If you spend any time looking at pre-owned watches online, you’ve probably seen the name Crown & Caliber. For a while, there’s been plenty of speculation about whether Crown & Caliber is closing up shop or simply pivoting as the secondhand watch market shifts. There’s more to the story than a simple “yes or no” — and what happened over the last couple years sheds some light on the state of selling luxury watches online.
The Short Story: Crown & Caliber Isn’t Shutting Down
Let’s get it out of the way: Crown & Caliber isn’t going out of business right now. They’re not shutting off the lights, and they’re still listing watches for sale as of the first half of 2025. But things have changed a lot behind the scenes — new owners, a trimmed-down staff, and less hype about being “the” place for pre-owned luxury watches.
The Big Change: New Owners for 2025
Crown & Caliber used to be independent, then it got scooped up by Hodinkee, a New York-based media company for watch fans. If you followed watches at all from 2021 to 2024, you saw that pairing make big news.
At the time, people figured Hodinkee’s ownership would bring great things. Their content was already everywhere, and combining that with a watch marketplace seemed smart. But that play didn’t last. In October of 2024, Hodinkee sold Crown & Caliber to European Watch Company, which is a major watch dealer based in Boston.
This was a real pivot for both companies. European Watch Company is a familiar name for enthusiasts, running a classic brick-and-mortar store in addition to their e-commerce site. Now, under their umbrella, Crown & Caliber is adopting a bit more of that traditional “dealer” approach, rather than pushing for a massive, Amazon-style marketplace for watches.
What Happened With Hodinkee?
Let’s rewind for a second. Why did Hodinkee buy Crown & Caliber in the first place? Hodinkee wanted to be more than a watch blog or magazine. They tried building a marketplace for pre-owned watches, blending media with e-commerce.
Early on, they hyped it as a perfect match: a trusted editorial voice selling certified pre-owned watches right alongside reviews and news. But as the months went by, it got harder to make that vision work, especially as the market for luxury watches took a nose dive.
During those rocky years, Hodinkee’s leadership started rethinking whether they wanted to pour money and resources into supporting a large resale operation. Profits weren’t matching expectations, and the industry as a whole was cooling off.
Staff Cuts and Streamlining
This is the part that hit hardest for a lot of longtime Crown & Caliber fans. While under Hodinkee, Crown & Caliber lost a big portion of their staff — reports put it at around 75%. The company let go of nearly every watchmaker and most of their technical team.
It signaled a real shift from the days of white-glove inspection and in-house repairs, to more of a lean, sales-driven online shop. Some of those people had been with the brand for years, so it was a jarring change for both employees and loyal customers.
Hodinkee never came out and said, “We’re about to quit selling watches.” But by the end of 2024, it was clear they weren’t as invested in growing Crown & Caliber or running a huge national marketplace.
The Market Itself Just Got Tougher
None of this happened in a vacuum. The luxury watch world saw a surge in prices and hype during the pandemic, with everyone at home scrolling for Rolexes and Pateks. But by 2023, prices for used watches started sliding downward. Less excitement, more caution among buyers.
Platforms were suddenly competing with dozens of smaller sellers, established brick-and-mortar dealers, and auction houses. On top of that, changes with platforms like eBay and Chrono24 added even more pressure. For Hodinkee and Crown & Caliber, scaling back felt necessary, and eventually, it made more sense to find a buyer who could run the business in this new market.
So, What’s Crown & Caliber Like Under New Ownership?
After being sold to European Watch Company, Crown & Caliber operates a little differently. Now it’s part of a larger dealership family with a Boston base, not just an e-commerce startup.
The big question for fans is: “Are they still actually open?” As of the spring of 2025, yes, they’re still running day-to-day operations. They still buy and sell pre-owned watches via their website, and you’ll spot new listings posted every week.
Check their social media channels and you’ll see regular updates — that means there’s someone at the company making content, posting inventory, and answering questions. They’re not making as much noise as they did during the early hype years, but they’re engaging with watch enthusiasts and potential buyers.
The Better Business Bureau still lists them as “Active,” and customers report getting responses to service requests and trade-ins. So, if you’re someone who wants to buy, sell, or trade a watch, you’ll find that Crown & Caliber is answering calls and emails — and shipping watches — as of mid-2025.
What’s Different For Customers and Sellers?
It’s not exactly business-as-usual, though. With the staff reductions, Crown & Caliber no longer does as much in-house authentication and servicing. You might notice that turnaround times have changed or that the focus is a little more on “ready to sell” pieces.
For collectors who loved sending in watches for hands-on care or personalized guidance from seasoned watchmakers, that part isn’t the same. However, European Watch Company has experience running a trustworthy operation both online and in their physical location, which could help stabilize things.
Pricing still varies by brand, market demand, and condition. Some shoppers mention that the inventory isn’t as broad as it once was, but it’s steady and generally well-curated. They offer the usual warranty and sales guarantees, but if you need complex repairs, you may get referred elsewhere.
Thinking About the Bigger Picture
This kind of business move is actually pretty common in difficult retail environments. Companies often shrink, merge, or get bought out when profits dip or the overall industry contracts. The pre-owned watch market has been softening for a while, pushing even well-known platforms to reconsider their strategy.
It’s a little like what’s happened with sneaker resellers, comic book dealers, or even used car marketplaces — when prices chill and risk increases, consolidation follows. For Crown & Caliber, surviving as part of a larger dealer probably beats disappearing altogether.
That means regular shoppers still have access to a trusted platform, even if it’s run a bit differently than before. The overall market keeps shifting, so keeping up with news from sources like Business Republic Mag can help you spot patterns before buying or selling.
The Bottom Line: Crown & Caliber’s Still Open, Just Changing
Crown & Caliber is not shutting down, closing shop, or vanishing from the watch scene. What’s happened is a transition: the company went from being independent, to being a pet project for a content giant, to now being under established dealer ownership.
The staff isn’t as big, and the business isn’t spamming every ad you see. But they’re still moving watches and interacting with buyers as of 2025. If you’re browsing for a watch, you can still use their website, message support, or follow them on social media.
The biggest piece of advice now is to stay aware of changes, especially around customer service and authentication, since the watch market never stands still for long. But for now, if someone asks you, “Is Crown & Caliber going out of business?” you can say: No, but the story’s definitely changed. They’re still here, just with new faces and a more old-school dealer touch.
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