Nominations officially open for US Watch Awards 2026
Nominations for the biggest event in the US watch industry’s calendar are now officially open, with retailers encouraged to vote in supplier categories and vice versa.
Taking place at Guastavino’s in New York’s Manhattan on Monday November 23, the US Watch Awards promises to be a celebration of the outstanding people operating day in, day out, within the US watch industry.
Those at the coalface of the US watch industry will be given their say on who they believe has been the hardest-working, most impressive, or most innovative businesses throughout the past 12 months.
Retail:
Independent Retailer of the Year (average selling price below $1,500)
Independent Retailer of the Year (average selling price $1,500–$5,000)
Independent Retailer of the Year (average selling price above $5,000)
Multiple Retailer of the Year
Pre-owned Watch Retailer of the Year
Sales Team of the Year
Unsung Hero of the Year
Best New or Refurbished Store
The retail category will be voted for by brand teams working within the US market.
Brand:
Watch Brand of the Year — Volume (average price below $1,500)
Watch Brand of the Year — Affordable luxury (average price $1,500–$5,000)
Watch Brand of the Year — Luxury (average price $5,000–$10,000)
Watch Brand of the Year — Prestige (average price above $10,000)
Marketing Campaign of the Year
The brand category will be voted for by retailers operating across the United States.
Other:
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sustainable Business of the Year
External Supplier of the Year
Rising Star Award (retail or brand exec under the age of 30)
Event of the Year
Miscellaneous awards will be voted for by both brand and retail teams operating within the US market.
The nominations process will run for 12 weeks, closing on August 31 August. Shortlists will then be announced, and the industry will be given a six-week window to vote for its winners.
“This is where the fun really begins,” said US Watch Awards CEO, Daniel Malins. “At Watch Insider we have a good idea of who the movers and shakers are in the market, but by including all the companies operating on the front line in the process, we guarantee optimum credibility and fairness.”
“What has struck me when speaking to retailers and brands in the trade is how significant the appetite is for the US Watch Awards, especially with ‘Insider Talks’ — an afternoon of curated panel discussions with industry leaders — taking place on the same day.
“Put simply, there’s nothing else quite like it, so I can’t wait to see which names and nominations crop up over the coming weeks,” Malins concluded.
Nonprofit organization Jewelers for Children has already been announced as a sponsor of this year’s event.
