Following referrals from the Union de la Bijouterie Horlogerie and Pellegrin & Fils, as well as dawn raids, the Autorité de la concurrence has fined Rolex France (jointly and severally with Rolex Holding SA, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation and Rolex SA) for prohibiting its retailers from selling Rolex watches online for more than ten years.

The Autorité considers that the terms of the selective distribution agreement between Rolex France and its retailers constitute a vertical agreement that restricts competition. The Autorité rejected Rolex France’s argument that the ban on online selling was justified by the need to combat counterfeiting and parallel trade. Finding in this respect that Rolex’s main competitors, who face the same risks, authorise the online selling of their products under certain conditions, it considered that these objectives can be achieved by means that are less restrictive of competition.

It has imposed a penalty of €91,600,000 on Rolex France SAS, together with a disclosure and publication injunction.

However, the Autorité rejected the objection concerning the resale prices imposed on its retailers, which had been notified to Rolex. It considered that the evidence in the case did not prove that Rolex France had restricted the pricing freedom of its authorised retailers.

Rolex Fined €91.6 Million for Online Sales Ban

The Autorité de la concurrence, France's competition authority, has fined Rolex France €91,600,000 for enforcing a ban on its authorized retailers from selling Rolex watches online for over a decade. This decision follows referrals from industry groups and dawn raids conducted by the authority.

 The authority determined that the selective distribution agreement between Rolex France and its retailers constituted a vertical agreement that restricts competition. Rolex's defense, which claimed that the online sales ban was necessary to combat counterfeiting and parallel trade, was rejected. The authority noted that Rolex's main competitors allow online sales under certain conditions, suggesting that the same objectives could be achieved through less restrictive means.

 In addition to the fine, the Autorité de la concurrence has mandated a disclosure and publication injunction against Rolex France. However, the authority dismissed concerns regarding resale price maintenance, finding insufficient evidence to support claims that Rolex France had restricted the pricing freedom of its retailers.



Rolex Fined €91.6 Million for Online Sales Ban

The French Competition Authority has imposed a €91.6 million fine on Rolex for preventing its authorized retailers from selling watches online, deeming it a violation of competition law.