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Rapture Industries
Ben Clymer turned a watch blog into Hodinkee, a New York-based content-and-commerce engine that sold a stake to LVMH in 2020.
Rapture Industries
Rapture Industries was launched by Benjamin Clymer as the corporate umbrella for Hodinkee, a publication he founded in 2008 that evolved into an influential commerce platform for luxury watch enthusiasts. Clymer built the brand from a personal blog into a destination that combined editorial, limited-edition collaborations, and pre-owned watch sales—attracting a reader base of high-net-worth individuals and capturing the attention of the luxury establishment. The company's strategy rests on a content-to-commerce flywheel. Hodinkee produces in-depth reviews, news, and cultural commentary on horology, which feeds an e-commerce operation that sells pre-owned watches, straps, and accessories. Through the Hodinkee Shop, the firm has brokered limited-edition pieces with brands including Omega, TAG Heuer, and Grand Seiko. The geographic footprint spans North America, Western Europe, and Asia—markets where mechanical watch collecting is concentrated. In 2021, Hodinkee acquired Crown & Caliber, a pre-owned watch retailer, significantly scaling its inventory operations before divesting the unit in 2024. The firm disclosed a $40 million Series B funding round in December 2020 led by LVMH Luxury Ventures, Tom Brady, and others. That capital preceded the Crown & Caliber acquisition and cemented a strategic relationship with LVMH, the world's largest luxury conglomerate. Headquartered in New York, the company operates a retail showroom in Manhattan. In February 2024, Clymer stepped down as CEO, handing day-to-day leadership to Jeff Fowler and signaling a new operational phase. Rapture Industries' structural differentiator is its dual identity as both an independent editorial voice and a transactional retail channel. While most luxury media outlets rely entirely on advertising, Hodinkee derives the majority of its revenue from commerce. This model creates a potential conflict of interest—the publication reviews watches sold in its own shop—but it has also proven durable in an era when digital ad revenue remains volatile. The LVMH relationship suggests long-term strategic backing from the industry's dominant manufacturer while the firm maintains editorial independence through a media-arm structure.
General information
Firm type
Family Office
Year founded
—
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
New York
Corporate office
New York, NY, United States
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Rapture Industries and what is its relationship to Hodinkee?
Ben Clymer founded Hodinkee in 2008 and established Rapture Industries Inc. as the corporate parent entity. Clymer served as CEO until February 2024, when he transitioned to a board role. Rapture Industries houses the brand's editorial, commerce, and partnership operations under one corporate structure.
Does Rapture Industries operate as a media company or a retailer?
The firm operates as both. Hodinkee is widely recognized as a leading editorial publication in horology, publishing articles, videos, and podcasts on luxury watches. The Hodinkee Shop, operated by the same entity, sells pre-owned watches, accessories, and limited-edition collaborations, making commerce the primary revenue driver rather than traditional media advertising.
What is LVMH's role in the company?
LVMH Luxury Ventures, the investment arm of the LVMH group, participated in Hodinkee's $40 million Series B funding round in December 2020, alongside other investors (per public record). The stake gives LVMH a minority interest, and the strategic relationship connects the firm to the largest luxury conglomerate in the world, which owns TAG Heuer, Hublot, and Zenith.
Did the company previously own Crown & Caliber, and what happened to it?
Yes. In 2021, Hodinkee acquired Crown & Caliber, a pre-owned luxury watch retailer, to expand its inventory and authentication capabilities. In 2024, under new CEO Jeff Fowler, the company divested Crown & Caliber and returned to a refocused model on brand collaborations and its core e-commerce platform.
What investment stages or geographies does Rapture Industries focus on?
Rapture Industries is not an investment firm; it is an operating company. It does not invest in external startups or make fund commitments. All capital deployment is directed toward growing its media, commerce, and collaboration business within the luxury watch sector, primarily in North America, Europe, and Asia.
How does the company manage editorial independence while selling the products it reviews?
The company maintains a formal separation between the editorial team and the commerce operation, with an editorial policy published on its website. The Hodinkee Shop includes watches from brands not owned by LVMH and from independent watchmakers, while the editorial side has reviewed products unfavorably on occasion. This structural tension is a defining feature of its business model.
Who leads the firm following Ben Clymer's departure as CEO?
Jeff Fowler took over as CEO in February 2024, while Ben Clymer remained involved at the board level. Fowler's background and the firm's post-transition strategic plan focus on refining the core commerce and content operations following the Crown & Caliber divestiture.
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