

If a large amount of inventory doesn’t sell, the dealers have to find something to do with it. They are often required to buy the products in bulk and are not permitted to sell the unsold product back to the watchmaker. The first part is when authorized dealers make their arrangements. Where do grey market watches come from?Īs mentioned earlier in this article, most grey market watch retailers get their products from authorized dealers. And for the buyers, they can feel 100% secure that they’re getting the real deal. For the dealers, they get to claim a certain level of exclusivity in the products they sell. For the watchmakers, this arrangement makes it easier to undermine counterfeiters. Watchmakers make exclusive arrangements with certain dealers to sell their timepieces. This is where authorized dealers come in. To ensure the value and uniqueness of their creations, watchmakers need to minimize where authentic watches can be attained. There is no end to the number of counterfeiters in the world making cheap yet surprisingly accurate fakes and knock-offs. What is an authorized dealer?įor luxury watch brands (think Rolex and Tag Heuer, among many others), authenticity is their greatest asset. To luxury brands, who would prefer to work exclusively with authorized dealers, the grey market represents a complex quandary. For some people – both consumers and watch dealers – the grey market provides a necessary, even welcome service. Thus, which is why they not only don’t fight hard against the perception of being resellers, they openly discuss their business practices. Grey market retailers are not doing anything illegal. Usually, these retailers buy their product in bulk from authorized watch dealers who have been unable to move their inventory and are trying to recoup losses. It’s the term given to retailers (usually online) who purchase the unsold product and resell them at a huge discounted price. A Video Review on Buying Watches From The Grey Market.Is it unethical to buy on the grey market?.Where do grey market watches come from?.
