Is The $100,000 Trump Victory Tourbillon Watch A Rip-Off?

Just last week, the news that there was a new Trump-licensed watch (multiple watches) on the market stirred all sorts of reactions from the horological world and even the political world. Many wondered if the announced 18-karat gold Victory Tourbillon timepiece was really worth the $100,000 price point it held. Others were more interested in the way more attainable $499 and $799 Fight Fight Fight watches.  We are here to say that — depending on how you look at it — these watches could or could not be a rip-off. Are they — especially the Victory Tourbillon — worth what some people might pay? Absolutely not. But they are real watches and sometimes, people just want what they want when it comes to politics.

Here, we bring you the details of these watches and what they’re made of. The watches are produced by BestWatchesOnEarthLLC, which has licensed the Trump name for a collection of limited-edition  timepieces.  The  $100,000 Trump Victory watch, is created in 18-karat gold with a gold bracelet. In total, it weighs about 200 grams, and is set with 122 VS1 diamonds set into the case and the lugs.

Inside the Trump Victory Tourbillon: a tourbillon escapement – difficult to make and usually expensive to build. However, of late, some watch brands have been able to produce more accessible tourbillon escapements – meaning instead of a watch costing $100,000, it could cost $25,000.

Curiously, no specific information is available on the movement used in the Trump Victory watch escept that it is described as having a TX 07 tourbillon with a 105-hour power reserve. However, with research, we were able to discern that  the movement is one of the more affordable options, a hand-wound mechanical tourbillon produced by BCP Tourbillon, which was co-founded by watchmaker Olivier Mory. The tourbillon movement sells for just under $5,000 when bought in bulk of between 100 and 200 pieces.

Considering the estimated $17,000 – $20,000 value of the gold and a few thousand dollars for the diamonds, if we add the price of an affordable Swiss-made tourbillon escapement like the aforementioned one, the total value of the watch may be around $30,000 at most. This leaves substantial room for profit on a watch that retails for $100,000. The Trump Victory watch is available in a signed and numbered edition, with just 147 pieces being produced.

The website selling the watches clarifies that they are neither designed nor distributed by Donald J. Trump or the Trump Organization. BestWatchesOnEarthLLC has simply licensed the Trump name. The site also emphasizes that the watches are not politically affiliated, and no campaign funds are involved. The product images, the site notes, may not exactly match the final product, and all sales are pre-orders with no refunds allowed.

Additionally, there’s a second model launching: the “Fight Fight Fight” watch. This sports watch, water-resistant to 200 meters, is available in three versions: a stainless steel model with a red dial, a two-tone steel and gold-plated model with a black dial, and a fully gold-plated version with a black dial, limited to 1,000 pieces and priced at $799. These watches, featuring Trump’s signature on the dial, use the Japanese-made TMI NH36 caliber by Seiko and do not bear the “Swiss Made” label.

Trump, ever the business mogul, has long capitalized on licensing deals. In the early 2000s, a Donald J. Trump watch collection was sold at Macy’s for under $1,000. Today, his name graces high-end sneakers, coins, and even a Bible, with watches being the latest addition to his licensing portfolio.