Michigan teen flipped a Rolex at 16; watch business later topped $10m in sales
Mason Maressa, a Michigan teen, started a successful luxury watch business by flipping a vintage Rolex at age 16, turning a $500 profit. He reinvested his earnings, gradually expanding his inventory and knowledge of the pre-owned luxury watch market. His venture, Clocked In, eventually grew to over $10 million in sales and opened a physical appointment-only store in Grand Haven, Michigan, specializing in brands like Rolex and Omega.
Why it matters
This article highlights an inspiring entrepreneurial journey, demonstrating how passion, strategic reinvestment, and market understanding can lead to significant business success from a young age. It also sheds light on the lucrative and specialized market for pre-owned luxury goods.
At 16, Michigan student Mason Maressa had saved $3,500 from working while attending high school. He could have used the money to buy a car. Instead, he spent it on a vintage Rolex Air-King, a decision that later became the starting point of his watch business.According to Entrepreneur magazine, Maressa was already interested in luxury goods, especially watches. A few days after the watch arrived, he listed it for sale online. He eventually sold it for about $4,000, making roughly $500 in 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. Rather than spending the money he made, he put it into another watch and continued buying and selling.That process gradually became a business. As Maressa bought more watches, he also learned about the pre-owned luxury watch market.
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