Despite the unprecedented challenges posed by the global pandemic, leading online luxury-watch marketplace Chrono24 achieved a wildly successful year in 2020, generating a 25 percent increase in volume and $2.4 billion in transactions. How did the company, which offers a platform for watch dealers, private sellers, and enthusiasts in more than 100 countries, pull off this feat, and what does its success portend for how the watch industry as a whole does business going forward" Tim Stracke, founder, co-CEO and co-owner of Chrono24, offers insight in our exclusive and wide-ranging interview.

Chrono24 founder, co-CEO and co-owner Tim Stracke

WT: What type of business were you in before you acquired Chrono24, and how did you develop your interest in fine watches"
TS:  I?m in a lucky situation in that I could bring three of my passions together in this business.  First, I was always very passionate about entrepreneurship; both my parents and my grandfather were entrepreneurs, and it was always a very clear decision that one day I would do my own thing. Maybe I just don?t like people telling me what to do. Second, I always had a deep fascination for technology and mechanics. I spent hours as a youngster playing with Lego and building model airplanes. And the first time I touched a watch, where I could really see the beauty of the mechanics, was an experience that really touched me. I think it was a pretty cheap Swatch watch, but I was fascin...