前幾年在上海工作，其中一樣讓我頗感意外的是，國人對電商的接受程度之高。回到香港，也特別留意到本地人對面向世界的電商平台其實亦習以為常，但對於動輒數萬以至過百萬的腕錶生意，我多少總存在懷疑，這真的能夠投以信心一票？然而，就像最近走訪腕表交易平台WatchBox在香港辦事處的經驗而言，這不僅是大勢所趨，透過線上線下的相亙配合，它所經營傳達的，只會是一種新的生活體驗方式。
可能對很多的港人而言，在海外網站購物大概都不算什麼一回事，但如果你像小編一樣，試過在網上買賣腕錶一類奢侈品的話，過程中各種的磨人與不安，相信都算不上是一種非常愜意的用家體驗。然而，這確實是個商機無限的廣大市場。他們的市場部總監Natasha Li與我閒聊起來，「過去的二手錶買賣，特別是年份較久的賣品很多時都為拍賣行壟斷，但每年拍賣的次數其實遠比想像的少，這個非常龐大的潛在市場一直沒有得到妥善的看待。」
When I was working in Shanghai a few years ago, I was surprised by citizen’s high acceptance to ecommerce. And when I was back to Hong Kong, I found local people are also quite familiar to international ecommerce platforms. However, when it comes to watch trading that usually exceeds thousands or even millions of dollars, I would remain doubtful to its reliability. What changed my mind is my visit to the Hong Kong office of WatchBox, the luxury watch trading platform. I realized it’s not only a trend, but also a new lifestyle carried out by their dynamic ecommerce platform.
For quite a few people in Hong Kong, it’s probably not a big issue to do shopping on websites abroad. But if you have experienced the anxiety and torture when purchasing luxuries such as timepieces like I did, I believe you wouldn’t regard it as delight. Yet as a matter of fact, this can be a large market with tremendous opportunities. Natasha Li, the marketing director of WatchBox, told me, “Pre-owned timepieces trading in the past were often manipulated by auction companies, especially some old timepieces. The number of auctions is actually so much smaller than you imagine. This market with huge potential has not been valued properly all the time.”
論二手名錶買賣網，WatchBox或者算不上是最先鋒的，但在配套整合方面它似乎做得相當到位。這多少歸功於在美國累積多年的營運經驗，全球總部早年設立在美國費城，來到香港設立這個全新的亞洲總部自然便是得心應手。為香港市場以科技打造具透明度、公正而方便的平台，讓顧客自由且安心地買賣及交易二手名錶。譬如透過市場格價工具，收藏家可以輕易得知收藏手錶的市場價值，從而作出準確而明智的抉擇。想增進鐘錶業相關知識的用家則可以留意按喜好度身訂做的最新動態。
WatchBox 團隊內包括創辦人均為資深並具備專業資格的腕錶專家，值得信賴，負責為庫存中的每隻錶進行詳細檢查、認證和保證工作。由業界名人 Danny Govberg (Govberg珠寶行政總裁) 、鄭廉威 (先施錶行前主席)和資深創業家暨投資專家 Justin Reis 共同創立，提供美國和亞洲市場皆無出其右的專業意見。有他們這些行內知名的實力人士加持，購買腕表會變得更有信心。真確性對於一般買二手表的用家著實是會比較擔心的，可能你都會經常聽到買Rolex二手表的人說要「上行交收」，這背後說明的是腕表的售後配套服務有多重要！小編曾經參觀過該品牌設於上海的一整棟維修中心，專家們的專業程度，以至完全跟據瑞士總部訂定的標準完成維修，實在沒有多少個品牌能做到如此的一絲不苟。
WatchBox may not be a pioneer of pre-owned luxury timepieces platforms, but gains its advantage from the implemented supporting service. Drawing on its experience as a U.S. market leader, WatchBox helps Hong Kong customers buy, sell, and trade luxury watches while ensuring transparency, convenience and the utmost integrity. With proprietary market pricing tools, collectors can assess the market value of their watches to make informed decisions about their portfolio. Users looking to learn more about the luxury watch industry can stay up to date with a news feed tailored to their specific interests.
