The 1916 Company

What The 1916 Company does

The 1916 Company is a privately held, multi-brand luxury retailer operating across pre-owned and new watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned handbags through 25 global showrooms and a digital commerce platform. Headquartered in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, the company unifies four legacy retailers — WatchBox, Govberg, Hyde Park Jewelers, and Radcliffe Jewelers — under a single brand tracing its heritage to 1916. It holds authorized dealer relationships with Rolex (including Certified Pre-Owned) and Patek Philippe, and offers curated pre-owned inventory from over 20 brands including Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, and De Bethune; it also owns De Bethune and Reuge as wholly-owned subsidiaries.

The core technical and operational asset is an in-house team of Swiss-trained watchmakers who authenticate and inspect every pre-owned piece before it enters inventory, backed by a 2-year global warranty. Distribution combines physical showrooms, a global e-commerce site, an iOS/Android mobile app with collector community features (wrist shots, forums, live shopping), live commerce broadcasts on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, and expert Client Advisors for high-value transactions. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time transactions on watches, jewelry, and handbags, supplemented by trade-in fees and partnerships with Affirm for financing, BitPay for crypto payments, PayPal and Alipay for checkout, and WonderCare for extended watch insurance.

The company serves high-net-worth individual collectors, alternative asset investors, and luxury handbag collectors across the United States, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and the Middle East. Go-to-market combines curated product-led expansion (notably into pre-owned handbags in late 2025), content marketing through editorial journal and video programming, athlete ambassador partnerships ('Movements Move Us' with De Bethune and professional tennis players), and a Collector's Lounge model deployed across showroom locations.

Name

The 1916 Company

Legal name

WatchBox Holdings US, Inc.

Website

https://the1916company.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The 1916 Company is a privately held global luxury retailer of authenticated pre-owned and new watches, fine jewelry, and pre-owned handbags, operating 25 showrooms and an e-commerce platform serving high-net-worth collectors across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Luxury Watch Retail

NAICS

Jewelry Retailers (458310), Used Merchandise Retailers (459510), Jewelry, Luggage, and Leather Goods Retailers (4583)

SIC

Retail-Jewelry Stores (5944), Wholesale-Jewelry, Watches, Precious Stones & Metals (5094)

akta.pro primary industry

Pre-owned Watch Dealers & Exchanges (CRAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pre-owned, Vintage & Certified Pre-owned Watches (CRAKADAM), Watch Retail (Authorized Dealers, Boutiques, Omnichannel) (CRAKADAL), Pre-owned, Vintage & Resale Luxury (Multi-category) (CRAKAFAN)

Keywords

• Pre-owned luxury watches
• Luxury jewelry retail
• Authenticated timepieces
• Luxury handbag resale
• Authorized watch dealer

Headquarters

HQ city

Bala Cynwyd

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pre-Owned Watch Sales: The company generates primary revenue through the sale of pre-owned luxury watches, acting as a global destination for collectible timepieces including Rolex Certified Pre-Owned, Patek Philippe, F.P. Journe, Audemars Piguet, and other independent brands.
2. Jewelry Sales: Fine jewelry sales including new and pre-owned pieces from brands such as Buccellati, CHANEL Fine Jewelry, Marco Bicego, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin, and pre-owned Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels.
3. Pre-Owned Handbag Sales: New category expansion in late 2025 offering authenticated pre-owned luxury handbags from Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, applying the same authentication standards as watch sales.
4. Watch Trade-In/Trade Services: The company accepts trades on all transactions, with any remaining balances paid through other payment methods. Trades are a core part of the business model facilitating continuous collector engagement.
5. Financing Services: Partnership with Affirm for monthly payment options, providing 12, 18, or 24 month financing plans for watch purchases.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The 1916 Company is a multi-brand luxury retailer selling authenticated pre-owned and new luxury watches (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, F.P. Journe, De Bethune, etc.), fine jewelry (Buccellati, CHANEL Fine Jewelry, Marco Bicego, Mikimoto, Roberto Coin), and pre-owned luxury handbags (Hermès, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Gucci). The company runs a hybrid distribution model combining 25+ global showrooms with a comprehensive e-commerce platform and mobile app, supported by in-house Swiss-trained watchmaker authentication, a 2-year global warranty on pre-owned watches, and a buy-sell-trade service for collector liquidity.

Product overview

The 1916 Company operates as a multi-brand luxury retail platform combining an online marketplace with physical showroom locations. The core offering centers on pre-owned luxury watches (the company's primary differentiator, featuring authenticated timepieces from over 20 brands including Rolex Certified Pre-Owned, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and independent makers like F.P. Journe and De Bethune), complemented by new luxury watch sales as an authorized dealer, fine jewelry, and a newer pre-owned luxury handbag category launched in late 2025. Supporting services include watch trading/selling, authentication, a 2-year warranty program, and a mobile app with live shopping capabilities. The company maintains 25 global showroom locations serving as both retail points and service centers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Movements Move Us: A partnership initiative featuring athlete ambassadors including tennis players Lorenzo Musetti, Jessica Pegula, and Tommy Paul who wear De Bethune watches.

Products and services

• Pre-Owned Luxury Watches Curated selection of authenticated pre-owned luxury timepieces from over 20 brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and independent watchmakers like F.P. Journe and De Bethune. Sold to individual collectors via e-commerce and 25+ showrooms worldwide.
• New Luxury Watches Authorized dealer offering new watches from major luxury brands including Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, OMEGA, TUDOR, Breitling, BVLGARI, De Bethune, Grand Seiko, H. Moser & Cie., Hublot, IWC Schaffhausen, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Longines, Panerai, Tag Heuer, and Zenith.
• Rolex Certified Pre-Owned

Quantifiable outcome

• 2-year warranty coverage on all pre-owned watches
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Kevin O'Leary's WonderCarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Kevin O'Leary's WonderCare for exclusive watch insurance offering, providing extended care coverage for eligible watches beyond the standard warranty, covering damage not typically covered such as dropping the watch, breaking the crystal, or cutting the strap.
• De BethunecoreGTM or Marketing Partner'Movements Move Us' partnership with Swiss watchmaker De Bethune featuring professional tennis players Lorenzo Musetti, Jessica Pegula, and Tommy Paul as 'Friends of Our House' ambassadors who wear De Bethune watches during competition, linking precision athletics with precision horology.
• AffirmcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership with Affirm for 'buy now, pay later' financing options, allowing US customers to make monthly payments over 12, 18, or 24 months on watch purchases, with credit decisions handled by Affirm.
• Lorenzo MusetticoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional tennis player and 'Friend of Our House' ambassador who wears De Bethune watches during competition, representing the brand's connection between athletic precision and watchmaking excellence.
• Jessica PegulacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional tennis player and 'Friend of Our House' ambassador who wears De Bethune watches during competition, representing the brand's connection between athletic precision and watchmaking excellence.
• Tommy PaulcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional tennis player and 'Friend of Our House' ambassador who wears De Bethune watches during competition, representing the brand's connection between athletic precision and watchmaking excellence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Crown & Caliber: Authenticated pre-owned luxury watch dealer offering buy-sell-trade with strong digital focus. Directly comparable business model to The 1916 Company's authenticated secondary-market offering, though at smaller scale.
• Chrono24: Largest global online marketplace for authenticated pre-owned luxury watches, offering buyer-protection programs on listings from private sellers and dealers. Directly comparable as a transactional destination for collectors shopping for Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Audemars Piguet.
• Bob's Watches: U.S.-based authenticated pre-owned watch dealer built around the Rolex secondary market with both online and physical retail. Directly comparable business model combining authentication, buy-sell-trade, and authorized-brand adjacent positioning.
• Bezel: Authenticated pre-owned luxury watch marketplace with strong authentication, warranty, and trade-in offerings targeted at collectors. Directly comparable to The 1916 Company on authentication-led buying/selling of high-end timepieces.
• Hodinkee: Watch media and commerce platform with a curated pre-owned shop and editorial authority. Comparable as a destination for collectors that combines content/community with authenticated pre-owned transactions in the same brands The 1916 Company carries.

Emerging players

• The RealReal: Authenticated luxury consignment marketplace covering watches, jewelry, and handbags from brands like Hermès, Chanel, and Rolex. Comparable as an authenticated multi-category resale platform now overlapping The 1916 Company's expanded handbag and jewelry categories.
• Fashionphile: Authenticated pre-owned luxury handbag and accessory resale platform specializing in Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. Directly relevant as a competing model for The 1916 Company's newly launched pre-owned handbag category.

Broad incumbents

• Sotheby's (Watches): Global auction house running dedicated luxury watch auctions in New York, Geneva, and Hong Kong. Comparable as a high-end secondary channel for collectible watches, competing for the same HNW collector transactions.
• Watches of Switzerland Group: Public authorized dealer for Rolex, Patek Philippe, and other luxury watch brands operating showrooms in the U.S. and U.K. Comparable in authorized-dealer relationships and multi-brand showroom format, but at much larger public-company scale.
• Phillips Watches: Leading auction house for collectible watches, frequently handling Rolex, Patek Philippe, F.P. Journe, and De Bethune at the high end of the secondary market. Comparable as a trusted secondary-market channel for the same collector base and brands.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubewatch.the1916company.com/latest-shows
• Xx.com/watchbox_global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A4 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The 1916 Company