Donald Trump returns to the White House after one of the most remarkable political comebacks in U.S. history. But his side hustle as frontman for an emerging luxury watch brand has so far been less successful.
Most of the $100,000 watches approved by the next U.S. president and emblazoned with his name have yet to sell. So far, the Swiss maker of Trump tourbillon watches has found that only the solid gold and diamonds it sells on its website gettrumpwatches.com have been tested, according to David Guten, an industry veteran hired as a director by watchmaker Montrichard. It is said that orders have been received for more than 10% of the 147 inlaid watches. Venture.
“We are working on things like a new website to promote and promote it even more,” Guten said in an interview in Switzerland.
Trump’s luxury watches attracted international attention when they went on sale in September. Critics questioned the price and wondered if customers were seeking political influence.
Trump has been licensing products that bear his name for decades. There were Trump steaks, water, real estate seminars, guitars, Bibles, sneakers, photo books, virtual currency ventures, and more.
This tourbillon watch is the most expensive of several watches introduced by President Trump’s brand. Tourbillons – mechanical additions to improve a watch’s accuracy – have traditionally been used in the most expensive watches because of their complexity. These often appear on open-faced or cut-out watch faces, or on see-through glass casebacks.
Montrichard is a private label watch manufacturer with operations in Switzerland, Asia, and the United States. The company has produced watches such as the Nivada Grenchen, Vulcan, and Space One. Trump Watch is sold through a company called BestWatchesonEarth LLC, whose website says it is based in Sheridan, Wyoming. Representatives from BestWatchesonEarth LLC did not respond to multiple email requests for comment.
Guten said the Trump Tourbillon watch costs at least $25,000 in materials to make, and that a price increase of up to $100,000 is within standard industry practice.
He said anyone who wants to buy a $100,000 Trump watch will have to prove their identity.
“Not everyone can buy a watch. You have to send your passport to see if it’s available,” he says. “They don’t want their products to be used as political weapons. Therefore, we do not accept customers from terrorist states.”
Guten, who joined the role in October, said he has yet to meet anyone at BestWatchesonEarth LLC in person.
‘victory’
In addition to the Trump Tourbillon watch, the Montrichard Group also produces other low-priced models with names such as “Crypto President” and “Fighter.” Swiss newspaper Le Temps first reported earlier this week that Mr. Montrichard was Mr. Trump’s watchmaker.
CEO Remi Chabrat confirmed this via text message.
Montrichard, which makes the Trump Watch, did not respond to questions about where the cheaper model was produced or how many were sold.
In 50 years, the tourbillon Trump watch “will really be a collector’s item,” Chabrat said in an interview Nov. 11.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
