Columnists

Squirrel Spotting: Life After Rolex

ColumnistsFeb 20, 2024

Squirrel Spotting: Life After Rolex

Peter Smith shares advice from independent jewelers who used losing this cornerstone brand as a catalyst for reinvention.

National Jeweler columnist Peter Smith
Peter Smith is an industry consultant, speaker, sales trainer, and author. He can be reached via email at TheRetailSmiths@gmail.com.
It’s more ripple than tidal, more stealth than seismic, but there appears to be a shift in the tectonic plates that define the relationship between Rolex and independent jewelry retailers. 

As quietly as is feasible under the circumstances, some long-standing authorized Rolex dealers appear to be receiving the dreaded “Dear John” letters signaling the Crown’s intent to end their relationship at a level I have not witnessed before.  

The historical justifications (explicit or otherwise) that drove previous separations—not following the rules, misrepresenting the brand, unwanted creative pricing, transshipping, etc.—seem to have given way to something decidedly less tangible, less actionable, and that appears, to the untrained eye, to be your store’s address. 

Based on a random group of retailers who recently have been notified of Rolex’s intent to end their relationship, it seems to matter not a whit what a given retailer’s Rolex sales are, how committed they are to the brand, how impressive their Rolex environment is, how long they have carried the brand, or how ambitious their Rolex aspirations might be. 

If your castle is built on the wrong hill, there just might be cause for concern. 

For many current Rolex retailers, those in A markets, those with Rolex stores (distinct from Rolex environments inside their jewelry stores), those with neighboring stores named Chanel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, etc., there should be no lost sleep. 

For others, however—especially those in B markets—they might want to pay attention to what is happening with recently closed Rolex retailers, and they might want to prepare a Plan B, just in case the unthinkable happens. 

Being prepared with a “what if” has nothing but upside. 

If you don’t get that letter, the impact of preparing for that scenario is that you will have improved an element of your business while continuing to execute your Rolex story. 

If, however, you do get the dreaded communication, your pre-emptive initiatives will help to mitigate a huge transition in your business. 

While there is no ready substitute for Rolex, there are other brands (and I don’t mean just timepieces) that can help your store recover the lost Rolex business. 

An important consideration is that you don’t have to replace the Rolex sales, you need to replace the lost gross-margin dollars. 

If you are looking to replace $3 million in Rolex sales, that becomes (assuming a 35 percent margin) a $1.05 million gross margin challenge. 

Again, not nothing, but a good deal more palatable than thinking about the loss as a $3 million hit.
 
I spoke to a few retailers to understand the experience of losing Rolex and how they moved on from it.

It’s a great lesson for any retailer facing the threat of, or dealing with the fallout from, the unexpected exit of a key vendor that brought them a lot of publicity, foot traffic, and sales.   

 Related stories will be right here … 

One of the things that stood out in my conversations with retailers was their absolute disbelief when the letter arrived. According to them, there had been no warnings, no inklings at all of what was to happen. 

These retailers, I should point out, were not amongst the most recent closures (those wounds are too raw), but their recollection and shock at what happened still resonates. 

Brad Hart from Hauser’s Jewelers in Newport News, Virginia, said, “Amy and I had a post-Christmas getaway, and we were talking about how proud we were about our Rolex sales. 

“Two weeks later, we got the letter. It was a gut-punch. We’d been an authorized dealer since 1977, and it was such an important part of our identity. They’d even told us that it was an honor for them to be in a family business like ours.” 

Natasha Henderson from Saxon’s Fine Jewelers in Bend, Oregon, said, “We had absolutely no idea. In fact, we had been in discussions with our Rolex rep and taking his lead on a planned Rolex remodel. We did everything they asked of us and never gave them any reason to be concerned about how we represented the brand.” 

Armando Gonzalez from Blue Marlin Jewelry in Islamorada, Florida, said: “We had just put the new Rolex environment in three or four years previously. We followed every rule to a ‘T’ and represented the brand well. Then one day I got an email from a private server telling me that we were losing the brand. 

“I thought it was some kind of bad joke, but when I followed up with Rolex they confirmed that it was true. I’m a small store and what they did almost put me out of business. Heck, they had just invited me to a training in February, and then I got the letter in April.” 

It is a matter of conjecture as to why these retailers, or any of the more recent Rolex closures are getting shut down, but overexposure for the brand was likely not one of the reasons. 

