A. Lange & Söhne’s Latest Minute Repeater Watch Is Easier to ‘Read’—and Sounds Better, Too. Danny Govberg, the longtime watch industry veteran and owner of Govberg Jewelers in Philadelphia , as well as his business partners and co-founders in pre-owned e-tailer WatchBox, Justin Reis and Tay Liam Wee now have 100% ownership injewelers in Maryland and Delaware and Hyde Park Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona; Newport Beach, California; and Denver, Colorado.
When asked whether or not the goal is to build an empire akin to Watches of Switzerland—a natural comparison since the U.K.-based retailer has been inThe 1916 Company’s DNA is different as they see its mission as a full 360-degree collecting experience “surrounded by education, media experience, community, going to Switzerland —that’s what we wanted this business to be around.
Of course, for fans of pre-owned there will be plenty. WatchBox’s 200 million-plus inventory of pre-owned timepieces will still be available online, as well as at all physical locations of the 1916 Company. “We wanted to build the JP Morgan of pre owned watches, and give that customer you the assurance, on a global basis, that there was no concern,” says Reis of WatchBox’s early mission. “And at the same time we wanted to build these impenetrable relationships around the world.
The plan is to continue to develop its collector community while expanding The 1916 Company’s reach even further down the road. “If we can keep close, then we’re going to have a lot more fun and the community that we’ve built will stay tighter together,” says Reis. But the overall big idea is to “plant a flagpole and become a national player and really build the U.S. platform for thissign up