Hodinkee editor-in-chief jumps ship to WatchBox

WatchBox has hired Hodinkee’s editor-in-chief Jack Forster to drive forward its goal of producing the ultimate in editorial content.

In just five short years, WatchBox has risen to the top of the global pre-owned and collectible luxury watch market.

Founded in 2017 by Justin Reis, Tay Liam Wee, and Danny Govberg, much of the company’s success – including an unprecedented 25 per cent increase in profits during the first few months of the pandemic – can be attributed to its unrivaled inventory of certified, pre-owned watches.

But beyond the carefully curated selection of timepieces, WatchBox also provides detailed and informative editorial content that covers the watch industry, its key personalities and the timepieces themselves.

And it is this ambition to be “the definitive resource for collectors of rare and complicated timepieces” that sets it apart from other marketplaces.

According to WatchBox chairman Danny Govberg: “Content and context are everything when it comes to the emotional connections we form with watches (and any collectible category), serving as the foundation for the customer experience. Today’s collector is increasingly connected with an endless range of influences and a never-ending stream of content. Attention is in demand.

“Since our founding, WatchBox has been committed to meeting the collector where they are and when they want to engage, using the power of video to deliver a highly personalized touch point. Our video content is an important step in establishing a relationship of trust as we build a strong and loyal community.”

Known for his in-depth reporting style, Mr Forster has been with Hodinkee for seven years, originally as managing editor and latterly as editor-in-chief.

Prior to joining Hodinkee he had worked as both editor-in-chief of Revolution US and as moderator of ThePuristsPro.com.

His new role will see him leading the charge to diversify the editorial, video and global event programmes at WatchBox.

Speaking of the new addition to the company, Mr Govberg says: “Jack’s arrival strengthens our commitment to education and editorial excellence, and we will be expanding content in all forms – particularly video – to better serve both the WatchBox community and watch collectors worldwide.

“Collectors turn to WatchBox for access – access to our curated inventory, access to trusted advisors, and access to information – this includes detailed analysis about brands, watchmaking history and innovation, topical conversations, and general collecting insight. Jack’s arrival enables us to focus more attention on this third pillar, where we will lead through video.”

From his side Mr Forster says this was an opportunity he could not turn down because of the team he will be working with. “[WatchBox] is filled with an enormous amount not just of talent, but of very deep knowledge of watches, watchmaking, and watch history,” he told WATCHPRO.

“Being able to interact and work with folks like Tim Mosso, George Mayer, and the many other experts and serious enthusiasts who are part of the WatchBox team, was one of the biggest, if not the biggest, reasons I was drawn to this opportunity.”

For Mr Govberg, Mr Forster’s 20-plus years of acquired knowledge and his unique perspective were key to his appointment.

“[He approaches] the category through a scholarly lens and the lens of a collector,” he says.

“This will resonate with the WatchBox community – a deeply curious group of collectors with a hunger for knowledge. Jack was there during the formative years of some of today’s most exciting brands, having had conversations with watchmakers, founders, and absolute visionaries as they were developing into who we know them as today.”

With intentions to increase its physical retail presence – which already extends to the US, Europe, the Far East and the Middle East – throughout 2022 and into 2023, WatchBox’s need for top-flight content is only going to grow.

And this is a challenge that Mr Forster relishes, saying: “Over the next year, and even into the future, I hope to work with the teams here to produce content that, above all, represents and honors WatchBox’s commitment to educating and informing, as well as serving the community of serious watch enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.”