There’s something special about a good watch- the timeless and elegant feeling that comes with owning an heirloom. But there’s no denying that the search for that perfect signature accessory comes with a caveat: it’s no small task to acquire, especially when it comes to the vintage market. From dealing with market competition, fakes, broken items, and outrageous price tags, the cost that comes with sourcing vintage watches is greater than that of money. But lucky for us, Boston-based Mina Hasan has it all figured out.
Welcome to The Kismet Reserve
A full time student and senior in finance and marketing, Mina Hasan has been a content creator since 2019, but a vintage connoisseur for as long as she can remember. “I guess I just have a knack for it,” Mina began during her interview with The Citizen’s Poste. “Everyone knows that I’m a huge thrifter; I love secondhand shopping.” So naturally, when she founded the Kismet Reserve, a vintage watch resale brand with an aim to provide customers with their “forever pieces,” it was a success from the start.
Courtesy of Mina Hasan
Hasan had been sourcing vintage watches for several years before she turned it into her career, posting her finds on her own social media much to the intrigue of her audience. It wasn’t long before she was flooded with requests as to where she was snagging her pieces, and whether she’d be willing to sell them. It was the perfect gateway into a niche that was calling her name, but the final push in developing the brand didn’t come until a week after the unfortunate loss of her brother, when the idea for the business sparked and lit. “And that’s the whole basis of the brand: time.” Mina explained, “Because the word Kismet means fate or destiny. I think that with everything that had just happened in my life- and then me jumping at the idea so quickly- was fate playing out.”
And as The Kismet Reserve develops, she still says true to it’s foundations as well as her own. With a passion for honoring her South Asian roots, Hasan is keen to incorporate as much cultural influence into the business as she can, balancing an appeal to her own identity and that of other watch connoisseurs. Moreover, she’s a firm believer in remaining vocal about her stance on current global issues, especially in regards to conflict in the Middle East. “I want to make sure my heart and my work are in the same place.”
The Works
Hasan spends the first three days of her average business week content creating and preparing for her annual Saturday drop. From intense feed planning to studio shoots and traveling to inspect other markets, her work is in a constant state of motion. Apart from that, she’s always on the lookout for new pieces to have curated for the next drop.
Courtesy of Mina Hasan
While she prefers to lean towards classic, timeless pieces from famous watch sellers like Joan Rivers, Seiko, Bulova, and Anne Klein, there’s no saying what rare finds the market could present on a given day. “Given how a drop does, I might change things around, but everything is usually planned two to three weeks in advance.”
Drops typically range from 20-30 pieces, depending on the season. To accommodate international shipping and in order to balance her workload, Hasan confirmed that she was working with comfortable numbers when it came to stock, as she does the majority of the packing and shipping herself. “I try to pack everything up on Sundays to have it all ready to go by Monday, and then I’m right back to work.”
Courtesy of Mina Hasan
Her current drop, however, contains 40 pieces in light of the holiday season. To ensure that every piece- domestic and international- arrives before Christmas, she timed it perfectly, and not to mention the final touch: a classy red theme, perfect for not only this time of year, but to seamlessly incorporate 2023’s favorite color into your wardrobe.
Up And Coming
If you don’t get your hands on a watch this week, don’t stress (and don’t be shocked, as it’s typical that drops typically sell out within a matter of minutes). Mina continues to curate new collections every Saturday at 11:30 EST, and avidly teases sneak-peeks on both her personal and the business’ Instagrams.
Courtesy of Mina Hasan
As of the future of The Kismet Reserve, Hasan hinted that she had a few things in the works, but until the ball is rolling, we can only keep our fingers crossed. “I have to plan everything pretty far in advance… I want everything to be applicable if I decide to expand into other avenues,” she says.
Regardless, her focus on lasting, sustainably sourced pieces rings true.
By Mackenzie Ostrowski