India’s Luxury Market Boom! Pre-Owned Trade Sees Record Growth- Check Which Items Lead The Surge

India’s pre-owned luxury market is witnessing unprecedented growth, driven by rising demand for high-end watches and handbags across both online and offline channels. Retailers report that sales have quadrupled

in the past year, with significant interest coming from tier-II and tier-III cities. This boom is prompting platforms and boutiques to expand their certified luxury offerings.Watches and Bags Lead the MarketArjun Singh Hira, founder of chronoseconds.com, a platform for pre-owned luxury watches, highlighted that last month his largest single sale amounted to Rs 1.6 crore, purchased by a billionaire from a tier-II city. “Sales have grown four times in the past year, and the preloved market is maturing rapidly,” Hira noted.Mukul Khanna, COO of Ethos, called the surge in pre-owned watches a “revolution” rather than a passing trend. He said, “Collectors and first-time buyers alike are embracing certified authenticity and trust-driven experiences. The market is responding with remarkable energy.”Khanna noted strong demand for:

• Avant-garde watches from Urwerk, Jacob & Co, H. Moser & Cie
• Elegant dress watches from Girard-Perregaux
• Aviator-style watches from Bell & Ross

Encouraged by this response, Ethos is evaluating expansion of its Second Movement boutiques to bring luxury collecting to more cities across India.Pre-Owned Handbags and Watches Fuel GrowthTata CLiQ Luxury, which launched its Pre-Owned Timeless Icons category last year, has seen crossbody bag sales nearly double in gross merchandise value. The platform features brands like Bottega Veneta, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and watches from Omega, Breitling, TAG Heuer, among others.CEO Gopal Asthana noted that smaller cities such as Ajmer, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Guwahati, Patiala, and Raipur now contribute up to 45% of sales in the timepieces segment. Plans are underway to expand further by adding partners and categories.Luxepolis, another pre-owned luxury platform, has seen a 30% rise in sales compared to last year, according to founder Vijay KG.Hira added, “Customers in tier-II and tier-III towns have wealth and high aspirations. Over the last five years, prices of top luxury watch brands have doubled. Even without access to authorised distributors, buyers are increasingly turning to the pre-owned market. Our sales are already Rs 2-3 crore per month, and the peak season is yet to arrive.”Key Takeaways:

• Pre-owned luxury is booming in India, particularly watches and handbags.
• Tier-II and tier-III cities are driving a significant portion of growth.
• Certified authenticity and trust are central to market expansion.
• Industry players are planning boutique expansions and increased platform offerings to meet demand.