store Sales Sink 10%

The jewelry giant also posted a double-digit drop in same-store sales for the full year.

Gold and diamond Baume & Mercier watch Elvis gave to Dodie Marshall
AuctionsMar 20, 2024
Vintage Baume & Mercier Gifted by Elvis Going Up for Auction

Elvis gave the watch to actress Dodie Marshall after filming “Easy Come, Easy Go.”

Sketch of Suhan Wang necklace design
Events & AwardsMar 20, 2024
See the Winner of GIA’s Design Competition

The Gianmaria Buccellati Foundation Award for Excellence in Jewelry Design was presented to a graduate of the GIA school in Taipei.

Stock image of a gavel and handcuffs
CrimeMar 19, 2024
Jewelry Factory Supervisor Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Precious Metals

The man was charged with money laundering in connection with the theft of gold, silver, and platinum over the course of three years.

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy