CIRCA
CIRCA is a New York-based international buyer and seller of pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches, serving high-net-worth individuals through 20 global locations, a proprietary online boutique, The CIRCA Vault curated drops, and the Worthy auction platform.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What CIRCA does
CIRCA is a privately held, New York-headquartered international buyer and reseller of pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches, founded in 2000 as SellJewelry and rebranded to CIRCA in 2005. The company purchases items from individual high-net-worth sellers through private in-person appointments at 20 global locations across the United States, Spain, and Hong Kong, as well as through a secure online mail-in service, and pays sellers immediately via bank transfer without fees or commissions. Resale occurs through proprietary online platforms including shop.circajewels.com and the recently launched CIRCA Vault curated-drop boutique, plus the Worthy online auction and tender platform acquired in the October 2023 combination.
The business operates a hybrid buy-side and sell-side model: revenue is generated by the spread between purchase price and resale value across auction, tender, e-commerce, and private sale channels. Acquisition volumes have surpassed $500 million cumulatively since inception, and the company employs 101-250 staff including over 30 credentialed experts (GIA Graduate Gemologists, former Tiffany & Co. and Neiman Marcus professionals, and certified watch specialists from the Fondation de la Haute Horlogerie). Distribution has been built through organic geographic expansion plus two material M&A transactions: the 2019 acquisition of online buyer Mondiamo and the 2023 combination with Worthy.
CIRCA's go-to-market spans enterprise-style field sales (in-person appointments at owned retail locations), direct-to-consumer e-commerce (the online boutique and CIRCA Vault), and B2B trade channels (proprietary auctions and tenders). Leadership is founder-led with Richard Tilles as President, Jeffrey Singer as Co-Founder and SVP, Oren Schneider as CEO, and Shailen Amin as CFO; regional directors oversee buying operations across the US, Spain, and Hong Kong. Industry affiliations include the Gemological Institute of America, American Gem Society, and Jewelry Security Alliance, supporting the company's positioning as the most trusted global buyer of pre-owned luxury.
CIRCA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CIRCA
- Legal name
- CIRCA
- Website
- https://circajewels.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CIRCA is a New York-based international buyer and seller of pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches, serving high-net-worth individuals through 20 global locations, a proprietary online boutique, The CIRCA Vault curated drops, and the Worthy auction platform.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CIRCA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Pre-Owned Luxury Jewelry and Watch Resale
- 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/Vintage Jewelry & Watch Retail (Resale) (CRAKAGAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Authenticated Luxury Resale Marketplaces (CRAKAKAA), Pre-owned Watch Dealers & Exchanges (CRAKAKAB), Pre-owned Fine Jewelry Dealers (CRAKAKAC), Jewelry, Watches & Accessories Resale (CRAFAGAJ), Auction Houses (Luxury Watches & Jewelry) (CRAKAKAF)
Keywords
Where CIRCA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices29 records
Markets served
CIRCA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Purchase and Resale of Pre-Owned Jewelry, Diamonds, and Watches: CIRCA purchases pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches from private individuals and sells the product on proprietary auction, tender, and E-commerce platforms to consumers and the trade. The company pays sellers immediately upon acceptance and generates revenue through the margin between purchase price and resale value. No fees or commissions are charged to sellers.
- Online Boutique (shop.circajewels.com): CIRCA operates a shoppable online boutique featuring extraordinary pre-owned jewelry including iconic collections from coveted brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bvlgari. Revenue is generated through direct consumer sales of curated pre-owned luxury pieces.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | No-fee selling service |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
CIRCA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CIRCA purchases pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches from private individuals through private in-person appointments at 20 global locations and a secure online mail-in service. The company then resells these items via proprietary auction, tender, and e-commerce platforms to consumers and the trade, generating revenue through the margin between purchase price and resale value.
Product overview
CIRCA is a global buyer and seller of pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches. The company operates through its core service offering of private in-person evaluations at 20 global locations and secure online selling, augmented by The CIRCA Vault (an exclusive online boutique featuring weekly curated releases of pre-owned luxury pieces) and a shoppable Online Boutique (shop.circajewels.com). The portfolio includes acquired brands Mondiamo (merged 2019) and Worthy (combined 2023), expanding CIRCA's digital and platform capabilities. The company serves clients seeking to sell unwanted jewelry, diamonds, and watches, providing expert evaluations and immediate payment.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The CIRCA Vault: An exclusive online boutique featuring curated collections of pre-owned luxury pieces released weekly for limited time periods, showcasing items from Cartier, Bvlgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels.
- Mondiamo
- Worthy
Products and services
- CIRCA Private In-Person Buying Service Private in-person appointments with expert buyers at 20 global locations for evaluating and purchasing pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches from individuals. Includes free evaluation, written purchase offers, and immediate payment with no fees or commissions.
- CIRCA Online Mail-In Selling Service A secure online mail-in selling service that allows individuals to submit photos and documents of their pre-owned jewelry, diamonds, and watches for evaluation. Sellers schedule virtual or mail-in appointments and receive payment upon verification, with no fees or commissions.
- The CIRCA Vault An exclusive online boutique featuring curated weekly collections of pre-owned luxury jewelry and watches from brands including Cartier, Bvlgari, and Van Cleef & Arpels, released for limited time periods at prices below typical reseller rates. Targeted at new and existing clients seeking exceptional pre-owned luxury jewelry.
