For years, international sourcing has been a go-to play in the luxury watch business.

Fly to Dubai, Geneva, or Hong Kong. Pick up a few pieces at great prices. Fly back to the U.S., and turn a solid profit. Simple, effective and very common.

Not anymore.

Over the past few months, the game has changed in a big way and for those who aren’t paying attention, it could cost more than just profit margins.

🌍 The New Reality in Global Watch Trading: Tariffs are making international deals too expensive.

The cost to move luxury goods across borders has skyrocketed, particularly between the U.S. and key international markets like China and the UAE. It’s no longer profitable to source overseas unless you’re operating at massive scale and even then, margins are shrinking fast.

✈️ Airports are cracking down and watches are being confiscated.

In some countries, border officials aren’t just asking questions. They’re seizing luxury timepieces, even if they’re yours.

Imagine flying into Dubai wearing your personal Richard Mille. You don’t declare it because it’s yours. You wore it in. But when you walk out? It’s confiscated.

We’re hearing more and more cases like this. And it’s not just about how many watches you bring. It’s the assumption that every high-end piece could be inventory you're trying to sneak across borders.

Jewelers are pressing pause on international sourcing.

The risk, the cost, the logistics. It’s all too volatile right now. Many established players have stopped traveling altogether to pick up inventory. The juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.

💡 What This Means for the Market

While it may seem like a challenge, and it is, this shift is also creating new dynamics:

Inventory is tighter. Scarcity is increasing, especially for highly sought-after models.

Prices are climbing. With fewer watches being brought in, market values are adjusting back to more accurate levels.

Localized pricing is returning. Without international arbitrage, the “if I don’t buy it here, I’ll buy it elsewhere” mentality is fading, which gives more control to local sellers.

This is a big shift in how watches are priced, sourced, and sold. And it’s already reshaping the way smart jewelers are operating.