eBay Talks Watches

The experience of collecting, trading and enjoying watches intersects with so many other interests — from economic history, craftsmanship, culture, mechanics, to fashion and personal grooming — that it is possible to talk and write non-stop about some aspect of watches or other as it relates to life. Nothing would delight a watch lover more. But for times when a buffet feels intimidating, there are small bites of anecdotal gems to be had from eBay Watches’ snappily edited Sellers’ Club mini-series of talkshop videos.

We are no strangers to talkshops on social media, the formula is fundamental not just for watches but for almost every conceivable area of interest, where enthusiasts and experts come together for an exchange of ideas and perspectives. Nevertheless, Sellers’ Club manages to bring something new and refreshing for watch lovers, with the first episode setting the tone and tempo for a slick, breezy treatment of watch collecting topics in digestible soundbites, illustrated by spectacular timepieces in the flesh with specifications and prices conveniently flashed onscreen — all this without missing a beat to the groovy, clubby track muted in the background. Here, three watch traders — Rich Reichbach of Time Titans, Oren Charisky of La Jolla Jewelry, and Eric Ku of LA WatchWork — got together at a very plush setting that used to be a bank vault, and proceeded to introduce their personal most-prized pieces. Showcasing watches that ranged from a vintage Rolex Submariner from 1957, a Cartier Tank Louis Cartier, to the Omega Speedmaster, a 1940s Welsbro chronograph and the Rolex Rainbow Daytona, discussion topics flitted from insights on collecting vintage watches, the everyday joy of a luxury watch, to important modern masterpieces and emerging watch trends, all in a video under five minutes long.

It’s not meant to replace the depth of coverage elsewhere, but novice collectors get the essential talking points and bits of watchmaking lore in light, entertaining doses from which to venture deeper, while seasoned collectors get to see the important timepieces and a sense of where prices are going… besides, everyone, novice or seasoned, always has something new to learn. It’s also a great way to tell collectors about eBay’s Authenticity Guarantee which is a seamless and free program to authenticate watches sold on the platform of value greater than USD 2,000 dollars. Quite necessary for one of the world’s greatest bazaars for all things collectible.

The first episode of Seller’s Club that aired on 26 January on Instagram was followed by episode two on 1 June. Episode three just dropped on 10 August. No discernible pattern there, but to eBay, keep it coming.