On 14 April 2010, the Spanish National Competition Commission ("CNC"), began formal proceedings against several companies that manufacture luxury watches as well as their Spanish importers on suspicion of anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the repair of luxury watches by independent watch repairers.
The proceedings were opened pursuant to a complaint and have been launched against the manufacturers of Breitling, Girard-Perregaux, Oris, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, IWC, Baume & Mercier, Piaget, Panerai, Tag-Heuer, Christian Dior, Zenith, Patek Philippe, Rolex, Tudor, Breguet, Blancpain, Glashütte Original, Jaquet Droz, Léon Hatot, Omega, Longines, Rado, Bvlgari, Daniel Roth, Gerald Genta, Eberhard, Boucheron and Hublot. The Spanish importers, Cronomar S.A., Richemont Iberia S.L., LVMH Relojería and Joyería España S.A., Patek Philippe España S.L., Rolex España S.A., The Swatch Group (Europa) Sociedade Unipessoal S.A., Bulgari España S.A., Distribuidora Internacional de Alta Relojería S.A. and Diarsa Alta Relojería Importación S.L., are also being investigated.
These manufacturers and importers are alleged to have refused or hindered on technical grounds, the supply of spare parts for the repair of the aforementioned brands of watches to watch repairers not forming part of their commercial network.
The Council of the CNC now has up to 18 months to investigate and resolve the case.
To view Community Week, Issue 473, 28 May 2010 in full, click here.
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