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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Eleven James was a luxury-watch membership that let members rotate through borrowed watches rather than buy them outright. Its legacy terms described two-month rotations across three- or six-watch annual plans, with membership starting at $249 per month. But this is a historical review, not a recommendation to join: Hodinkee reported in 2018 that the company was winding down, and current operations have not been verified.
How Eleven James worked
Under the company’s undated legacy How It Works page, members browsed a collection and worked with a concierge to build a watch profile. The concierge used members’ interests and feedback to refine selections. Members then wore each selected watch for two months before returning it and moving to the next rotation.
The page described annual plans covering three or six watches and said the watches had an average value of $10,000 or more. Those are historical descriptions, not verified current offers or inventory figures. The company framed the membership as access to a rotating collection, rather than a conventional watch sale.
Delivery and returns
The company FAQ described shipping, pickup at events, and concierge courier delivery and pickup in New York City. The How It Works page said concierge delivery and pickup were initially limited to New York City. These logistics reflect the company’s published terms at the time, not confirmed current availability.
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#1 Best Overall
- STYLE: This Michael Kors Slim Runway mens watch features a black sunray dial, three-hand movement and black stainless steel bracelet
- CASE & DIAL: This watch for men has a round 44mm stainless steel case with a black dial; mineral crystal face resists scratches
- WATCH BAND: A mens wrist watch with a black gray stainless steel bracelet band; 22mm band width; links can be removed for a customized fit
- PRECISION TIMEKEEPING: A men's watch with Quartz movement and three-hand analog display; imported
- SWIM-READY Water Resistant: This wrist watch for men is wearable while swimming in shallow water up to 50m (165ft); 5 ATM
Care and insurance
Eleven James said it cleaned and inspected each watch before dispatch and insured its inventory against damage, loss, and theft. Its FAQ also encouraged members to consider extra insurance and to contact the concierge if a problem arose. These were company statements; they are not an independent audit or a guarantee that a member’s own loss would be covered.
What the historical membership cost
The legacy How It Works page listed membership starting at $249 per month. It did not establish that this price remains available, or provide a complete current price schedule.
Launch-era pricing was different. A 2013 TechCrunch report listed plans at $249 per month for three watches valued around $10,000 per year, $449 per month for six watches, $459 per month for a Connoisseur selection, and $899 or $1,599 per month for three or six Virtuoso watches. These are figures reported at launch, not prices that should be merged with later legacy terms into a single schedule.
Rank #2
- Mens Wrist Watch: Features a classic big dial and quartz movement with stable quality. High hardness coated glass mirror is wear-resistant, scratch-proof, Butterfly double buckle ensures comfortable wear
- OLEVS Mens Watches: Unique Classic Design Analog Date Calendar Display Watch Window. Easy to Read, Classic Business Style, Stylish Casual Dress Watch, Stylish Gold Indexes and Round Case, finely designed, stand the test of time, handsome and outstanding
- Business Pointer Quartz Watch: Dial diameter is 1.6 inches (41 mm). Case thickness is 0.43 inches (11 mm), steel band width is 0.79 inches (20 mm), length is 8.66 inches (22 cm). The weight of the men's watch is 4.16 ounces (118 g)
- Fashion Gold Green Man Watch: Luminous Hands/Markers and Enlarged Date Window at Three o'clock, Stylish Watch with Roman Scale Bezel, Water Resistance Up to 30M: Usually, Suitable for Swimming, But not Suitable for Deep Diving
- Night-light Function：When Using the Luminous Pointer Function for the First Time, Please illuminate The Watch Under The Light for 30 Seconds to Activate the Luminous Function. Watch Chain Can Be Adjusted in Size
Because the membership involved recurring fees for temporary access, its value depended on wanting variety and being able to use several watches over the year. It did not build ownership of the watches into the membership. Historical materials also presented trying a watch as a way to consider a possible purchase; founder Randy Brandoff described it to JCK as a chance to “date watches before they marry.” That was the founder’s characterization, not evidence that renting was financially better than buying.
What one member’s experience can—and cannot—tell you
A 2017 Forbes first-person account described a three-month trial in which the writer received an Audemars Piguet Millenary, a Rolex Datejust, and an A. Lange & Söhne. The writer reported concierge matching, reminders, prepaid returns, and an option to buy a watch.
That is useful evidence that at least one writer used the service and had a positive account of its process. It is not a representative member survey, a measure of typical satisfaction, or proof of present-day service quality. No independent customer-satisfaction or performance statistic is established by the available reporting.
Rank #3
- STYLISH: This Armani Exchange watch features a gold sunray dial, gold-tone stainess steel bracelet, and chronograph movement
- CASE & MOVEMENT: A men's watch with a 44mm case, 22mm band width, scratch resistant mineral crystal, accurate quartz movement with chronograph analog display, imported
- DIAL: These men's watches feature a stainless steel case with a gold dial
- WATCH BAND: Wrist watches for men with a gold-tone stainless steel bracelet; links can be removed for a customized fit
- WATER RESISTANT MENS WATCH: Up to 50m (165ft); Wearable while swimming in shallow water; 5 ATM
What happened to Eleven James?
Hodinkee reported on August 22, 2018, that the company was winding down. Its account, based on conversations with former employees and other sources, said former head of corporate strategy and development Robi Cai described an unsuccessful attempt to raise funds earlier that year. After fundraising failed, the company’s main lender withdrew its credit line, and management and the board began winding down operations around mid-June. Read Hodinkee’s report.
JCK also reported that the site appeared to have shut down, noting that requests for comment to the company and executives went unanswered. Its report discussed the company’s shift toward a luxury marketplace and its Watch and Earn consignment program before the apparent shutdown.
Legacy pages remain accessible, but an accessible page is not evidence that a company is accepting members or fulfilling rotations. The reporting supports saying that Eleven James was winding down in 2018; the available information does not establish its present operating status or a successor service.
Rank #4
- Features a classic big dial and quartz movement with stable quality. High hardness coated glass mirror is wear-resistant, scratch-proof, Butterfly double buckle ensures comfortable weara
- Mirror diameter is 1.6 inches (41 mm), case thickness is 0.43 inches (11 mm), and band length is 7 inches (180 mm). The length of the watch can be adjusted, and it weighs 132 g(4.65 ounces). Maximum applicable to about an 8-9" wrist
- Luminous function can be activated by illuminating the watch under strong light for 30-40 seconds, providing a new visual experience at night. Manual includes detailed instructions for adjusting time and calendar
- Fashionable and elegant design for any man who appreciates quality and style. Versatile and stylish men's watches are suitable for any occasion, including parties, work, daily life and dating
- Water resistance for daily life, waterproof to 100 feet (30 m), generally resistant to splashing or brief submersion, but not suitable for swimming or bathing
Was Eleven James worth it?
Historically, Eleven James could make sense for someone who valued trying a range of expensive watches without purchasing each one, and who could use the concierge-matching and rotation model. It was a poor fit for someone whose priority was owning a particular watch, avoiding recurring fees, or relying on a service with verified ongoing availability. The service’s reported wind-down is especially important: no historical plan or favorable individual review should be treated as a current enrollment option.
The company’s membership page also advertised private events, help with maintenance, appraisals, buying and selling, rewards credit, partner offers, concierge service, and community features. Their availability today is unverified, so they should be understood as advertised historical benefits, not present-day membership features.
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