Music sensation J Balvin is the latest celebrity to invest in Bezel, a marketplace for authenticated luxury watches.
Bezel was launched in 2022 by Quaid Walker, Chase Pion and Darryl Johnson to provide a trusted buying experience that focuses on in-house authentication. The business focuses on young buyers, helping with buying and authentication, and aiming to build a community for a new generation of watch collectors.
The company’s in-house watch experts formerly worked at Sotheby’s and Christie’s, and inspect every watch before it reaches the customer. Each member also receives a private client adviser meant to help with browsing and buying.
Many big names have invested in the business, including musician John Legend; actor and comedian Kevin Hart; music producer and DJ Steve Aoki; NBA champion Kyle Kuzma; CEO of Fanatics Michael Rubin; investor and philanthropist Michael Ovitz; former international head of watches at Christie’s John Reardon; and former NFL linebacker and New York Times bestselling author Emmanuel Acho. J Balvin, a watch collector himself, joined the list of investors on Wednesday.
Bezel recently sold a 170th Anniversary Tiffany & Co. Patek Philippe Nautilus, a limited-edition watch with only 170 units ever made. Owners of the model include Jay-Z, Lebron James, Leonardo DiCaprio.
“Our goal here is to build out a brand in the secondary watch market that resonates and feels native to the next generation of collectors. Balvin certainly is a tastemaker for this younger collector base, so his involvement only accelerates our ability to do this. He’s also just genuinely such a thoughtful watch collector, so it’s exciting for us to help him tell that part of his story,” said Quaid Walker, cofounder and chief executive officer of Bezel.
“Watches have always been a passion of mine,” said J Balvin. With renowned timepieces such as his Richard Mille 12-01 Blue Sapphire, the Jacob & Co Astronomia and the Patek Philippe Nautilus, to name a few, Balvin often makes bold statements with his watches.
“I’m excited to join Bezel in their efforts in creating the new standard for luxury watch shopping,” added Balvin.
Including Balvin’s investment, Bezel has raised $10 million total, and is said to be growing quickly.
“Our team is working on a lot of exciting things with Balvin to make sure our members are up-to-date with the coolest watches you can buy right now. You’ll definitely see more in the coming months on our website, blog, and social media,” said Walker.
