Geneva’s Minty Watches partners with Swapin for luxury watches
Minty Watches is a Geneva-based company specializing in the sale, purchase, trade, and sourcing of certified pre-owned luxury watches. With a curated selection of Rolex, Omega, Breitling, Tag Heuer, and more, they serve an international clientele seeking authenticity, transparency, and discretion. And now, to meet the growing demand from their international client base, Minty Watches have partnered with Swapin so their clients can pay with crypto, such as BTC, ETH, and stablecoins.
In this interview, Elliot Arrighi, Sales Manager at Minty Manager talks about how he launched the business, the thorough vetting process behind sourcing and authenticating luxury watches, and how integrating crypto payments has been a game changer.
Behind the brand: Minty Watches
Q: Elliot, can you tell us about the story behind Minty Watches and what inspired you to start a certified pre-owned luxury watch business in Geneva?
Elliot: Of course, I’ve been passionate about watches for over 10 years. I’d never seen it as a potential job. Except that, after my bachelor’s degree, I had two choices: continue with a master’s degree or find a job. As things turned out, I had the opportunity to go and work for a leading European second-hand watch retailer. I seized this opportunity and spent several years working for the company, before finally deciding to launch my own business.
Upholding watchmaking heritage with impeccable standards
Q: Geneva has such a rich watchmaking heritage. How does Minty Watches fit into this prestigious ecosystem, and what makes your approach to luxury watches unique?
Elliot: In my previous position, I was able to sell over 1,000 watches for a total of over 8 million Swiss francs. Thanks to the huge variety of brands and models on offer, I was able to get a global view of the market and customer expectations. I’m always delighted to be able to help my customers, whether they’re buying the watch of a lifetime for CHF 2,000 or their fifteenth watch for CHF 60,000.
Q: Your inventory features some incredible pieces across different price ranges. What’s your process for sourcing and authenticating these timepieces to ensure clients receive genuine, quality watches?
Elliot: Thank you! First, it’s my personal expertise that comes into play. I’m going to inspect the models on offer to make an initial check. Second, I take the watch to my watchmaker for a second opinion and further mechanical inspection. Third, traceability is important: we always prefer a watch that is sold with its original invoice in the seller’s name, that the watch’s papers are stamped, and so on.
Finally, experience and the eye can tell if a watch is really new, if it has been polished, if parts have been changed. Sometimes we’re not interested in models that don’t meet our standards.
Signature watches and their prices in BTC
Q: Let’s dive into some of your standout pieces. You have a classic Rolex Submariner 16610 priced at CHF 9,000 – that’s about 0.1 Bitcoin at current prices. What makes this particular watch so appealing to collectors?
Elliot: The Rolex Submariner 16610 is a favorite among collectors because it strikes the perfect balance between old-school charm and modern reliability. It’s one of the last models with the classic aluminum bezel, giving it a vintage feel without sacrificing durability.
Q: The Omega Speedmaster “Snoopy” 310.32.42.50.02.001 at CHF 13,500 (approximately 0.16 BTC) is quite special. Can you tell us about the significance of this limited edition?
Elliot: The Omega Speedmaster “Snoopy” 310.32.42.50.02.001 honors the 50th anniversary of the Silver Snoopy Award NASA gave Omega for helping save the Apollo 13 mission. It features playful Snoopy details and a unique animated caseback, blending fun with deep space heritage. Almost impossible to get in store, it’s a collector’s favorite for both its story and standout design.
Q: For aviation enthusiasts, you have the IWC Pilot Chronograph “Petit Prince” IW377714 at CHF 3,400 (about 0.039 BTC). What draws clients to these themed pilot watches?
Elliot: The IWC Pilot Chronograph “Petit Prince” IW377714 draws in aviation lovers and dreamers alike with its rich blue dial and tribute to Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s iconic tale. It combines classic pilot watch functionality with a touch of whimsy and literary charm. Clients love it for its reliability, distinctive design, and the story it tells every time they look at the dial.
Q: The Breitling Navitimer AB0120 at CHF 4,900 (roughly 0.057 BTC) represents classic aviation timekeeping. What can you tell collectors about this timepiece?
Elliot: The Breitling Navitimer AB0120 is a must-have for aviation watch collectors, known for its iconic slide rule bezel used by pilots for in-flight calculations. Powered by Breitling’s in-house chronograph movement, it blends technical precision with vintage aviation style. It’s not just a watch, it’s a piece of aviation history on the wrist.
Q: The Tag Heuer Monaco “Gulf Edition” CAW211R.FC6401 at CHF 5,000 (about 0.058 BTC) has such an iconic racing heritage. What’s the appeal of these motorsport-inspired timepieces?‘
Elliot: The TAG Heuer Monaco “Gulf Edition” CAW211R.FC6401 captures the spirit of motorsport with its bold square case and legendary Gulf racing colors. It’s famously linked to Steve McQueen and the golden era of racing, making it a favorite among car and watch enthusiasts alike.
