WRIST CHECK
It's estimated that around 40 million counterfeit Swiss watches are sold annually
ROLE
Bootcamp Case Study
DURATION
6 Months
TOOLS
Adobe XD
RESPONSIBILITES
User Flows, Research, Wireframes, Prototyping
Wrist Check is a peer-to-peer marketplace empowering watch enthusiasts to securely buy, sell, and trade luxury timepieces.
With features designed to enhance transparency, build community reputation, and provide educational support, Wrist Check addresses the specific challenges newcomers face in the secondary watch market, reducing risks associated with counterfeit and gray market watches.
With an estimated 40 million counterfeit Swiss watches sold annually, newcomers to the high-end watch market often feel intimidated and uncertain, facing the daunting risk of purchasing fake or ‘Frankenstein’ watches.
Without industry knowledge, they often lack the resources to verify a watch’s authenticity, leading to distrust and apprehension within this growing community.
Wrist Check provides a comprehensive platform that empowers users to verify the authenticity of watches through educational content, trusted community reviews, and expert resources.
By offering transparent listings, reputation tracking for sellers, and educational tools, Wrist Check bridges the knowledge gap for newcomers while creating a trusted marketplace for seasoned enthusiasts.
When jumping into this project, I needed to define which user role I was going to start out with first. Since I was new to this area with little knowledge about watches, I wanted to take the approach as a new user as someone that wants to experience purchasing their first expensive watch.
Questions to think about.
What tools of research would someone need to learn about or search for?
Where does one purchase a watch in the secondary market?
*The brands of watches I’ll be looking at are Breitling, Nomos, IWC, Longines, Omega, Rolex, and Tudor.
*The budget is between $1,000 - $3,000)
Christian (Buyer): Prioritizes transparency in pricing and authenticity to avoid scams.
Christian prices his watches transparently, ensuring that customers feel they are getting value for their money. He believes in educating buyers about the watch's pricing and components, striving to prevent customers from feeling overcharged.
Christian is frustrated by the lack of research people do when making significant purchases and the prevalence of scams in the watch industry. He emphasizes the importance of informed decision-making and recalls a past experience at Barneys, where they displayed a fake watch for sale, advocating for higher standards in such stores.
His core message is that buyers should thoroughly research watch purchases to avoid losing money and falling victim to scams, especially when shopping online. He advises asking sellers detailed questions about authenticity, parts replacement, and originality to make informed choices.
Martin (Trader): Values community reputation and background checks to ensure trustworthy transactions.
Martin envisions a hassle-free platform for watch enthusiasts to trade, buy, and sell watches while building a trusted community.
He currently navigates watch forums to find his next trade, benefiting from insights into other users' history, including their forum activity and membership duration. This background information helps him gauge the credibility of potential trade partners and reduces the risk of scams within the community.
Martin emphasizes the importance of both researching the watch and assessing the person on the other side of the screen before making a deal. In the world of online watch transactions, establishing trust through community reputation and thorough research is key to successful and secure transactions.
Freddy (Seller): Emphasizes realistic pricing, detailed listings, and the need for trust on platforms like eBay.
Freddy's extensive experience in New York's diamond district led to a deep understanding of high-end watches. He advises being realistic about pricing when dealing with authorized retailers and suggests trading for better deals. Freddy also warns about the gray market, where authenticity may be questionable
He mentions eBay as a selling platform, emphasizing the importance of detailed information and photos.
On watch forums, some require post counts before selling. Trust and reputation are crucial, as there's no buyer protection.
In summary, Freddy's insights stress realistic pricing, caution in the gray market, thorough online listings, and building trust in watch forums for successful transactions.
Interviews with industry enthusiasts revealed a pressing need for transparency in watch pricing and authenticity. Christian emphasized the importance of educating buyers about a watch’s components and pricing, recalling instances where even high-end stores like Barneys displayed fake watches. This insight highlighted the importance of informed decision-making and the need for buyers to feel confident that they’re getting value for their money.
Martin shared his reliance on watch forums, where users’ history, activity, and membership duration offer insight into their credibility. His experience underscores the importance of a community-driven platform where users can assess each other’s reputation to reduce the risk of scams. Both Christian and Martin emphasized the need for a trusted, hassle-free platform that allows enthusiasts to buy, sell, and trade with confidence.
Freddy provided insights into the risks of the gray market, where authenticity can be questionable, and there’s limited buyer protection. His experience in the New York diamond district reinforced the need for a platform with realistic pricing and extensive details about authenticity. This feedback pointed to the importance of educating users on the gray market and the value of detailed product listings and trust-building mechanisms.
While platforms like Chrono24 and eBay serve the broader luxury watch market, they lack the robust authentication and community trust features Wrist Check provides, positioning us as a safer alternative for newcomers.
