In the face of consolidation, more watch retailers are turning to resale as a lifeline

When Rolex made its surprise announcement in August that it had acquired one of the largest watch retailers in the world, Bucherer, there was an immediate impact on Bucherer’s competitors. Watches of Switzerland, Bucherer’s main competitor, instantly lost nearly a quarter of its value as investors worried that a Rolex-owned Bucherer would suck up an inordinate amount of market share in the luxury watch space.