Articles by Kristen Wiley

Articles by Kristen Wiley

My upbringing afforded me a unique opportunity: I am the only daughter of Chris Wiley, owner of Watch Chest, which happens to be one of the largest online retailers of pre-owned Rolex in the world.

I grew to appreciate and respect Rolex from a young age, growing up with my father's company since 2002.

I received a stainless and white gold Lady-Datejust for my 16th birthday and it was replaced by a different one every year until I graduated college, upgrading little by little, learning the details of the various models while my dad was subsequently placing a savings account on my wrist.

I’ve already cashed out that savings account, selling it to travel around Europe for 6 months shortly after I graduated college with a Bachelor’s degree in Art History in 2010. It was an irreplaceable life and growing experience; one that I will never be able to repay my dad for.

I worked at Watch Chest through college but once I returned from Europe it became my full-time focus. For the past six years I’ve listened to the office talk Rolex non-stop all day, have mini-lesson conversations with Glenn Rutledge the watchmaker, and have done everything from managing inventory, customer service, operations, business and web development, shipping, to quality control. I took out links for sizing and even polished a watch or two. I am now an independent contributor and Watch Chest is providing me with an avenue through this blog to share the wealth of knowledge and experiences I’ve gained throughout my time there.

What was really happening the entire time I was inside the walls of the Watch Chest office was that I was figuring out every side of how an operation like this works, the retail and business side of things. Not only was I learning about how a Rolex functions or its options and history, but I was talking to customers every day, listening to what they knew or didn’t know about Rolex and making a luxury purchase like this online. I’m ecstatic to finally be able to share what I’ve learned to help you make the most informed decision as possible when conducting a luxury purchase online or even just simply for your own enjoyment. I want to fill a void in the e-commerce side of the pre-owned luxury watch industry, where I hope to promote, add credibility, and value to it.
Condition vs. Age: An Expert’s Guide to Pre-Owned Rolex Watches
How to Choose a Trusted Independent Rolex Dealer
Sky-Dweller Deep Dive: Rolex's Travel Masterpiece
How to Safely Clean Your Rolex Watch at Home: Step-by-Step Guide (with Video)
How to Measure Wrist Size for a Watch (Rolex Tutorial)
How to Easily Read a Rolex Reference Number (Color-Coded)
How to Set the Rolex GMT Master II: Step-by-Step Guide
Why Your Rolex Isn't Keeping Perfect Time
Why Rolex Uses 904L Stainless Steel for Oystersteel
Pre-Owned Rolex vs New: 6 Benefits Every Buyer Should Know
Rolex Datejust Diagram: A Comprehensive Visual Guide
5 Easy Ways to Maintain Your Luxury Watch's Value
From Radium to Chromalight: A Look at Rolex's Luminescent Material Advancements
Discover the Rolex GMT-Master: The Ultimate Aviation Companion
Rolex Milgauss Overview & Features: A Legendary Timepiece Defying Magnetic Fields
Discover the Rolex Datejust: A Journey Through Time
Rolex Serial Number Reference Guide: How They Have Changed Over the Years
Discover the Rolex Day-Date: A Timeless Tale of Luxury and Prestige
Discover the Rolex Submariner: A Dive into its History
Rolex Yacht-Master Overview & Features: From Marine Tool to Luxury Symbol
The Ultimate Wristwatch Glossary: Demystifying the World of Watches
5 Common Ways Your Rolex Can Get Stolen
How to Use the Unidirectional Bezel on the Rolex Submariner: Step-by-Step Gallery & Guide
How to Use the Regatta Countdown Feature on the Yacht-Master II
How To Calculate Average Speed with the Rolex Daytona: Step-by-Step Gallery & Guide
Understanding COSC Certification: Why It Matters for Luxury Watches
How to Measure Elapsed Time with the Rolex Daytona: Step-by-Step Gallery & Guide
How to Use the Rolex GlideLock Clasp: Step-by-Step Gallery & Guide
How to Use the Rolex Easylink Comfort Extension: Step-by-Step Gallery & Guide
How to Set Multiple Time Zones on the Rolex GMT-Master II
Introducing the Rolex Day-Date 40 & 60th Anniversary Edition
Comparing Rolex Day-Date President Models
Difference Between a Quartz vs Mechanical Watch Movement
Rolex and Wimbledon: A Brief History
Clean Your Luxury Rolex Watch: Photo Step-by-Step Guide
Rolex Submariner Date 16610 Overview & Features
Rolex Datejust 31 78274 Overview & Features
One Surprising Secret to Extending the Life of Your Rolex
Inspecting a Rolex: Conversation with a Watchmaker
Copyright © 2002-present Watch Chest, LLC. All rights reserved. Watch Chest is an independent watch dealer and is not sponsored by, associated with and/or affiliated with Rolex, S.A, or any other brands advertised by Watch Chest. The brand names and associated model names of Rolex and other advertised brands are the trademarks of their respective owners. Regardless of physical condition, all watches sold by Watch Chest are pre-owned in terms of ownership status according to legal regulations. Watch Chest provides its own warranties for the products it sells, and watches sold with manufacturer warranties are generally recognized, though their guarantee is not absolute.