First Watch Leasing, Inc.

About Us

First Watch Leasing, Inc. was founded by forward-thinking wristwatch collectors and enthusiasts who wanted to create a better way of acquiring fine timepieces. Building on their experience in the wristwatch, finance and risk-management fields, FWL’s management team has partnered with leading service providers to bring you the world’s first leasing option for fine timepieces. With FWL’s EliteLeaseSM program, your authorized retailer can offer you the ability to acquire fine timepieces with terms to suit your budget, from 12 to 60 months. You choose the term, and at the end of the lease, you can return your watch or purchase it using our Affordable Purchase Option. Of course, you can always lease another watch that suits your taste. The EliteLease™ program lets you enjoy wearing the latest watches while keeping your existing credit lines available for other purchases.
Joseph Lam, President

First Watch Leasing, Inc.’s founder, Joseph Lam, is also the President of Parcel Pro, Inc., the leading independent insurance provider for the wristwatch and jewelry trade. As a collector of vintage and modern luxury watches, Joseph founded Parcel Pro to provide quality insured shipping for high-value timepieces. Its customized risk management and loss prevention programs, coupled with close attention to customer service, allowed Parcel Pro to grow worldwide with offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Taipei.

Joseph’s experience shipping valuable timepieces and jewelry around the world provides him with an excellent grounding in risk management and loss prevention, and the First Watch Leasing management team has built on this foundation to create a system that addresses key risks, including identity theft, fraud, and the potential for lessee dishonesty. First Watch Leasing utilizes underwriting, technology, law enforcement, and common sense approaches to manage risk.

In 2001, Joseph embarked on another horological adventure when he acquired TimeZone.com, the leading community web site for wristwatch collectors and enthusiasts. During Joseph’s ownership TimeZone expanded by adding discussion forums, staff, sponsors, and an annual tour during which collectors are welcomed by leading Swiss and German manufacturers including Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre, A. Lange & Söhne, and more. In 2007, the Geneva-based horological auction house Antiquorum acquired TimeZone, completing the site’s evolution.