Swatch Group investigated over alleged failure to refund consumers after tariff invalidation

Edelson Lechtzin LLP, a national law firm, has launched an investigation into The Swatch Group concerning allegations that the company raised prices on its watches and jewelry in response to tariffs imposed by the U.S. administration and subsequently failed to refund consumers after the Supreme Court invalidated these tariffs.

The Swatch Group, which owns 16 watch and jewelry brands including Blancpain, Harry Winston, Omega, Longines, Tissot, and Hamilton, reportedly increased prices starting in early 2025. These increases coincided with the imposition of broad tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), significantly raising the cost of importing consumer goods into the United States.

On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed under IEEPA were unlawful and invalidated them. Following the Supreme Court's decision, importers who had paid these tariffs became eligible to seek refunds from the federal government. Edelson Lechtzin LLP's investigation aims to determine if The Swatch Group profited by passing tariff-related costs onto consumers through price hikes while also positioning itself to reclaim those same tariff payments from the government, potentially creating a windfall at consumers' expense.

The investigation covers products sold under Swatch Group brands during the period the tariffs were in effect. The law firm is seeking information from consumers who purchased these products and may have been affected by these price changes to understand their rights.