How I Started – The Story Behind Value Chrono

Hi, my name is Allen. My love for watches began in 1999 when, at 21 years old, I was working as a junior stockbroker on Wall Street. I won a sales contest with a prize of either a Rolex or $5,000 cash. At the time, I was young and needed the money—so instead of choosing the Rolex, I took the cash and bought myself an Omega Seamaster 007 for $1,200. That watch was my first taste of fine timepieces.

A year later, Y2K hit, the stock market crashed, and I lost my job. To pay bills, I had to pawn my Seamaster. Shortly after, I moved back home to California, leaving behind both Wall Street and my first luxury watch.

Building and Losing Collections

By 2001, I had started a new career as a loan officer in the mortgage and real estate industry. As my success grew, I rewarded myself with timepieces. Over the years, I built a dream collection: Rolex Datejust MOP Diamond Dial, Submariner, Day-Date Presidential, Daytona, GMT “Rootbeer,” Breitling Chronomat, Franck Muller Master Banker, and IWC Pilot Mark, among others.

But when the real estate market collapsed in 2008, I pawned my collection to keep my business and employees afloat. I never got those watches back.

In 2014, after quitting cigarettes, I entered the electronic cigarette industry, becoming a distributor and product owner. It was lucrative, and once again I began collecting—adding pieces like a Rolex Bluesy, GMT II Polar, JLC Reverso, and more. But when the FDA regulated small companies like big tobacco, the industry collapsed, and I lost another collection of watches to pawn.

Rediscovering the Joy

By 2025, all I had left were two Seikos in my watch box: a Seiko SKX009J and a Seiko Alpinist SARB017. For years, I didn’t wear a watch at all—I was disheartened after losing multiple collections. One day, I put on the SKX009J and researched its value. To my surprise, the $150 watch was now worth over $400. The Alpinist, which I had bought for $300, was worth nearly $1,000.

Selling those two Seikos taught me something important: it’s not about the price tag, the prestige, or the brand name—it’s about loving the watch you wear. That realization sparked the idea for Value Chrono.

Why Value Chrono Exists

Value Chrono was born out of my personal journey—three industry crashes, three lost collections, and finally the rediscovery of why I fell in love with watches in the first place. Here, we focus on second-hand, budget-friendly timepieces that bring joy to collectors at every stage of their journey.

Our mission is simple:

-To help watch lovers buy, sell, and trade without judgment.

-To prove that passion for horology doesn’t depend on owning a Rolex or Patek.

-To create a space where every collector, whether just starting with a Seiko or upgrading to a Swiss piece, feels at home.

At Value Chrono, we’re not just about watches—we’re about the stories, the community, and the passion that drives this hobby. Even if it’s just a conversation about a new piece you’re considering, we’re here to share the journey.