OUR STORY

For Mike, the owner of Holben's Fine Watches and Bands, it all began with a 1976 Tony the Tiger watch. To a nine-year-old it was the coolest gift ever, and sparked a love of wristwatches that continued to flourish. In the next few years he acquired a variety of styles, from digital calculator and early Swatch watches to his first true antique, a 1920s Elgin Tank-style model.

While receiving a Master's degree and working in the field of architectural preservation, Mike continued collecting and studying the art of vintage wristwatches, particularly those with mechanical movements. He educated himself, developing restoration skills and learning about watch history and technology. Though he enjoyed his career, his hobby was becoming a passion. To support this growing interest, he sold items from his collection on eBay.

What started as a sideline evolved into a viable business, and Mike decided to devote his energy full-time towards building the company. Since its founding in 1998, Holben's Fine Watches has sold more than 20,000 wristwatches to clients worldwide. In 2007 the company expanded to include Holben's Fine Watch Bands, a store for straps, buckles and other wristwatch-related accessories.

 

OUR COMPANY

We live and work on an island in the Pacific Northwest, where we enjoy a small town lifestyle, tight-knit community, and occasional orca sightings from the ferry. As a small company, we've structured our business in a way that allows us to personally process your order, including answering questions, packing with care and managing returns/exchanges if necessary.

 

Quality craftsmanship should extend to all components of a wristwatch collection. That's why we focus on European and American manufacturers, including Bonetto Cinturini, Cape Cod Polish, ColaReb, deBeer, Erika's Originals, EULIT, Fluco, Di-Modell, Hadley-Roma, Haveston, Hirsch, RIOS1931 and Staib. Have you been searching for a particularly elusive item or brand? Let us know!

We know you have a choice of where to purchase watch accessories. To make your decision simple, we offer free USPS First Class Mail shipping for orders over $39 in the United States. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95, regardless of number of items purchased. Excited about receiving your order? We ship as quickly as possible (often same day!).

If you're unsure whether a particular piece will complement your watch, don't worry: as part of our hassle-free return policy, we accept returns of unworn, undamaged merchandise (with original tags and/or packaging) for refund or exchange within 30 days of purchase.

Mike's watch collection has evolved over time, reflecting his changing taste and growing expertise, but he still has the Tony the Tiger piece that started it all. We're not simply selling a product. We genuinely enjoy learning about and collecting watches, and we love our work. We welcome suggestions on how to make your experience with our company the best out there.