The beginner’s guide to luxury watches
Q: For someone new to luxury watches, how do you guide clients through this range and what to choose?
Elliot: There are thousands of different types of watch: divers, dress watches, tool watches, and so on. Different diameters, colours, functions, etc. The first thing is to identify the customer’s wishes and needs. It’s important to know how they are going to use their watch, on what occasions and whether they are looking for any special features.
Then, it’s important that the customer can try on several models that match their desires to confirm their choice.They will also be able to confirm the diameter of the watch. Once the watch is on the wrist, this is where the emotion happens and whether or not the customer falls in love with the watch.
Luxury watches: Investment and market trends
Q: Many of your clients view luxury watches as a form of investment. How do you see the relationship between watch collecting and crypto investing – are they attracting similar demographics?
Elliot: Absolutely, there’s a strong overlap between watch collectors and crypto investors. Both are drawn to assets that combine scarcity, status, and long-term value, and both communities tend to value independence, innovation, and alternative investments. Whether it’s a rare Rolex or a promising coin, it’s about passion backed by strategy.
Q: What trends are you observing in the Swiss luxury watch market, particularly among younger, digitally savvy buyers who are comfortable with both cryptocurrency and luxury timepieces?
Elliot: From what I can see, young people aren’t necessarily attracted by traditional shops and are looking for a different, more unique and more digital experience with a stronger sense of identity. They are looking to buy the right watch at the right price while being part of a community.
Crypto payments: The faster and flexible solution
Q: What motivated your decision to start accepting Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies at Minty Watches?
Elliot: We believe in cryptocurrency as a legitimate and forward-thinking means of payment, and we want to support customers who choose to use it. Accepting crypto is about offering flexibility and meeting the preferences of a growing number of our clients. It’s a natural step for us to make luxury watch buying more accessible and inclusive.
Q: Have you noticed a particular profile of clients who prefer to pay with crypto? Are they local Geneva buyers or more international customers?
Elliot: We’ve only been accepting cryptocurrencies for a very short time, and our first customer to pay in Ethereum was an international one.
Q: What made Swapin the right partner for enabling crypto payments? What were the key factors in your decision?
Elliot: It had to be simple, quick and inexpensive. Swapin ticked all the boxes!
Q: How has the response been since introducing crypto payments, and how has Swapin’s solution impacted your operations and client experience?
Elliot: We were able to do our first business in the first month. It was simple both for the customer and for us, everything was settled in less than 10 minutes, we received the money in our bank account at the same time.
Future plans for Minty Watches
Q: Where do you see Minty Watches heading in the next few years? Do you think crypto payments will become more mainstream in the Swiss luxury watch industry?
Elliot: In the coming years, Minty Watches aims to expand its inventory significantly and build new international partnerships to offer an even wider selection of high-quality timepieces at attractive prices. We want to make premium watches more accessible while maintaining the standards our clients expect. As for crypto, we believe it will become just as mainstream as traditional payment methods in the Swiss luxury watch industry. We believe that it’s only a matter of time.
Q: What advice would you offer to other luxury watch dealers in Switzerland who are considering accepting cryptocurrency but are unsure where to begin?
Elliot: I would say that it’s easy and free to implement so if you believe in cryptocurrencies and if you are planning to accept it, you should definitely go for it.
A word from Swapin CEO & Founder
Evald-Hannes Kree, CEO of Swapin, shared his thoughts on the partnership with Minty Watches.
Q: What excites you most about the partnership with Minty Watches?
Evald-Hannes: Minty Watches recognised at an early stage the demand for crypto payments and went ahead with the integration. This is as forward-thinking as it can get. Making luxury purchases secure and accessible is crucial and Minty Watches know very well how to make the most out of industry trends.
This is ultimately what drives the luxury market and enables a more mainstream crypto adoption. We’re proud to announce our partnership and support them in delivering compliant crypto payment solutions.
Q. What’s your message to luxury businesses still unsure about crypto payments?
Evald-Hannes: The data is here and we’re seeing a rise in businesses across industries waking up to the demand. More customers want to use their digital currencies to make everyday and luxury purchases and business owners have the perfect window to expand their payment options.
Convenience and security has always been a non-negotiable when it comes to payments and when crypto can make the process faster and safer, there’s no reason to ignore it anymore. Businesses that adopt crypto payments are not just ahead of competition but they also meet their customers’ needs head on.
Partnering up with Swapin means businesses don’t need any technical experience, and they can start accepting payments within 1 business day.
Flexible and real-time payments with Swapin
Swapin’s crypto payment link solution allows businesses to settle payments in real-time, establishing trust and convenience for a luxurious experience. Businesses can now accept crypto payments from clients and receive direct EUR payouts to their bank account – no wallets, no complex integration, no volatility.
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