Watchfinder
TypePrivate
IndustryTimepieces
FoundedUnited Kingdom, 2002
FounderStuart Hennell
Lloyd Amsdon
Headquarters
Kings Hill
,
UK
ServicesResale
Revenue£68 million, GBP (2016)[1]
Number of employees
200+
ParentRichemont
Websitewww.watchfinder.com

Watchfinder & Co. is an online retailer of second-hand watches based in Kings Hill, United Kingdom. It is the UK's largest seller of second-hand watches.[2] By 2015, watches sold through the site totalled £155 million,[3] and annual turnover was £68 million in financial year 2015-16.[1] Online traffic amounts to around 6.7m unique visitors per year, putting it among the highest rates for any horological website.[4]

In addition, the brand is notable for several innovations in the industry:

  • It was the first UK website dedicated to the online sale of second-hand watches when it started in 2002.[3]
  • It was the first retailer to offer a "buy-back guarantee", in which the company refunds the cost of a watch if returned in good condition after two years.[5]
  • It services and repairs at least 600 watches per month in-house.[6]
  • It publishes an online magazine, The Watch Magazine. Published quarterly, it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.[7]

Watchfinder has been recognised for business success by several industry awards[8][9][4] and is an alumnus of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.[10]

The company was purchased by Richemont in 2018.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 "Pre-owned watch specialist Watchfinder has been listed among the 100 fastest growing companies in the UK". Watch Pro. 5 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Watchfinder to open bricks-and-mortar store". Professional Jeweller. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 21 August 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Perfect timing". City A.M. 24 August 2015.
  4. 1 2 Buttery, James (6 November 2014). "Watchfinder scoops Ecommerce Business award". WatchPro.
  5. ↑ "Watchfinder buoyed by free-floating franc". Financial Times.
  6. ↑ Doherty, Kate (20 June 2012). "Watchfinder unveils Omega and Longines Service Centre". Retail Jeweller.
  7. ↑ Buttery, James (17 March 2014). "New watches enter the Watchfinder mix". WatchPro.
  8. ↑ Buttery, James (26 November 2014). "Watchfinder named Retail Hero 2014". WatchPro.
  9. ↑ Jeanes, Will (12 August 2014). "Watchfinder & Co in Maidstone named Watch Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards at Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London". KentOnline.
  10. ↑ "Watchfinder". Fast Track. The Sunday Times.
  11. ↑ "Richemont to buy Watchfinder as pre-owned watch market heats up". Reuters. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
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