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    • .watches

    Generic top-level domainsIDNDNSSEC

    Overview

    .watches is a proposed generic top-level domain (gTLD) submitted under ICANN's New gTLD Program. The string targets the watches market and was applied for by Richemont DNS Inc. The proposal positions the TLD as a platform for the watch industry and related stakeholders.

    History

    • Applied-for as part of ICANN's New gTLD Program; application revealed on 13 June 2012 (Reveal Day).
    • Applicant: Richemont DNS Inc.
    • TLD status listed as Proposed and shown with priority number 1848 for Richemont DNS Inc.
    • The application received a GAC (Governmental Advisory Committee) Early Warning from Australia (GAC Chair Heather Dryden).
    • Following the Early Warning, the applicant submitted Public Interest Commitments (PICs).

    Usage and Audience

    • Intended audience: companies and stakeholders in the watches market, including watch manufacturers, brands, and retailers.
    • The applicant indicated plans to consult with third-party watch manufacturers to assess interest in the .watches registry and to operate a secure, stable and trusted platform.

    Registration Rules

    • Richemont's stated approach (via its PICs) is to develop "transparent, objective, non-discriminatory and qualitative registration criteria" for the .watches registry.
    • The PICs note that final registration and operational policies would be determined after discussions with stakeholders and legal advisers, and as permitted by the ICANN Applicant Guidebook, competition laws and other relevant laws or regulations.

    SEO and Brand Impact

    • The GAC Early Warning raised a concern that the applicant was "seeking exclusive access to a common generic string... that relates to a broad market sector," noting potential unintended consequences and a negative impact on competition.
    • Richemont's PICs frame the registry as aiming to be a secure, stable and trusted platform and commit to consultative, non-discriminatory registration criteria, which are presented as measures to address trust and competitive concerns.

    Operator

    Identity Digital Limited

    Whois

    % IANA WHOIS server
% for more information on IANA, visit http://www.iana.org
% This query returned 1 object

domain:       WATCHES

organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)

contact:      administrative
name:         Vice President, Engineering
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldadmin@identity.digital

contact:      technical
name:         Senior Director, DNS Infrastructure Group
organisation: Identity Digital Limited
address:      c/o Identity Digital Inc.
address:      10500 NE 8th Street, Suite 750
address:      Bellevue WA 98004
address:      United States of America (the)
phone:        +1.425.298.2200
fax-no:       +1.425.671.0020
e-mail:       tldtech@identity.digital

nserver:      A0.NIC.WATCHES 2a01:8840:c6:0:0:0:0:1 65.22.204.1
nserver:      A2.NIC.WATCHES 2a01:8840:c9:0:0:0:0:1 65.22.207.1
nserver:      B0.NIC.WATCHES 2a01:8840:c7:0:0:0:0:1 65.22.205.1
nserver:      C0.NIC.WATCHES 2a01:8840:c8:0:0:0:0:1 65.22.206.1
ds-rdata:     61699 8 2 9110905c79b0c95933eb1f037a0d7a150819f1d1553ad89187a7849039a97ebe

whois:        

status:       ACTIVE
remarks:      Registration information: https://www.identity.digital/

created:      2015-11-12
changed:      2025-09-04
source:       IANA

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