Marya Ali is a name to know in the luxury watch industry. The in-house watch specialist at Knightsbridge pre-loved designer boutique Love Luxury, Marya has become the go-to watch dealer for many A-list celebrities, sports stars and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) all over the world, dominating what is considered a very male orientated industry.
Marya, 25, began her career as the assistant to a professional watch collector and has quickly become one of the most respected watch specialists in London for both men’s and women’s watches.
We sat down with Marya to find out a little more.
Where did your love of watches come from?
I’ve always loved watches for as long as I can remember. They were always a talking point amongst the men in my family, growing up in the UAE, whenever we had family gatherings the men would discuss their latest purchases and trade information on the latest launches and what they had their eye on next, it always fascinated me.
How did you learn your trade?
My first job when I moved to London a few years ago was with a very respected watch dealer. I was handling the world’s most exclusive, sought after time pieces on a daily basis. I was working with watches that could be worth anything up to half a million pound. It was there I really learnt my trade, working with the most knowledgeable experts in the business.
Which watch have you been most impressed by?
The first highly exclusive watch I came across was a Jacob and Co Opera Godfather 50th anniversary watch which is one of only 50 in the world and worth at least half a million. I love a watch with a story. I also remember falling in love with a Richard Mille RM020 Pocket Watch, they’re so beautifully unique.
What is your favourite watch at the moment?
I’m really loving the Patek Phillipe 5740/G Nautilus at the moment. Patek Phillipe is my favourite all round watch brand, I love the history of the brand and how it is still family ran.
How do you make most of your deals?
I work from the Love Luxury store in Knightsbridge every day, the store has become synonymous with Rolex and Patek Phillipe so we get a lot of customers that travel to either sell or buy something they’ve seen on the site. I also have a whatsapp broadcast of more than 200 collectors all over the world, it’s here I let everyone know the watch I have as soon as it comes in, and they get in touch with me privately if they have something to sell or would like me to source something
How do you source watches for your clients?
My clients come to me with either exactly what they want, or sometimes they let me know their budget and what I can advise would be the best investment at the time. I am part of a network of watch specialists all of the world. For the right watch I’ve had clients fly in from all over the world, as far as China and The US. It’s not unusual for them to fly into London, come directly to us, purchase the watch they came for and go straight back to the airport!
How do you spot a fake?
There’s no fool proof way to spot a fake watch these days. The counterfeit market is booming and fake watches are becoming increasingly hard to spot. The only really way is to put it through an authentication service, although there are some instant giveaways, the weight can be a big give away, I handle watches every day so I know if a Rolex doesn’t feel as heavy as it should. I also listen to the mechanisms and investigate each component, some people might have real watches but the screws are fake! Even the smallest of components can go for a huge amount, that’s why people should always go to reputable dealer, screws and links are worth a lot of money.
