- E. Gluck Corporation filed Chapter 11 on Dec 1, 2025, with liabilities topping $36 million and assets roughly equal, seeking restructuring.
- Shift to smartwatches and a failed 2021 wearables acquisition hurt sales, prompting plans to cut unprofitable lines and refocus on core watches.
In an industry that’s ticking along just fine—projected to swell from $66.38 billion this year to nearly $97 billion by 2033—it’s hard to believe one of New York’s most resilient watch companies could be staring down bankruptcy.
But that’s exactly what’s happening at E. Gluck Corporation, the outfit behind the official New York Yankees clock and a slew of fashionable timepieces.
On December 1, 2025, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection in Manhattan’s Southern District court, a move that’s as much a tale of survival against all odds as it is a cautionary nod to how quickly tech can upend even the sturdiest traditions.
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Eugen Gluck’s story doesn’t start in a boardroom; it begins in the unimaginable darkness of 1940s Europe.
How It All Started
A young man in Auschwitz, he made a vow that would define the rest of his life:
“I’m going to survive this. And I’m going to show you how human beings are supposed to treat each other.”
He did just that, emerging to rebuild in post-war New York with his wife, Jean.
`They kicked off with a bakery before pivoting to watches in 1956, turning E. Gluck into a quiet powerhouse.
By embracing new tech and designs, the company carved out a spot in America’s cultural fabric, all while holding fast to that original promise of putting people first.
It’s the kind of origin that feels like a Hollywood script—except this one’s ending in court filings, not a ticker-tape parade.
The numbers paint a stark picture of the squeeze.
Details of the Liabilities and Industry Forecasts
As of October 2025, E. Gluck’s liabilities topped $36 million, just edging out its assets.
With somewhere between $10 million and $50 million in both assets and debts, and a creditor list numbering 1 to 49, the filing isn’t a death knell but a desperate bid to restructure.
The culprits? Consumers ditching analog faces for glowing screens, and a bold but bungled leap into the gadget world.
“Shifting consumer behavior, specifically declining interest in traditional watches due to growth of smartwatches and digital devices,” was flagged as a primary driver in the court documents.
Let’s zoom out to the broader market, because it’s this ironic backdrop that makes E. Gluck’s stumble so poignant.
Demand for watches isn’t fading—it’s exploding.
Grand View Research pegs the global market at $66.38 billion in 2024, on track for $96.81 billion by 2033 with a steady 4.3% compound annual growth rate.
Another forecast from Business Research Insights is even sunnier: starting at $85.33 billion in 2025, ballooning to $191.24 billion by 2033 at an 8.41% clip.
Quartz and mechanical watches? They commanded 68.46% of the pie last year, fueled by folks craving that blend of precision and old-school craft.
Asia Pacific owns nearly half the market at 49.14%, while here in the U.S., we’re looking at a solid 4.2% growth through 2033.
Men snap up 76.05% of sales, analog dials dominate with 91.69%, and brick-and-mortar stores still rule the roost.
Yet amid this boom, E. Gluck got caught flat-footed. Traditional timepieces, their bread and butter, are losing ground to the siren call of multifunction marvels.
As Research and Markets noted in a recent release, “One of the most significant drivers of the global wristwatch market is the rapid adoption of smartwatches, fueled by consumer demand for multifunctional and health-focused devices.”
They cite 2.02 trillion Fitbit app registrations worldwide, with 38 million users checking in weekly.
It’s a tidal wave E. Gluck tried to surf in 2021 by snapping up a controlling stake in WITHit, a Las Vegas-based maker of smartwatch bands, cases, and add-ons for brands like Apple, Samsung, and Fitbit.
The idea was smart: extend those fashion licenses into wearable accessories, turning Anne Klein or Juicy Couture loyalists into tech-savvy upgraders.
But as the filings bluntly put it, the acquisition “did not deliver the benefits that management anticipated.”
What Happens Next?
That misstep wasn’t isolated. E. Gluck’s portfolio is a who’s-who of licensed glamour: watches for Anne Klein, Nine West, Juicy Couture, Vince Camuto, Badgley Mischka, and Joseph Abboud, plus their own Armitron line for everyday affordability and Torgoen for aviation buffs, picked up in 2019.
They even time the Bronx Bombers’ games. But unprofitable lines and unfavorable contracts piled up, forcing this Chapter 11 pivot. The goal now?
Trim the fat—ditch the wearables flop, renegotiate deals, streamline ops—and double down on what they know best: crafting those mid-range, stylish tickers that still turn heads on cruise ships or city streets.
This isn’t E. Gluck’s first brush with reinvention; it’s baked into their DNA.
From Holocaust ashes to Yankee Stadium, they’ve always adapted.
But in a world where your wrist can track heartbeats and headlines, can a company built on promises and pendulums make it through?
The court will decide, but for now, it’s a reminder that even the most inspiring legacies need more than grit—they need to keep time with the times.
Also Read: A Home Depot Rival Files an Unexpected Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
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