South Korean pre-owned luxury watch commerce platform Whatime, operated by Taming Lab, has secured seed investment from Kakao Ventures, Mashup Ventures, and the Seoul National University Startup Network Angel Club.  

Whatime offers a seamless end-to-end service for pre-owned luxury watch transactions, covering everything from purchasing and authentication to repairs. The company directly acquires and sells pre-owned luxury watches, ensuring a robust compensation system to address authenticity concerns. It also provides transparent details that are often overlooked, such as dial restoration history and link count. After purchase, customers can access high-quality repair services at reasonable prices through Whatime’s network of master watchmakers.  

Beyond high-liquidity and limited-edition models, Whatime has expanded its selection to include vintage and niche brand watches. The platform goes beyond simple transactions by providing content that highlights the heritage of each timepiece, helping customers appreciate the value of luxury watches before making a purchase. By catering to collectors who have a deep passion for fine watches, Whatime enhances their collecting experience by offering a wider range of choices.  

One of Whatime’s key strengths is its competitive pricing structure. The company’s inventory turnover rate is about twice as fast as the industry average, allowing it to apply lower profit margins and offer watches at more competitive prices—sometimes even lower than peer-to-peer transactions. By publishing engaging content and fostering an active community, Whatime attracts customers, increases repeat visits, and strengthens its position as a trusted luxury watch commerce platform.  

With this investment, Taming Lab plans to further enhance Whatime’s services and reinforce a trust-based marketplace for pre-owned luxury watches. The company is already collaborating with the Incheon Customs-designated official appraisal center to establish a verified watch trading culture. Moving forward, it aims to internalize authentication and repair capabilities, strengthening its expertise in the field.  

Taming Lab is led by CEO Hoyeon Yoo, a passionate watch enthusiast with experience in owning and trading over 200 timepieces. The team consists of experts with a deep understanding of the luxury watch lifecycle. Yoo has extensive experience in ODM watch manufacturing and has honed his expertise through an apprenticeship under Korea’s top master watchmakers.  

Hyunik Cho, Senior Analyst at Kakao Ventures, stated, “Taming Lab stands out for its fast execution, deep customer focus, and strong expertise in the industry. We are confident that these capabilities will drive significant growth in the pre-owned watch market.”  

Hoyeon Yoo, CEO of Taming Lab, commented, “With Whatime, we set out to solve the transparency and trust issues in the pre-owned luxury watch market, creating a safer environment where enthusiasts can purchase their desired timepieces with confidence. This investment will help us expand the trust-based pre-owned luxury watch market and develop Whatime into a world-class luxury commerce platform.”