Watchfinder
{{Short description|British luxury watch dealer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Watchfinder
| logo = File:Watchfinder logo.jpg
| logo_caption =
| logo_size = 285px
| image =
| image_caption =
| alt =
| type = Private
| industry = Timepieces
| founder = Stuart Hennell
Lloyd Amsdon
| foundation = United Kingdom, 2002
| location_city = Kings Hill
| location_country = UK
| locations =
| products =
| services = Resale
| revenue = £68 million, GBP (2016){{cite web|url=http://www.watchpro.com/watchfinder-named-among-fastest-growing-companies-in-the-uk-by-sunday-times/|title=Pre-owned watch specialist Watchfinder has been listed among the 100 fastest growing companies in the UK.|publisher=Watch Pro|date=5 November 2016}}
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| parent = Richemont
| num_employees = 200+
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.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.{{cite web|url=http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-10430-watchfinder-to-open-bricks-and-mortar-store/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140821200211/http://www.professionaljeweller.com/article-10430-watchfinder-to-open-bricks-and-mortar-store/|archive-date=21 August 2014|title=Watchfinder to open bricks-and-mortar store|publisher=Professional Jeweller|date=16 November 2011}}
History
By 2015, watches sold through the site totalled £155 million,{{cite web|url=http://www.cityam.com/222874/perfect-timing|title=Perfect timing|publisher=City A.M.|date=24 August 2015}} and annual turnover was £68 million in financial year 2015-16. Online traffic amounts to around 6.7m unique visitors per year, putting it among the highest rates for any horological website.{{cite web|last=Buttery|first=James|url=http://www.watchpro.com/17076-watchfinder-scoops-ecommerce-business-award/|title=Watchfinder scoops Ecommerce Business award|publisher=WatchPro|date=6 November 2014}}
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.
- 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/97f1cba4-b146-11e4-831b-00144feab7de|title=Watchfinder buoyed by free-floating franc|work=Financial Times|url-access=subscription}}
- It services and repairs at least 600 watches per month in-house.{{cite web|last=Doherty|first=Kate|url=https://www.retail-jeweller.com/watchfinder-unveils-omega-and-longines-service-centre/5037796.article|title=Watchfinder unveils Omega and Longines Service Centre|publisher=Retail Jeweller|date=20 June 2012}}
- It publishes an online magazine, The Watch Magazine. Published quarterly, it has been downloaded more than 100,000 times.{{cite web|last=Buttery|first=James|url=http://www.watchpro.com/16317-new-watches-enter-the-watchfinder-mix/|title=New watches enter the Watchfinder mix|publisher=WatchPro|date=17 March 2014}}
Watchfinder has been recognised for business success by several industry awards{{cite web|last=Buttery|first=James|url=http://www.watchpro.com/17158-watchfinder-named-retail-hero-2014/|title=Watchfinder named Retail Hero 2014|publisher=WatchPro|date=26 November 2014}}{{cite web|last=Jeanes|first=Will|url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county-news/watch-seller-right-on-time-21742/|title=Watchfinder & Co in Maidstone named Watch Retailer of the Year at the UK Jewellery Awards at Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London|publisher=KentOnline|date=12 August 2014}} and is an alumnus of the Sunday Times Fast Track 100.{{cite web|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/watchfinder/|title=Watchfinder|work=Fast Track|publisher=The Sunday Times}}
The company was purchased by Richemont in 2018.{{cite web |title=Richemont to buy Watchfinder as pre-owned watch market heats up|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-watchfinder-m-a-richemont/richemont-to-buy-watchfinder-as-pre-owned-watch-market-heats-up-idUKKCN1IX5HQ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180602140323/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-watchfinder-m-a-richemont/richemont-to-buy-watchfinder-as-pre-owned-watch-market-heats-up-idUKKCN1IX5HQ |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 2, 2018 |website=Reuters|accessdate=7 June 2018}}