Saxon’s was a two-and-a-half-hour drive from the next Rolex dealer. Blue Marlin was a hard 60 miles (Southeast Florida!) from the next closest dealer, and Hauser’s, on the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, was a solid hour from their nearest Rolex competitor. 

Henderson said she was sick to her stomach when she opened the letter. 

“I’m second generation, and my first thought was how am I going to break the news to my parents and to Bruce, our founders. It was our goal to have Rolex to help put us on the map, and now we were going to have to reinvent ourselves on the fly. I had a pity party for about a week, and then I got down to the hard business of what needed to be done. 

“We got ahead of things by contacting our customers before they heard the news elsewhere. We started looking at other brands that could step into the vacuum and replace those gross margin dollars, and we recalibrated our team to focus on increasing our average ticket and creating a culture on add-on sales.” 

Brad Hart said he didn’t want Hauser’s to be known as the store that lost Rolex. 

“We had a meeting with our team, and we literally set about reinventing the store. We focused on higher-margin products. 

“You know, there’s a certain freedom that comes with being able to chart your own growth, absent the dictates that were such a part of that relationship.” 

Gonzalez said, “We reached out to other vendors, brought in another watch brand, and we continued to do the very best we could do for our customers. It wasn’t something we expected or welcomed, but it wasn’t going to define us.” 

Losing Rolex was not on the agenda of things you’d expect to happen for any of these retailers, but once it happened, they used it as a catalyst for reinvention. 

As Natasha offered, “We had survived the recession of 2008, we had weathered those early uncertain weeks and months of COVID, and we got through this, too, with our business continuing to grow, and more profitable than ever before. 

“That said, we could really have used hearing from someone that this could happen.” 

As Armando said, “If you have Rolex, count your blessings, but know that it could end on a whim.” 

Happy retailing!

The Latest

2026 Gem Awards logo
Events & AwardsAug 04, 2025
Gem Awards, David Yurman Introduce $50K Grant for Emerging Designers

The winner of the inaugural David Yurman Gem Awards Grant will be announced live at the 2026 Gem Awards gala.

Marlo Laz peridot and diamond Alexandra earrings
TrendsAug 04, 2025
Amanda’s Style File: August’s Bright Baubles

As summer winds down, celebrate the sunny disposition of the month’s birthstones: peridot and spinel.

Surveillance image of Watch King robbery suspect
CrimeAug 04, 2025
‘The Watch King’ Assaulted, Robbed in Queens

Moshe Haimoff, a social media personality and 47th Street retailer, was robbed of $559,000 worth of jewelry by men in construction outfits.

rio-article photo-diamond.jpg
Brought to you by
Taking the Moment Head On: How Rio Grande Champions the Present & Future of Fine Jewelry

As a leading global jewelry supplier, Rio Grande is rapidly expanding and developing new solutions to meet the needs of jewelers worldwide.

Xavier Dibbrell
MajorsAug 04, 2025
Borsheims Welcomes New Assistant Facilities Manager

Xavier Dibbrell brings more than a decade of experience to the role.

Weekly QuizJul 31, 2025
This Week’s Quiz
Test your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Take the Quiz
Signet Jewelers logo
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Helzberg President Julie Yoakum Moves Over to Signet Jewelers

The addition of Yoakum, who will lead Kay and Peoples, was one of three executive appointments Signet announced Thursday.

Mike Alexander
MajorsAug 01, 2025
Jewelers Mutual Names Mike Alexander as President

The insurance company’s previous president and CEO, Scott Murphy, has split his role and will continue as CEO.

an instructor and a student in a bench jewelry classroom
Brought to you by
Investing in the Next Generation of Bench Jewelers

The Seymour & Evelyn Holtzman Bench Scholarship from Jewelers of America returns for a second year.

 Gemfields rough rubies
SourcingAug 01, 2025
Gemfields’ Auction Revenue Drops 50% in H1

The nearly six-month pause of operations at its Kagem emerald mine earlier this year impacted the miner’s first-half results.

Hernsdorf Tears of Aphrodite Necklace
CollectionsAug 01, 2025
Piece of the Week: Hernsdorf’s ‘Tears of Aphrodite’ Necklace

The necklace uses spinel drops to immortalize the moment Aphrodite’s tears mixed with her lover Adonis’ blood after he was fatally wounded.