As the trusted watch specialist, WatchBox’s in-house qualified team of watch experts inspect, authenticate and warranty every watch in its inventory. Co-founded by watch industry luminaries Danny Govberg (Govberg Jewelers), Tay Liam Wee (former owner of Sincere Watch), and seasoned investor-entrepreneur Justin Reis, the WatchBox Hong Kong leadership team also has Director of Asia-Pacific Samuel Lee (former CEO of Elegant Watch) at the helm, offering unmatched expertise across the U.S. and Asia markets. Led by these unparallel expertise, traders on the platform can be more convinced. Validity is usually of most concern for pre-owned watch buyers. We usually hear that people would prefer a face-to-face transaction when they purchase timepieces like Rolex, which strongly indicates the importance of after sale supporting service. I was impressed by the expertise of the WatchBox expert team during my visit to the Shanghai branch. Few other brands can be so meticulous as they are.
而作為鐘錶媒體多年的小編，看到鄭廉威先生這個華麗轉身多少感到驚訝，畢竟為視為傳統鐘錶業界的標杆人物，一下子成為腕表交易平台的領航者，這背後的意義份外微妙。作為WatchBox 的主席，鄭先生制訂公司的策略發展方向，引進科技、創新、市場機會，推廣收藏名錶的樂趣。「我們致力於提升全球二手腕錶交易活動的觀感和體驗，為收藏家提供一個高效的數碼市場，告知其收藏品的實時定價以及在全球任何地點提供高質素客戶服務。我們在美國和亞洲市場的豐富歷練和無與倫比的行業經驗增強了我們推動這一變革的能力。」他又表示：「WatchBox 看準值 400億元的環球二手名錶市場，引入先進科技，為客戶提供購買、出售及交易二手名錶的規模化平台，是客戶可信賴的夥伴。」言語間，他對這個市場的未來是相當樂觀的。
As a watch media with years of experience, I was somehow surprised by the “complete turnaround” of Mr. Tay Liam Wee’s, whom has been widely recognized as one of the watch industry’s most dynamic entrepreneur. His “turnaround” into a leader of watch trading platform does mean a lot to the industry. As Chairman of WatchBox, Liam Wee drives the strategic growth of the company, embracing technology, innovation, market-specific opportunities and the rapidly changing global economy…and a love of watches. “We are committed to elevating the pre-owned watch perception and experience worldwide, offering collectors an efficient digital marketplace, real time pricing data on their collections, and high-touch client initiatives anywhere in the world. Our footprint and unmatched industry experience in the U.S. and Asian markets heightens our ability to drive this change.” He said, “WatchBox capitalizes on the estimated $400 billion global pre-owned watch market by embracing advanced technology to offer consumers a scalable platform to buy, sell and trade pre-owned timepieces through a trusted partner.”
近年很多的腕錶交易平台都以互動的電子商務網站和簡易的手機應用程式，取代實體店肆。然而，個人認為這卻有其存在必然性，它的功能某程度上更像一種“Showcase”。以WatchBox為例，它們可以配合位於中環都爹利街的的 WatchBox 香港總部設有「交易大堂」、電商中心和收藏家陳列室。客人可以在收藏家陳列室中和 WatchBox 成員會面，為珍藏估價或者談談最新心愛腕錶的故事，同時鑒賞 WatchBox 的珍藏。這裡提供高質素尊貴服務，為顧客提供優質而且具效率的服務，讓他們以嶄新形式選購二手奢華腕錶心頭好。
WatchBox線上線下整合經營的腕表買賣模式，藉得借鏡的地方是它所倡導的是一種全新的用家體驗，更個性化，以你個人的喜好構建私人腕表collection；同時透過持續的、具趣味性的活動去加強顧客的忠誠度。顯然它們採用的方式是更貼地和更具彈性的。腕錶買賣的未來，肯定會是更個人主義，尊貴隨心同時它意味的是一種果敢的生活起義！
In recent years, physical stores are taken place by dynamic ecommerce platforms and user-friendly mobile apps. Take WatchBox as an example. On Duddell Street in Central, WatchBox operates its Hong Kong headquarters, ‘trading floor’ e-commerce center, and Collector’s Lounge showroom. At the Collector’s Lounge, customers can meet with WatchBox’s expert associates to valuate their collection or simply chat about the latest watches, while enjoying browsing curated timepieces from the WatchBox inventory on display.
WatchBox complements its dynamic digital experience with a brand-new premium user experience and a more personalized watch collection constructed according to your preference, while enhancing customer loyalty through continuous and attracting activities. Apparently, what they are utilizing is a more down-to-earth and flexible promotion method. WatchBox revolutionizes the pre-owned luxury watch landscape, which will definitely be a lifestyle of personalism, dignity and ease!
(感溫風嘴）
（智能識別）
（按摩頭💆）
