According to Radii, Hong Kong-based luxury watch trading platform Wristcheck has received a $5 million investment from music mogul and businessman Jay-Z (Shawn Carter).
“We are thrilled to welcome legendary 24-time Grammy award-winning artist, business mogul, and fellow watch aficionado JAY-Z on board as an investor of Wristcheck,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
“As an entrepreneur, JAY-Z has always been an inspiration to me. I remember growing up to his music – his lyrics not only introduced me to watch brands like Audemars Piguet but also fueled my love for watches even further, as he bridged the gap between watches and pop culture,” Austen Chu, founder & CEO of Wristcheck said.
“As the most influential celebrity watch collector of the 21st century and a certified G.O.A.T, his support carries immense weight both personally and professionally. It’s a testament to the trust and community we’ve built, and marks a major milestone in cementing Wristcheck as the go-to platform for watch enthusiasts worldwide,” he added.
In an effort to provide a secure and welcoming community for watch enthusiasts, Austen Chu and Sean Wong co-founded Wristcheck, which enables collectors to purchase, trade, and learn about opulent timepieces. According to media platform Radii, since its establishment in 2020, the watch company has raised approximately $13.6 million from investors, including Alibaba Entrepreneurs Fund, Gobi Partners GBA, and K3 Venture.
Wristcheck claims that over the course of his career, JAY-Z—also known as the “godfather” of all celebrity watch collectors—has amassed some of the rarest and most elusive timepieces.
JAY-Z is without a doubt a visionary who was instrumental in forming contemporary watch culture as we know it today. He has an intense love for timepieces and an unmatched influence across several industries that spans decades.
“The incredible ecosystem JAY-Z has built at Roc Nation perfectly aligns with what we are building here at Wristcheck – the watch world of tomorrow,” Chu said.
We share the same values of creativity, innovation, and authenticity, so there is no denying our synergy. We are incredibly excited about what lies ahead.
