WatchBox
The 1916 Company (formerly WatchBox) is an omnichannel luxury retailer offering authenticated new and pre-owned watches, fine jewelry, and handbags from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Hermès, serving high-net-worth collectors across e-commerce, mobile, showrooms, and live shopping channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2023
- HeadquartersBala Cynwyd, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What WatchBox does
WatchBox, founded in 2001 and headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, is a luxury watch commerce platform that operated primarily online before merging in 2023 with prominent retailers to rebrand as The 1916 Company. The platform serves high-net-worth individuals and luxury watch collectors through an omnichannel model combining e-commerce (the1916company.com), a mobile application, physical multi-brand showrooms (including an Ardmore, PA location), and a live shopping and video content platform. Inventory spans new luxury timepieces from authorized brands (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, OMEGA, TUDOR, Breitling, and others), certified pre-owned programs such as Rolex Certified Pre-Owned, fine jewelry from brands including Buccellati, Mikimoto, and CHANEL Fine Jewelry, and pre-owned luxury handbags from Hermès, CHANEL, and Louis Vuitton. The company's core technology is an e-commerce platform augmented by AI- and blockchain-based authentication to verify provenance of pre-owned timepieces, supported by trade-in, custom jewelry design, repair, and appraisal services.
The company generates revenue through direct retail and marketplace sales of new and pre-owned luxury watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned handbags via one-time unit pricing that varies from several thousand dollars at entry-level luxury to over $1M for rare collectible timepieces such as the F.P. Journe Astronomic Souveraine. Go-to-market combines omnichannel retail with content-led acquisition via The Journal blog, live shopping broadcasts, and collector-focused video programming (Watches Tonight with Tim Mosso, Market Wrap with Mike Manjos, Collector Conversations). The company operates in the U.S. and has announced planned expansion into Hong Kong, Singapore, Switzerland, and Dubai. Following the 2023 merger and a $165M equity raise in November 2021 co-led by The Radcliff Companies and The Spruce House Partnership, WatchBox has repositioned itself as The 1916 Company, a global luxury goods retailer and platform with combined retail and wholesale reach across major luxury brands.
The company serves a primary customer segment of high-net-worth collectors and enthusiasts purchasing for collection, investment, and personal enjoyment, alongside secondary segments of fine jewelry and pre-owned handbag buyers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and high-ticket items require direct inquiry. The platform competes in a pre-owned luxury watch market projected to grow toward CHF 35B by 2030, with digital channels expected to capture nearly 60% of pre-owned sales by 2026, providing a favorable structural backdrop for the company's online-first model.
WatchBox firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- WatchBox
- Legal name
- The 1916 Company
- Website
- https://thewatchbox.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2023
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The 1916 Company (formerly WatchBox) is an omnichannel luxury retailer offering authenticated new and pre-owned watches, fine jewelry, and handbags from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and Hermès, serving high-net-worth collectors across e-commerce, mobile, showrooms, and live shopping channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
WatchBox industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Luxury Watch and Jewelry Retail
- NAICS
- Jewelry Retailers (458310), Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pre-owned, Vintage & Certified Pre-owned Watches (CRAKADAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel) (CRAKADAL), Watch & Timepiece Retail (CRAKAGAD), Pre-owned Watch Dealers & Exchanges (CRAKAKAB)
Keywords
Where WatchBox is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bala Cynwyd
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
WatchBox business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Luxury Watch Sales: Revenue generated from direct sales of new and pre-owned luxury watches through the e-commerce platform and physical showrooms. The company operates as both retailer and marketplace for authenticated timepieces from brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, and others.
- Pre-Owned Watch Sales: Certified pre-owned luxury watches sold through dedicated pre-owned sections, including Rolex Certified Pre-Owned program and other authenticated pre-owned timepieces.
- Jewelry Sales: Sales of new and pre-owned fine jewelry including bridal, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings from luxury brands such as Buccellati, Mikimoto, and Cartier.
- Pre-Owned Handbag Sales: Sales of authenticated pre-owned luxury handbags from brands including Hermès, CHANEL, and Louis Vuitton.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Luxury watches ranging from entry-level to rare collectibles |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
WatchBox product offering
Product offeringCore offering
WatchBox (now The 1916 Company) is a global luxury goods retailer and platform that sells new and certified pre-owned luxury watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned luxury handbags from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Hermès, CHANEL, and Louis Vuitton through its e-commerce site, mobile app, and physical showroom network. The company also offers jewelry services (custom design, repair, appraisals) and a sell-and-trade program that purchases pre-owned timepieces and jewelry from customers.
