Eleven James

Closed.The luxury watch rental club wound down in June 2018 after its main lender pulled its line of credit.

What's in the box: Members received one luxury watch at a time on loan, then returned it after a few months for a different model.

Eleven James is no longer operating. The luxury watch rental club wound down in June 2018 after its main lender pulled its line of credit, so you cannot sign up or receive watches. When it ran, the New York based service let members borrow high end mechanical watches from well known Swiss and European brands instead of buying them. A member would wear a watch for a few months, send it back and get a different one, rotating through a collection over the length of the membership. The appeal was access. Members could try expensive timepieces that would otherwise need a large upfront purchase, while the company held the stock and handled the swaps. The idea drew attention as an early attempt to bring the rental model to luxury goods. It also meant carrying a very costly stock of watches, and when the financing went away, the business ended. The elevenjames.com website does not offer a working membership today. If you want to wear luxury watches without buying them, look at other rental or pre owned options instead. Before you pay or share personal details, check that the service is active, insured and clear about its terms.