- CIRCA Online Boutique A shoppable online platform featuring extraordinary pre-owned jewelry for sale, including iconic collections from coveted brands such as Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Bvlgari, available for direct consumer purchase.
- Worthy Platform An online auction and tender platform for pre-owned jewelry and watches, combined with CIRCA in October 2023. Provides a digital destination for buying and selling pre-owned jewelry and watches via auction and tender.
- Mondiamo A high-growth online buyer of pre-owned diamond jewelry that merged with CIRCA in July 2019, adding digital expertise and online buying capabilities to create the world's leading buyer of pre-owned luxury jewelry and watches.
Quantifiable outcome
- CIRCA has purchased over $500 million of pre-owned jewelry, diamonds, and watches from clients all over the world.
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CIRCA
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CIRCA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
CIRCA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WorthycoreIn October 2023, Worthy and CIRCA combined to create the most trusted destination to buy and sell pre-owned jewelry and watches. The combination brought together the most sophisticated digital leaders in the industry and two highly complementary platforms with significantly accelerated and expanded growth opportunities.
- De Beers Group Industry ServicescoreDe Beers Group Industry Services — a world leader in the supply of synthetic detection equipment — partnered with CIRCA to provide confidence to sellers of pre-owned diamonds. De Beers' synthetic detection technology helps CIRCA authenticate diamonds and increase secondhand diamond buyer confidence.
- MondiamocoreIn October 2019, Mondiamo — a high-growth online buyer of pre-owned diamond jewelry — merged with CIRCA. The merger created the world's leading buyer of pre-owned, luxury jewelry and watches, combining Mondiamo's digital expertise and online capabilities with CIRCA's global retail presence and expertise.
- BosquiaminorCIRCA partners with Bosquia, a platform dedicated to reversing deforestation and combating climate change. Together, they've planted trees in Madrid and Barcelona as part of CIRCA's commitment to global sustainability and the circular economy.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
CIRCA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- The RealReal: NASDAQ-listed online authenticated luxury consignment marketplace for jewelry, watches, and accessories. Most direct comparable on buyer-side digital scale, though CIRCA's instant-cash buyer model differs from consignment.
- Vestiaire Collective: Global peer-to-peer authenticated luxury resale platform backed by Kering, with deep jewelry and watch categories. Comparable as a competing buyer channel for high-end consignors; offers CIRCA a global benchmark on digital resale economics.
- WP Diamonds: Online buyer of pre-owned diamond jewelry and watches offering instant cash offers. Closest pure-play digital direct competitor to CIRCA's mail-in and online selling service.
- 1stDibs: Online marketplace for luxury jewelry, watches, and collectibles connecting dealers and buyers. Comparable as a competing buyer destination for pre-owned fine jewelry with significant jewelry/watch category exposure.
- Watchfinder & Co. Richemont-owned pre-owned luxury watch platform with global buy/sell operations. Comparable as a vertically integrated watch specialist; well-capitalized incumbent in the watch resale sub-vertical CIRCA operates in.
Broad incumbents
- Sotheby's: Global auction house with major jewelry and watch departments, also operating Buy-Now channels and a private sales division. Comparable as a competing buyer of high-end jewelry/watches from collectors and estates, though CIRCA offers instant payment vs. auction timing.
- Christie's: Major international auction house with significant jewelry and watch sales. Comparable as an alternative disposition venue for high-value pre-owned jewelry, particularly estate pieces where auction visibility can outperform instant-purchase offers.
- Bonhams: International auction house with established jewelry and watch departments, including diamond specialists. Competes for the same estate and high-end consigned jewelry CIRCA buys directly.
Emerging players
- Crown & Caliber: US-based online platform specializing in pre-owned luxury watch buying and selling. Comparable as a focused watch-resale competitor with overlapping target sellers (collectors and lifestyle sellers).
- Brilliance: Online diamond and fine jewelry retailer with growing pre-owned and trade-in offerings. Comparable in diamond-jewelry retail expertise and digital buyer reach, though newer to dedicated pre-owned acquisition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
CIRCA social profiles
Digital presenceCIRCA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CIRCA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
CIRCA subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
CIRCA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CIRCA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CIRCA
What does CIRCA do?
CIRCA purchases pre-owned fine jewelry, diamonds, and luxury watches from private individuals through private in-person appointments at 20 global locations and a secure online mail-in service. The company then resells these items via proprietary auction, tender, and e-commerce platforms to consumers and the trade, generating revenue through the margin between purchase price and resale value.
Is CIRCA a public or private company?
CIRCA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CIRCA founded?
CIRCA was founded in 2000. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CIRCA based?
CIRCA is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does CIRCA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Purchase and Resale of Pre-Owned Jewelry, Diamonds, and Watches are the primary driver. The others are online Boutique (shop.circajewels.com).
Who are CIRCA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are The RealReal, Vestiaire Collective, WP Diamonds, 1stDibs and Watchfinder & Co.. Broad incumbents are Sotheby's, Christie's and Bonhams. Emerging players are Crown & Caliber and Brilliance.
Does CIRCA have an API?
No public API is recorded for CIRCA.
What industry is CIRCA in?
CIRCA's product category is Pre-Owned Luxury Jewelry and Watch Resale. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAGAI, Pre-owned/Vintage Jewelry & Watch Retail (Resale), with a secondary code of CRAKAKAA, Authenticated Luxury Resale Marketplaces. Its NAICS code is 458310 and its SIC code is 5944.