Wow, what an experience getting behind the mic live for the first time. Every Friday at 9am we will be coming to you live from the Google Meet link in the Group Calendar. If you cannot make it, all replays will be posted here. Recap: Market Update & Tariff Impact - Christian started with a market update for the previous week, noting significant news over the past two weeks centered around tariffs. - He detailed how tariffs have spiked to 39%, a figure that came as a surprise compared to the expected 31%, signaling uncertainty for the future. - He explained that in April, imports spiked by 150% to stock pre-tariff inventory, which now guides pricing until this inventory is depleted—likely over the next month. - Reports and articles, including one from Reuters, were highlighted as key resources for understanding the impact of these tariffs. - He discussed how micro brands like Christopher Ward are suffering because they do not have pre-tariff inventory to mitigate customs fees, passing additional costs to buyers (for example, a watch’s price rising from roughly $4,500 to nearly $6,500). - He mentioned that price hikes have already begun (such as a recent 3% increase in April) and estimates a further 10-15% increase at the ad (authorized dealer) level. Video Production & Team Efforts - Christian pointed to his website (theartoftime.com) and his YouTube channel (“@TheArtofTimeHQ") as the platforms where his tariff thoughts are featured. - He highlighted one of his best-performing videos on profiting from tariffs, emphasizing that it was produced rapidly after waking up at 6:30am, then quickly edited and published within hours. - He praised his team, mentioning Minaanja, Mihir, and APJ for their incredible efforts in editing and publishing the video in a very short turnaround time. Industry Trends & Secondary Market Insights - He stressed that buying watches from platforms such as eBay or Chrono24 (or directly from the AD) is no longer the smartest move due to upcoming price hikes. - With more watches now trading below retail, he noted a shift in market dynamics where secondary market demand is outpacing retail sales. - Christian argued that many pieces are now cheaper than they were five years ago when adjusted for inflation, making the secondary market a better option for value-conscious buyers. - He encouraged buyers to seek watches on the secondary market, as buying at retail is increasingly likened to losing money on depreciation. - He also mentioned that factors like inflation-adjusted prices at historic lows and rising gold prices (nearing $3,500 an ounce) indicate that now is a good time to shop pre-owned.

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