Shellman Co.
Tokyo-based luxury retailer founded in 1971 specializing in antique and vintage watches and antique jewelry, operating seven physical stores across Tokyo's premier department stores alongside two e-commerce platforms, and serving as the exclusive Japanese distributor for independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shellman Co. does
Shellman Co. is a Tokyo-based luxury specialty retailer founded in 1971 that buys, sells, authenticates, restores, and consigns antique and vintage watches alongside antique jewelry. The company operates seven physical retail locations concentrated in Tokyo's most prestigious shopping districts and department stores: the Ginza flagship (relocated and reopened in March 2024 with 500+ vintage watches on display across two floors), a dedicated Aoyama ladies' store, men's and ladies' departments at Isetan Shinjuku, Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi and Mitsukoshi Ginza, plus a watch corner inside Barneys New York Ginza. Two dedicated e-commerce platforms (men's vintage watches at shellman-online.jp and ladies' antique at shellman-ladies-antique.jp) extend reach beyond the physical footprint. Inventory spans entry-level vintage pieces from approximately ¥110,000 to rare collector-grade items exceeding ¥20,000,000, covering Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and over 100 other brands.
The company's core technology is human horological expertise: authenticating, evaluating, and restoring vintage timepieces, including a proprietary manual overhaul methodology for Philippe Dufour Simplicity movements learned at Dufour's workshop, which uses traditional cloths and brushes instead of ultrasonic cleaning. Shellman has served as the exclusive Japanese distributor for independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour since 2000, handling Simplicity, Duality, and Grande/Petite Sonnerie Minute Repeater models, and offers consignment services specifically for Dufour owners. Shellman has also developed proprietary accessories including the 'Fleur' leather belt for vintage dress watches, a solid ebony watch tray, and its own line of Shellman Original Watches featuring complex quartz mechanisms.
Revenue mechanics combine direct retail sales of vintage watches and antique jewelry (one-time transactional), consignment-based transaction fees on consigned vintage Patek Philippe watches and antique jewelry, and professional service fees for watch overhaul and restoration. The customer base is segmented horizontally across three personas: primary watch collectors and enthusiasts, antique jewelry owners (both buyers and consignors), and fashion-forward consumers drawn to the Ginza retail environment. Marketing relies on physical retail presence, the Shellman Times online catalog, email newsletters, store-specific Instagram accounts, seasonal invitation events, and individual store blogs. Geographic footprint is single-country Japan, with no disclosed international operations.
Shellman Co. firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shellman Co.
- Legal name
- Shellman
- Website
- https://shellman.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Tokyo-based luxury retailer founded in 1971 specializing in antique and vintage watches and antique jewelry, operating seven physical stores across Tokyo's premier department stores alongside two e-commerce platforms, and serving as the exclusive Japanese distributor for independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shellman Co. industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Antique Watch Retail
- NAICS
- Used Merchandise Retailers (459510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pre-owned, Vintage & Resale Luxury (Multi-category) (CRAKAFAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Pre-owned, Vintage & Certified Pre-owned Watches (CRAKADAM)
Keywords
Where Shellman Co. is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices7 records
Markets served
Shellman Co. business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Retail Sales of Vintage and Antique Watches: Direct sales of vintage watches including Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Cartier, and other luxury brands through physical stores and online shops.
- Retail Sales of Antique Jewelry: Sales of antique jewelry from the late 19th to early 20th century, including reproduction jewelry under the City of London collection.
- Consignment Sales - Vintage Patek Philippe: Shellman accepts consignments of vintage Patek Philippe watches from owners, handling the sale process and remitting proceeds after deducting their margin.
- Consignment Sales - Antique Jewelry: Consignment service for antique jewelry, where Shellman facilitates the connection between current owners and new purchasers.
- Watch Repair and Maintenance Services: Overhaul and maintenance services for vintage watches, including specialized Philippe Dufour Simplicity servicing.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Vintage watches available at various price points |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shellman Co. product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shellman Co. is a Tokyo-based luxury retailer founded in 1971 that buys, sells, and restores vintage and antique wristwatches from over 100 brands including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet, alongside antique jewelry from the late 19th to early 20th century. The company also serves as the exclusive Japanese distributor for independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour and operates consignment services for high-end vintage watches and antique jewelry, plus in-house watch repair and maintenance.
