Wristcheck

Wristcheck is a tech-driven platform for buying, selling, and learning about new and pre-owned luxury watches, founded in 2020 by Austen Chu and Sean Wong. The company operates on a consignment-only model, aiming to provide transparency in a market often seen as opaque. It charges a commission fee of 8% to the seller and 4% to the buyer, allowing both parties to see the final transaction prices.

The founders' backgrounds are rooted in their passion for horology and digital commerce. Austen Chu began as a watch collector and influencer on Instagram under the handle @horoloupe, which led to a collaboration with Audemars Piguet in 2019. His frustrating experiences with the traditional secondary watch market inspired the creation of Wristcheck. Co-founder Sean Wong previously served as Senior Vice President at Hypebeast, where he led the e-commerce and retail division, HBX.com, scaling it into a major online platform. Their combined expertise in watches and e-commerce shaped Wristcheck's omnichannel strategy, which merges a digital marketplace with physical retail stores.

Headquartered in Hong Kong, Wristcheck has expanded its presence with a flagship store and plans for further growth in Southeast Asia. The company ensures the authenticity of every timepiece through in-house watchmakers who inspect and grade each watch. In addition to its marketplace, Wristcheck provides editorial content, real-time market pricing data through its Watch Index, and repair services. The platform has attracted significant investment from entities such as Gobi Partners, K3 Ventures, and notable individuals like Jay-Z and Kylian Mbappé.

Keywords: luxury watch marketplace, pre-owned watches, watch authentication, horology, watch consignment, online watch retail, watch collecting, Austen Chu, Sean Wong, transparent pricing, watch index, luxury e-commerce, secondary watch market, watch repair services, certified pre-owned watches