The Aporia · At 16, Michigan student spent $3,500 on Rolex; 5 years later, his watch business topped $10 million

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At 16, Michigan student Mason Maressa had saved $3,500 from working while attending high school. asserted

Maressa → save → school

He could have used the money to buy a car. uncertain

He → use → car

Instead, he spent it on a vintage Rolex Air-King, a decision that later became the starting point of his watch business. asserted

that → spend → business

According to Entrepreneur magazine, Maressa was already interested in luxury goods, especially watches. uncertain

Maressa → accord → goods

A few days after the watch arrived, he listed it for sale online. asserted

he → arrive → sale

He eventually sold it for about $4,000, making roughly $500 in profit. asserted

He → sell → profit

The amount was not enough to change his life, but the sale showed Maressa that there could be an opportunity in a market he already understood and enjoyed. uncertain

he → change → market

Rather than spending the money he made, he put it into another watch and continued buying and selling. asserted

he → spend → watch

That process gradually became a business. asserted

process → become → ?

As Maressa bought more watches, he also learned about the pre-owned luxury watch market. asserted

he → buy → market

Pricing, condition, references, market demand, authentication and customer relationships became part of his work. asserted

Pricing → become → work

For the next several years, he continued trading watches while expanding his inventory. asserted

he → continue → inventory

What began with one Rolex gradually became a larger operation, and by his late teens, the watch business had become a serious venture. asserted

business → begin → teens

From online sales to a physical store The next major step came when Maressa decided to take the business beyond online transactions. asserted

Maressa → come → transactions

In January 2025, Clocked In opened a brick-and-mortar store at 601 S Beacon Blvd, Suite 103, in Grand Haven, Michigan. asserted

In → open → Haven

The store operates by appointment only. asserted

store → operate → appointment

It specialises in pre-owned luxury watches, with brands including Rolex, Omega, Tudor and other recognised names in the industry. asserted

brands → specialise → industry

The store caters to experienced collectors who may already know the reference they want, as well as people buying a luxury watch for the first time. uncertain

they → cater → time

The store also gives customers the chance to sit down, handle different watches and compare them before making a purchase. asserted

store → give → purchase

This is particularly relevant for a market where individual watches can cost thousands of dollars. asserted

watches → cost → dollars

Building trust in the market Pre-owned luxury watches can differ from one another even when they are the same model and year. asserted

they → build → one

Their condition, completeness and value can vary, making the reputation of the seller important to buyers. asserted

reputation → vary → buyers

Clocked In says building customer trust became an important part of its growth. asserted

building → say → growth

Maressa wanted the buying process to be approachable for both experienced collectors and people purchasing their first Rolex. asserted

process → want → Rolex

Customers can ask questions, compare different watches and understand the differences between pieces without already being experts in the field. The company buys, sells and trades pre-owned timepieces with customers and other participants in the watch industry. asserted

company → ask → industry

Its current business model also includes unworn pieces, according to the company's website. uncertain

model → include → website

Clocked In says its customer base includes collectors and enthusiasts from West Michigan and beyond. asserted

base → say → Michigan

The company describes itself as a luxury watch dealer focused on authentication, quality and customer service. asserted

company → describe → authentication

Five years after buying his first Rolex at 16, Maressa says Clocked In has crossed $10 million in cumulative sales. asserted

In → buy → sales

At 16, Michigan student spent $3,500 on Rolex; 5 years later, his watch business topped $10 million

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