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Breitling Just Bought a 129-Year-Old Watch Brand MajorsJan 18, 2024
Quality Gold Is Making Another Acquisition
It is buying Swiss Crown USA, a wholesaler that specializes in independently certified pre-owned Rolexes.
Quality Gold Inc. will acquire Swiss Crown USA in a deal expected to close by the end of the month.
Fairfield, Ohio—Quality Gold Inc. announced earlier this week that it will acquire Swiss Crown USA.
Founded by Daniel Marks and Scott Freberg, Swiss Crown USA has been distributing secondhand Rolex watches since 2013, a decade before Rolex announced it would begin certifying used watches and making them available via its official network of retailers.
The watches Swiss Crown USA distributes are not part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program and are instead certified by an independent third-party company.
In the news release announcing the acquisition, Quality Gold noted: “Rolex and the model names mentioned are registered trademarks of Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc.
“Quality Gold Inc. and Swiss Crown USA are not authorized dealers for, nor affiliated with, endorsed by Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.”
Quality Gold CEO Michael Langhammer said Swiss Crown USA is an “ideal acquisition” for the company because of its strong reputation and expertise in the market.
“The Swiss Crown team created a loyal retailer base, and we look forward to having the opportunity to leverage their industry expertise, product portfolio, and customer network as we continue to deliver value to our retail partners,” he said.
Quality Gold Chief Operating Officer Jason Langhammer added, “This acquisition accelerates our growth, particularly within the pre-owned Rolex watch segment. It is a smart and strong addition for us.
“We look forward to building upon their success and continuing to offer the Swiss Crown USA brand to retailers.”
Related stories will be right here …
Founded by Daniel Marks and Scott Freberg, Swiss Crown USA has been distributing secondhand Rolex watches since 2013, a decade before Rolex announced it would begin certifying used watches and making them available via its official network of retailers.
The watches Swiss Crown USA distributes are not part of the Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program and are instead certified by an independent third-party company.
In the news release announcing the acquisition, Quality Gold noted: “Rolex and the model names mentioned are registered trademarks of Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc.
“Quality Gold Inc. and Swiss Crown USA are not authorized dealers for, nor affiliated with, endorsed by Rolex Watch U.S.A. Inc. or any of its affiliates or subsidiaries.”
Quality Gold CEO Michael Langhammer said Swiss Crown USA is an “ideal acquisition” for the company because of its strong reputation and expertise in the market.
“The Swiss Crown team created a loyal retailer base, and we look forward to having the opportunity to leverage their industry expertise, product portfolio, and customer network as we continue to deliver value to our retail partners,” he said.
Quality Gold Chief Operating Officer Jason Langhammer added, “This acquisition accelerates our growth, particularly within the pre-owned Rolex watch segment. It is a smart and strong addition for us.
“We look forward to building upon their success and continuing to offer the Swiss Crown USA brand to retailers.”
The Swiss Crown USA business, which is based in Chicago, will relocate to its headquarters to the Cincinnati suburb of Fairfield. It will operate as a brand of Quality Gold.
Marks and Freberg will not remain with the company following the acquisition, but three key employees will, including Swiss Crown USA Brand Manager Jack Newton.
Freberg said they have “complete confidence” Quality Gold will uphold Swiss Crown USA’s reputation for service and quality.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the entire jewelry community that we’ve had the pleasure to work within,” he said.
“Over the years, we’ve developed relationships worldwide and learned so much from others with a passion for luxury watches and pre-owned Rolex timepieces.”
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Quality Gold’s acquisition of Swiss Crown USA is expected to close by the end of January.
The company said in early February it plans to release a 44-page catalog featuring more than 180 Swiss Crown brand independently certified pre-owned Rolex watches.
The pending purchase of Swiss Crown USA is the latest in a line of acquisitions by Quality Gold, which bought jewelry wholesaler Herco last January and IBGoodman Manufacturing Co. in June 2022, among others.
In October 2022, the company announced it would go public via a merger with a special purpose acquisition company called Tastemaker Acquisition Corp.
It later canceled its IPO, citing market conditions.
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