Net-A-Porter/Mr Porter enter US pre-owned watch market with Watchfinder

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jul 12, 2021

Building on its “long-term commitment to ensure more sustainable and circular practices”, Net-A-Porter and Mr Porter have entered the pre-owned luxury watches market. They’ve signed an exclusive partnership with Watchfinder & Co for the US market.

The deal sees the launch of major co-operation between the retail brands that are all part of the Richemont luxury empire.

The partnership will “further the long-term development of the brands’ hard luxury categories” by delivering a highly curated selection of timepieces, the online retail group said.

Initially, the collection will span 15 brands and 108 models, including unique limited editions and rare discontinued pieces from Bulgari, Christian Dior, Franck Muller, Breguet, Omega, Hublot, Patek Philippe, Rolex and Tudor.

A dedicated ‘pre-owned by Watchfinder & Co’ area, “featuring enhanced shopping capabilities and experiences”, will launch across both sites. In-house watch specialists, available 24/7, “will offer finely tuned, personalised recommendations”. Personal Shoppers can also provide special previews to timepieces, virtual one-to-one shopping appointments, styling advice and access to invitation-only events.

As part of the partnership, Mr Porter will also offer a part-exchange service for its customers in the UK and US. 

“The new service enables customers to trade in one or more of their timepieces to receive the value of the watch[es] as a Mr Porter store credit, which they can then use to purchase anything from the site.

Each watch has been inspected, authenticated and prepared by Watchfinder & Co’s team of watchmakers in Europe’s largest independent service centre – accredited by 19 of the world’s leading watch manufacturers. And each one will also come with a 24-month Watchfinder & Co warranty as standard.

New York-based customers can also purchase and receive their chosen timepiece within hours via a same-day delivery service, while next-day delivery will be available to all other US customers. 

Alison Loehnis, president, Luxury and Fashion for Net-a-Porter, Mr Porter and The Outnet, said: “Having developed our curated fine watch offering over the past few years, this collaboration represents an important next step in offering our customers a wide selection of quality timepieces from the growing pre-owned watch market, while advancing our commitment to circularity and sustainability”.

Watchfinder & Co CEO Arjen van de Vall added: “The US is a hugely important market for us and this new partnership is a significant evolution for both our business and the Watchfinder brand, something which will further establish us as the premier resource for pre-owned timepieces.”