Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels Suing NYC Jeweler

Luxury jewelers watchmakers Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier are suing a NYC “luxury watch shop” in the city’s Diamond District for allegedly selling old, damaged and refurbished timepieces from the two companies as “brand new”.  The refurbished watches were fetching prices as high as $85,000.

Van Cleef & Arpels and Cartier are seeking to have the shop Motion in Time destroy its entire collection of their used watches.  They are also suing for damages in a yet unspecified amount for false advertising, trademark dilution, and unfair competition.

The alleged fraudulent activities at the Motion in Time shop were discovered in August when an undercover agent bought a “new” Cartier Tank Française ladies’ steel watch.  According to the Manhattan federal court filing, the watch came in the distinctive Cartier packaging of a box made of red leather, and a manufacturer’s warranty card was included.  However, a subsequent inspection showed that the watch was not new, but was instead used, damaged, and refurbished.

Furthermore, the inspection found that the refurbishment was not carried out by a Cartier-approved craftsman.  The court papers further stated that “in particular, Cartier’s inspection revealed that the crystal was glued into the case using a method or materials that differ from those used by Cartier.”

When a reporter from the New York Post called Motion in Time on Wednesday, November 14, the employee who answered refused to comment on the issue.

Story source:  New York Post

Photo:  courtesy of yourlogoresources.com