Product overview
The 1916 Company (formerly WatchBox) is a global luxury watch retailer and platform that emerged from a 2023 merger combining WatchBox with prominent retail partners. The platform operates as a unified marketplace offering new and certified pre-owned luxury watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned handbags through authorized retailer relationships. The product portfolio includes branded storefronts for Rolex and Patek Philippe, a curated pre-owned certification program, live shopping video experiences, and trade-in services, supported by physical showroom locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- New Luxury Watches
Companies that use WatchBox
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
WatchBox technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
WatchBox partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Prominent Retailers (2023 Merger)flagshipIn 2023, WatchBox merged with prominent luxury watch retailers to form The 1916 Company. This strategic combination created a global luxury watch retailer with extensive retail and wholesale network supporting major luxury brands, combining digital platform capabilities with physical retail presence.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
WatchBox competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Chrono24: The largest global online marketplace for new and pre-owned luxury watches, operating a similar authentication-led, marketplace-plus-retailer model targeting watch collectors worldwide. Most direct competitor to WatchBox's online pre-owned business.
- Hodinkee: Watch media platform that has expanded into pre-owned watch retail and authorized sales, combining authoritative editorial content with commerce. Closely comparable content-plus-commerce model targeting enthusiast collectors.
- Bob's Watches: Online pre-owned Rolex specialist with transparent pricing and authentication focus. Comparable as a digital-first pre-owned watch retailer targeting collectors in the entry-to-mid luxury segment.
- SwissWatchExpo: Online pre-owned luxury watch retailer offering authenticated new and pre-owned timepieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, and others. Directly comparable digital-first pre-owned model targeting US-based collectors.
- Crown & Caliber: Online pre-owned luxury watch retailer with authentication services and trade-in programs. Directly comparable pre-owned business model and target customer (collector/investor) to WatchBox.
Broad incumbents
- Watches of Switzerland Group: Major authorized luxury watch retailer with showrooms in the US and UK and an online platform, carrying the same maisons (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega). Comparable post-merger omnichannel footprint to The 1916 Company at larger scale.
- Mayors Jewelers: Multi-brand authorized luxury watch and jewelry retailer with showrooms across the US. Comparable as a physical authorized retailer of luxury watches and fine jewelry, overlapping with the legacy retailers that merged into The 1916 Company.
Emerging players
- The RealReal: Online luxury consignment marketplace with authentication for pre-owned watches, jewelry, and handbags. Comparable in the pre-owned handbag and jewelry verticals where The 1916 Company has expanded.
- Vestiaire Collective: Global pre-owned luxury marketplace with strong authentication for handbags, watches, and jewelry. Comparable as a competitor in The 1916 Company's secondary handbag and jewelry categories.
Others
- Sotheby's: Global auction house with significant watch and jewelry departments including online sales. Comparable as an alternative channel through which collectors transact in rare and collectible luxury timepieces, particularly at the >$1M price points where The 1916 Company also operates.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
WatchBox social profiles
Digital presenceWatchBox financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
WatchBox leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
WatchBox funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors5 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
WatchBox M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about WatchBox
What does WatchBox do?
WatchBox (now The 1916 Company) is a global luxury goods retailer and platform that sells new and certified pre-owned luxury watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned luxury handbags from brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, Hermès, CHANEL, and Louis Vuitton through its e-commerce site, mobile app, and physical showroom network. The company also offers jewelry services (custom design, repair, appraisals) and a sell-and-trade program that purchases pre-owned timepieces and jewelry from customers.
Is WatchBox a public or private company?
WatchBox is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was WatchBox founded?
WatchBox was founded in 2023. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is WatchBox based?
WatchBox is headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, United States, in the North America region.
How does WatchBox make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Luxury Watch Sales are the primary driver. The others are pre-Owned Watch Sales, jewelry Sales and pre-Owned Handbag Sales.
Who are WatchBox's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Chrono24, Hodinkee, Bob's Watches, SwissWatchExpo and Crown & Caliber. Broad incumbents are Watches of Switzerland Group and Mayors Jewelers. Emerging players are The RealReal and Vestiaire Collective. Sotheby's is listed as an others.
Does WatchBox have an API?
No public API is recorded for WatchBox.
What industry is WatchBox in?
WatchBox's product category is Luxury Watch and Jewelry Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKADAM, Pre-owned, Vintage & Certified Pre-owned Watches, with a secondary code of CRAKADAL, Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel). Its NAICS code is 458310 and its SIC code is 5094.