The 1916 Company, launched in late 2023 by merging WatchBox, Govberg, Radcliffe, and Hyde Park Jewelers under one unified brand, today announced new physical and digital locations and appointments within its leadership team. With this announcement, Justin Reis becomes Chairman and John Shmerler assumes the Chief Executive role to lead the company through its next chapter. Danny Govberg will continue in a day-to-day role working on the vision and strategy for The 1916 Company.
The 1916 Company unites WatchBox, the international leader in collectible pre-owned watches, with three prominent U.S. retailers, each a leader in new watches as authorized dealers for the most respected watch brands, alongside classic and contemporary jewelry collections. The 1916 Company represents a vision for the future of watch and jewelry collecting, bringing this complete offering to all clients and collectors worldwide with an emphasis on a connected global community, shared experiences, education, and access to the most extraordinary inventory.
“Since we founded the company, it has grown from strength to strength, with over 500 employees and 20 locations worldwide. I am so proud of our team – delivering on a dynamic vision, with remarkable accomplishments along the way. I am delighted to welcome John Shmerler as the Chief Executive Officer. John has an incredible passion for the industry and carries deep relationships with the leading watch and jewelry brands,” remarked Justin Reis. “This announcement comes at the perfect time, as we continue to invest in our community-focused strategy, nurturing long-lasting customer relationships, and bringing together the worlds of new and pre-owned watches and jewelry. It’s all about creating a richer experience for our clients.”
John Shmerler, whose career in the watch and jewelry industry began 30+ years ago, brings to this position a thoughtful style of leadership and an ever-evolving definition of what it means to be a customer-centric business. “I am excited to engage in this new role, and to bring my industry knowledge to The 1916 Company. We are poised to grow, and more importantly, elevate and deepen our relationships with new and existing clients,” he shared.
To date, The 1916 Company vision has come to life across three primary pillars – physical and digital spaces, product and service offerings, and a vibrant community – and it will continue to develop in the coming months. Cohesive branding efforts began with the WatchBox Collector’s Lounges around the world, where visitors can now find The 1916 Company brand marks, and co-branding of the group’s multi-brand boutiques and showrooms is underway. The 1916 Company’s U.S. network includes multi-brand salons and mono-brand boutiques, and its footprint is poised for growth under John Shmerler’s leadership, beginning with a new store in Baltimore, a new Ardmore (Philadelphia) location planned for late 2024, and a Manhattan Beach, CA multi-brand boutique in 2025.
The 1916 Company will launch a unified website (www.the1916company.com) in Q2 2024, offering a comprehensive experience for the modern watch and jewelry enthusiast. “We’re excited to unveil The 1916 Company’s new online destination, delivering access to our full authorized brand portfolio, complemented by an unparalleled pre-owned inventory. The platform will serve as a destination for collectors to collect, sell, and learn about watches,” stated Shmerler. “These services, along with curated pre-owned collections, have been successfully introduced across our retail locations in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Delaware, Denver, Newport Beach, and Scottsdale, mirroring the experience one has when engaging remotely with one of our dedicated client advisors.”
Exemplifying this vision for collecting, The 1916 Company launched a traveling exhibition, GENERATIONS: A Timeline of F.P. Journe, earlier this year, touching down in key markets, including Miami and Newport Beach (with a forthcoming stop in New York from May 1-4), to celebrate the ultra-rare and collectible works of François-Paul Journe. As a platform for scholarship and celebration, the initiative galvanized collectors across The 1916 Company’s community, offering an inimitable hands-on experience with the definitive F.P. Journe collection in the world.
Photo by The 1916 Company (Justin Reis – left, John Shmerler- right).