Stock image of a polished diamonds being held by tweezers
SourcingJul 31, 2025
De Beers Records $189M First-Half Loss

The diamond miner and marketer warned last week that it expected to be in the red after significantly cutting prices in Q2.

Lindsey Scoggins Studio convertible flower earrings
Events & AwardsJul 31, 2025
These Are the 2025 CASE Award Winners

Jewelers of America’s 35th annual design contest recognized creativity, artistry, style, and excellence.

Matthew Tratner, new president of Continental Buying Group
IndependentsJul 31, 2025
Matthew Tratner Takes Over as CBG President

Tratner succeeds Andie Weinman, who will begin stepping back from the buying group’s day-to-day operations.

Stock image of rough diamonds from the Kimberley mine
Policies & IssuesJul 30, 2025
Tariff on India Will Be 25%, Trump Says

The president made the announcement via Truth Social Wednesday, adding that India also will face a penalty for its dealings with Russia.

Pomellato Mini London blue topaz and diamond bracelet
FinancialsJul 30, 2025
Kering's Jewelry Brands Resilient As H1 Sales Slide 16%

The luxury titan’s star brand Gucci continued to struggle amid a "tough" environment.

Zadok Rolex Austin
WatchesJul 30, 2025
Peek Inside Zadok Jewelers’ New Rolex Showroom in Austin

Its opening marks the completion of the retailer’s new 11,000-square-foot store in the Texas capital.

Crowd of people in a shopping mall
SurveysJul 30, 2025
Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in July

Respondents shared concerns about tariffs and commentary on the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Making a Killing in Diamonds by Rob Bates
SourcingJul 30, 2025
Rob Bates to Release Latest Book in His ‘Diamond District Mystery’ Series

“Making a Killing in Diamonds” tells the story of Mimi Rosen, the disappearance of a scientist, and the murder of lab-grown diamond CEO.

Tacori bezel-set diamond bands
EditorsJul 29, 2025
Out & About: Visiting Tacori’s Design Studio in LA

Senior Editor Lenore Fedow learned a lot when she took a behind-the-scenes factory tour with the jewelry brand earlier this year.

Mighty Fierce Audacious Necklace, Sandy Rubin Aziza Necklace, Koulianos Designs Illuminations Shield Pendant
Events & AwardsJul 29, 2025
Melee The Show Welcomes 15 New Designers

The first-time exhibitors, set to debut at the New York City show, share a devotion to craftsmanship, storytelling, and material integrity.

Auctim emerald auction
SourcingJul 29, 2025
Auctim to Offer 7.3M+ Carats of Rough Emeralds

The online auction house’s September sale will feature rough Brazilian emeralds of various qualities.

AGS Board President for 2025-2026 Alexis Padis
MajorsJul 29, 2025
Alexis Padis Re-Elected AGS Board President

She’ll lead an executive committee consisting of President-Elect Bryan Moeller, Mitchell Clark, Bill Farmer, and Larry Rickert.

Stock image of shipping containers
Policies & IssuesJul 28, 2025
U.S.-EU Come to Agreement on Tariffs

Announced Sunday, the deal will set the tax on goods imported into the United States from the European Union at 15 percent.

Nanis Ipanema Collection Campaign
CollectionsJul 28, 2025
Nanis Brings a New Palette to ‘Ipanema’

A new edition of the Italian brand’s “Ipanema” collection has debuted with gemstones that evoke Brazil’s breathtaking views.

Kevin O’ Leary and George Mayer of The 1916 Company
MajorsJul 28, 2025
The 1916 Company Partners with ‘Shark Tank’ Star’s Watch Insurance Platform

The retailer will refer its customers to WonderCare, founded by venture capitalist and watch collector Kevin O’Leary.

Sissy’s new Little Rock store
IndependentsJul 28, 2025
Sissy’s Log Cabin to Open Flagship in Arkansas

The jeweler’s largest store yet is set to open in Little Rock next fall.

Jemma Wynne Forme Toggle Necklace
CollectionsJul 25, 2025
Piece of the Week: Jemma Wynne’s ‘Forme’ Necklace

Anne Hathaway was seen wearing the toggle necklace three times while filming scenes for “The Devil Wears Prada 2.”

×

This site uses cookies to give you the best online experience. By continuing to use & browse this site, we assume you agree to our Privacy Policy