Newcomers to the high-end watch market are faced with the daunting task of navigating a world rife with counterfeit risks and complex price structures. Christian’s experience of seeing a counterfeit watch displayed at Barneys and Martin’s need to vet potential trade partners highlight the concerns users have about authenticity and trust.
Additionally, Freddy’s insights on the gray market illustrate the uncertainty buyers feel around pricing and authenticity when there’s no buyer protection. Without a trusted, community-driven platform, users struggle to verify the legitimacy of their purchases, assess seller credibility, and confidently engage in the secondary watch market.
All three individuals emphasize the importance of transparency and trust in watch transactions. Christian and Martin highlight the significance of researching both the watch and the seller to prevent scams and make informed decisions. Freddy stresses the need for realistic expectations when dealing with authorized retailers.
Martin and Freddy underline the role of community and reputation in the watch trading and selling process. Forums like TimeZone and Rolex Forum require active participation and a trustworthy history for successful transactions, as there's no built-in buyer protection.
The conversations highlight that different selling platforms have varying rules and fee structures. eBay, for example, involves fees and encourages detailed listings, while watch forums have unique requirements for participation.
Purchasing A Watch In The Secondary Market
In a five-day research window, I actively bid on the watch while monitoring other bidders. I quickly identified that the wristband wasn't original and ruled it out. My search for 'Vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual 1024' on Google was a bit challenging due to its vintage nature. I contacted the seller for more details but got limited information as they were just selling it through their store.
I contacted the seller for more details but got limited information as they were just selling it through their store. Further online exploration led me to a few references (Reference 1, Reference 2, Reference 3). After comparing the information from these sources, I concluded that the watch was authentic and offered excellent value for the price.
One of the main challenges was developing a system for watch authentication that users could rely on without having the watch in hand. Authenticating high-end watches in the secondary market typically requires expert inspection, which poses a problem for online transactions.
Users had to rely heavily on photos and online research, often using forums and Google to compare similar images and ask questions. This lack of physical verification created a trust gap that was difficult to bridge.
To address this, we implemented a two fold solution: detailed photo guidelines and community-driven verification. First, sellers are required to upload high-resolution images of specific watch features that are commonly used to verify authenticity, such as serial numbers, engravings, and movement details.
We also developed an educational guide to help users know what to look for in these photos. Second, we encouraged community feedback and discussion around each listing, allowing users to ask questions directly within the platform. This created an additional layer of trust and empowered users to help each other assess authenticity, even in an online setting.
WynnBET's competitors were offering quicker, more intuitive deposit and wagering processes, making it easy for users to switch platforms. The business needed a solution that would not only retain users but also enhance their engagement.
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Integrated features that encouraged users to stay on the platform longer, such as improved navigation and quick access to popular games.
What is the goal for the new user who’s new to watches?
The user flow is designed to guide new users through each stage of buying or selling a watch, emphasizing authenticity checks, reputation verification, and educational resources to empower users with knowledge.
Together, these features foster a transparent, trustworthy environment that encourages users to engage confidently with the secondary watch market.
Verified Seller Badges
Verified sellers are not only recognized but also receive discounts on seller and buyer fees, incentivizing them to maintain high standards and transparency in their transactions.
Mandatory Rating System
Wrist Check employs a mandatory rating system to ensure accountability for every transaction. After each purchase, both the buyer and seller must provide feedback on the transaction. This system is designed to enhance credibility by allowing future users to review ratings and make informed decisions based on past interactions.
By making ratings compulsory, Wrist Check reinforces transparency and discourages dishonest behavior, fostering a safer marketplace.
Educational Course for Watch Buyers
To support users—particularly newcomers—Wrist Check offers an educational course on high-end watches. This course covers the basics of watch identification, tips for spotting counterfeit components, and an overview of secondary market pricing. By equipping users with knowledge, Wrist Check empowers them to make informed purchases and feel more confident in navigating the secondary market.
The course also promotes a more educated community, reducing the risks associated with counterfeit or ‘Frankenstein’ watches.
Although no user metrics were collected, the features developed for Wrist Check are expected to build trust and enhance user confidence in the secondary watch market. The verified seller badges and mandatory rating system would likely reduce fraudulent transactions and encourage honest behavior among users.
Additionally, the educational course is anticipated to empower new buyers with knowledge, enabling them to make informed purchasing decisions and spot potential counterfeits more effectively. Together, these solutions create a foundation for a transparent, community-driven marketplace where users feel secure in their transactions.
Future steps could include conducting user testing and collecting feedback to refine Wrist Check’s features based on real user experiences, further validating its impact in building trust.
A key takeaway from this project was the importance of fostering trust and transparency in high-stakes online marketplaces. Building features that promote community verification and user education are essential for establishing a credible platform in niche luxury markets.