Mobile Menu

Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany - Market Research Report (2015-2030)

Yuhua Tang Yuhua Tang Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: August 2025 WZ G46.48DE

Revenue

€3.9bn

2025

€3.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

8,694

Businesses

830

Wages

€XXX.Xm

Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany industry analysis

In the last five years, industry sales have fallen by an average of 2.5 per cent per year. One of the main reasons for this is the increasing importance of direct sales by brand manufacturers who are establishing their own sales channels. As a result, traditional wholesalers are not only losing sales, but also their function as a link between manufacturers and retailers. This trend is being reinforced in particular by the increased exclusive and direct sale of particularly popular models by manufacturers to end customers. The increasing importance of online retail and the expansion of digital marketplaces are leading to improved price transparency and putting pressure on wholesalers' profit margins. A further decline in sales of 4% is expected for the current year, resulting in a fall in turnover to 3.9 billion euros. In order to remain competitive, wholesalers are responding by developing their own collections, expanding services for retailers and developing digital distribution channels.

In phases of economic uncertainty, luxury watches are in increasing demand as an investment, while jewellery and watches in the entry-level and mid-price segments are in decline. Manufacturers of exclusive brands mainly sell their products through their own sales outlets. Profit margins also differ significantly between the luxury and non-luxury segments. Suppliers in the luxury segment generally benefit from higher margins. Traditional wholesalers, who mainly operate in the mid-price segment, therefore have to make do with lower margins and cannot benefit from the trend towards purchasing watches as an investment.

Trends and Insights

  • Growing online retail and increased price transparency mean that wholesalers in the watch and jewellery sector are coming under increasing pressure on margins. Consumers and retailers are comparing prices online, which is intensifying the competitive situation, particularly in the entry-level and mid-price segments.
  • Due to the high value of the precious metals and jewellery used in it, real jewellery is not only purchased as an accessory, but also as an investment. The share of sales in this segment is expected to increase over the next five years.
  • Within the central region, the retail companies are located in Germany's most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The industry players benefit from the state's good transport connections, as deliveries can be made from there throughout Germany and Europe.
  • Due to the high level of fragmentation, the wholesale of watches and jewellery is characterised by intense competition within the industry. Wholesalers compete with each other on their product range, prices and delivery capacities.
Show more

Get more expert insights that help you cut through the noise.

Get fast answers to complex questions about your business or your client’s industry. Annual memberships include unlimited access to data and analysis for thousands of industries globally.

Get in Touch

Unlock Expert Insights with Full Platform Access

  • Human Driven & Verified Analysis
  • Structured Database Powering Workflows
  • Intelligent Tools Empowering Confident Decisions
  • Insight where-and how- you need them

How you can access insights on the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany industry

The Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany Industry Report is available in multiple formats to fit seamlessly into your workflow.

IBISWorld Platform

Answer any industry question in minutes with our entire database at your fingertips.

Screen of the IBISWorld platform user interface Book a demo

API Data Delivery

Feed trusted, human-driven industry intelligence straight into your platform.

Code example of using the IBISWorld API API documentation

Integrations

Streamline your workflow with IBISWorld’s intelligence built into your toolkit.

Screen of Client Application integrating with IBISWorld data View integrations

Related Coverage

Understand the landscape with full access to an IBISWorld license

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 6.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €3.9bn in 2025.

Trends and Insights

Wholesalers are losing sales and importance due to the increasing direct sales from manufacturers to end customers

  • Direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales are becoming increasingly important in competition with traditional sales channels. Brand manufacturers are selling their products directly to end customers without using intermediaries. Manufacturers of watches and jewellery are increasingly investing in the expansion of their own distribution channels with the aim of establishing a direct customer relationship and achieving higher margins. McKinsey predicts that sales of around USD 2.4 billion are likely to be channelled from bricks-and-mortar retailers to manufacturers by 2025.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany
Revenue (2015-2030)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2025-2030)

Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Wholesale will focus more strongly on pre-owned luxury watches and jewellery in future

  • The traditional used goods market is increasingly transforming into a professionally organised Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) market. CPO stands for Certified-Pre-Owned and means that these products have been checked for authenticity and quality by the manufacturers or authorised dealers. Well-known brands such as Rolex and Cartier offer their own CPO programmes, which include certificates of authenticity and guarantees.

Biggest companies in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (€m)
2025
Rolex Deutschland GmbH
588.7
Beeline GmbH
330.1
Deutsche Patek Philippe GmbH
223.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 6 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Genuine jewellery, Watches and Costume jewellery. Genuine jewellery is the largest segment of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Real jewellery is often bought as an investment and is becoming increasingly popular

  • Genuine jewellery is jewellery that is made from precious metals such as gold, silver or platinum or in which real gemstones are incorporated.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This sector includes the wholesale of watches and jewellery such as necklaces, bracelets and rings made of precious metals, textiles, plastic, wood or other raw materials. Items for decorating objects, such as Christmas tree decorations, are not traded.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany include Genuine jewellery, Watches and Costume jewellery.

Companies

Companies covered in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany include Rolex Deutschland GmbH, Beeline GmbH and Deutsche Patek Philippe GmbH.

Purchase this report to view all 6 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

Related terms covered in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany include blood diamond, internet pure player and fingehold.

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 46.48 - Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling in Germany

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Growing online retail and increased price transparency mean that wholesalers in the watch and jewellery sector are coming under increasing pressure on margins. Consumers and ...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
  • Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Due to the high value of the precious metals and jewellery used in it, real jewellery is not only purchased as an accessory, but also as an investment. The share of sales in ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2025
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2025
  • Major market segmentation in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Within the central region, the retail companies are located in Germany's most populous federal state, North Rhine-Westphalia. The industry players benefit from the state's go...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2025

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2025

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Due to the high level of fragmentation, the wholesale of watches and jewellery is characterised by intense competition within the industry. Wholesalers compete with each othe...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2020-2025
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

The acquisition of Bucherer by Rolex significantly strengthens the vertical integration and market position of the leading watch manufacturer. Through the acquisition, Rolex ...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
  • Overview of Rolex Deutschland GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Beeline GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of Deutsche Patek Philippe GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 3 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Rolex Deutschland GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Beeline GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Deutsche Patek Philippe GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 3 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The retail trade in watches and jewellery is the primary sales market for the wholesale trade in watches and jewellery. The turnover generated by specialist retailers can the...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The profit margin in the wholesale of watches and jewellery varies depending on the size of the industry players. Vertically integrated companies such as Rolex can benefit fr...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • Average Wage (2015-2030)
  • Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
  • IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
  • Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
  • Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2015-2030)
  • IVA (2015-2030)
  • Establishments (2015-2030)
  • Enterprises (2015-2030)
  • Employment (2015-2030)
  • Exports (2015-2030)
  • Imports (2015-2030)
  • Wages (2015-2030)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?

The market size of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany is €3.9bn in 2025.

How many businesses are there in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?

There are 830 businesses in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.7 % between 2020 and 2025.

How may import tariffs affect the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 6.3 % between 2020 and 2025.

What is the forecast growth of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany are Rolex Deutschland GmbH, Beeline GmbH and Deutsche Patek Philippe GmbH

What does the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany include?

Genuine jewellery and Watches are part of the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany is Rolex Deutschland GmbH.

How competitive is the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Watch & Jewellery Wholesaling industry in Germany.

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.

feedback