Product overview
Shellman Co. is a Japanese luxury watch and jewelry retailer founded in 1971, operating as both a physical multi-store retailer and e-commerce platform. The company specializes in three interconnected product lines: (1) Vintage/antique watches from prestigious brands (Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, and 100+ other brands), (2) Modern independent watches represented by Philippe Dufour (exclusive Japanese distributor), and (3) Antique and reproduction jewelry including the City of London collection. Services include consignment sales for both watches and jewelry, professional watch repair with specialized Philippe Dufour maintenance, and original accessories like the Fleur leather belt. The portfolio is supported by two online shops (men's and ladies') and the Shellman Times catalog portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vintage and Antique Watches
Companies that use Shellman Co.
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Shellman Co. technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Shellman Co. partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Philippe DufourcoreShellman became the exclusive Japanese agent for Philippe Dufour watches in April 2000 after meeting Dufour at Basel Fair. Shellman has been handling Simplicity, Duality, and Grand Petite Sonnerie Minute Repeater models. They provide consignment services for Philippe Dufour owners in Japan and offer specialized overhaul services trained at Dufour's workshop.
- Claude SfeircoreSince 2020, Claude Sfeir, a world-renowned watch collector and jeweler, has partnered with Philippe Dufour. As the Japanese agent for Philippe Dufour, Shellman maintains its relationship through this new partnership structure.
- City of London (London-based Antique Jewelry Company)minorLong-term partnership with a London-based company specializing in antique jewelry. They produce reproduction jewelry inspired by traditional antique designs using modern gemstones, sold exclusively at Shellman Aoyama store.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Shellman Co. competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- A Collected Man: Global dealer specializing in vintage and independent watchmaking, directly comparable to Shellman as both curate and sell high-end vintage timepieces to collectors. Shellman is the Japan-focused analog with similar brand mix (Patek Philippe, independent watchmakers).
- Bob's Watches: US-based pre-owned Rolex and luxury watch retailer with strong e-commerce presence. Comparable to Shellman's online vintage watch business, though focused on a different geography and brand mix.
Broad incumbents
- Sotheby's Watches: Global auction house with a dedicated vintage and independent watch department, competing for the same high-end consignment and collector relationships as Shellman in the Japanese market.
- Phillips Watches (Phillips Auctioneers): One of the world's leading auction houses for vintage and independent watches, directly competing for the same Patek Philippe and Philippe Dufour collector demand Shellman serves via consignment and retail.
Market position
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Shellman Co. social profiles
Digital presenceShellman Co. financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shellman Co. leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Shellman Co. funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shellman Co. 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 Shellman Co.
What does Shellman Co. do?
Shellman Co. is a Tokyo-based luxury retailer founded in 1971 that buys, sells, and restores vintage and antique wristwatches from over 100 brands including Patek Philippe, Rolex, Omega, Cartier, Vacheron Constantin, and Audemars Piguet, alongside antique jewelry from the late 19th to early 20th century. The company also serves as the exclusive Japanese distributor for independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour and operates consignment services for high-end vintage watches and antique jewelry, plus in-house watch repair and maintenance.
Is Shellman Co. a public or private company?
Shellman Co. is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Shellman Co. founded?
Shellman Co. was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Shellman Co. based?
Shellman Co. is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Shellman Co. make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Retail Sales of Vintage and Antique Watches are the primary driver. The others are retail Sales of Antique Jewelry, consignment Sales - Vintage Patek Philippe, consignment Sales - Antique Jewelry and watch Repair and Maintenance Services.
Who are Shellman Co.'s main competitors?
Direct peers on record are A Collected Man and Bob's Watches. Broad incumbents are Sotheby's Watches and Phillips Watches (Phillips Auctioneers).
Does Shellman Co. have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shellman Co..
What industry is Shellman Co. in?
Shellman Co.'s product category is Antique Watch Retail. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAKAFAN, Pre-owned, Vintage & Resale Luxury (Multi-category), with a secondary code of CRAKADAM, Pre-owned, Vintage & Certified Pre-owned Watches. Its NAICS code is 459510.