My Business: Dubai entrepreneur who left a stable corporate life to sell vintage watches

Dubai: For most people, leaving a well-paid corporate job in the Gulf is unthinkable. But for Turkish expatriate Erkan Gülmez, the decision to start over was the only way forward.

Gülmez arrived in the UAE in 2022 and was leading a subsidiary of a major Turkish conglomerate in Dubai, following a corporate stint in Doha. His career was stable, predictable, and comfortable - which is exactly why his next move shocked everyone around him.

He walked away from it all for one thing - vintage watches.

Gülmez, now the founder of mainspring.dxb, began collecting second-hand timepieces in 2016. Over the years, he built a personal collection worth nearly $60,000 (Dh220,350), sourcing models from across the world. By 2021, he was casually reselling watches. But this year, he finally turned the obsession into a full-time business.

“Now I’m free mentally and financially,” he told Gulf News. “Most people want to follow their dreams but are forced to hold on to jobs that don’t speak to their soul. Once you save enough or feel financially secure, that’s when you’re ready to pursue what you love.”

The biggest push came from his daughter. With her now in university, Gulmez felt he had fulfilled a lifelong responsibility, creating stability and securing her future.

With that chapter complete, he decided it was finally time to write his own.

While many entrepreneurs start with sleek showrooms or e-commerce sites, Gülmez chose a very different path: the Dubai Flea Market.

It wasn’t glamorous, but it was transformative.

“I love selling there. The energy is completely different and I meet new people every time,” he said. Bargaining means thinner margins, but the exposure was priceless. He has been a regular vendor since 2022, paying just Dh250 per stall, and he still returns every weekend - despite now having a permanent kiosk at B1 Mall, Al Barsha.

“A permanent stall gives customers trust. They know where to find me. But I’ll always sell at the flea market because I love the community.”

He also markets through Instagram and TikTok, showcasing pieces and educating beginners.

Gulmez started with 50 watches. Once sold, he reinvested everything. No loans. No partners. No shareholders. Today, he has a stock of more than 350 watches, ranging from Omega and Rolex to Seiko, Citizen and Orient.

His sourcing strategy is unconventional. He doesn’t chase the rarest or priciest finds. Instead, he focuses on trusted resellers.

“There’s a saying: ‘Don’t buy the watch, buy the seller.’ Japan is my main source because it’s one of the best markets for vintage watches.”

Gulmez’s collection comes from travels, flea markets, second-hand dealers, and trusted resellers worldwide. He isn’t necessarily chasing the rarest or most expensive models, he focuses on reliability, authenticity, and the story behind each watch.

Demand, he says, depends entirely on budget.

“I sell from high-end to affordable. If you want good design and performance at a reasonable price, Japanese brands are your best bet.”

His personal favourite? Omega - “a brand that has advanced horology more than most.” But for pure style, Cartier wins.

His current favourite from his own collection is the Omega Moonwatch, famously worn during Apollo 11 and every subsequent moon landing. His most expensive pieces include a Dh18,000 Rolex and another valued at Dh38,000.

He doesn’t sugarcoat it.

“To me, watches are not investments. Only some models gain value. In the second-hand market, prices drop but usually stabilise. But with Cartier, Omega or Seiko, I’ve never lost money.”

Before selling any piece, he inspects it in detail - the movement, dial, bezel, crown, case and bracelet. Using a digital microscope, he checks screws, scratch marks and signs of past maintenance.

“With my mechanical engineering background, I love this part. It’s like examining a tiny factory inside the watch.”

The business can be unpredictable but highly rewarding.

“At the flea market, I once sold a Rolex for Dh63,000. My total revenue that day crossed Dh80,000, all because of one watch.”

Premium models often follow global market prices, but vintage pieces are valued based on rarity, condition and timekeeping.

His passion began early. “I started collecting ephemera - documents from the past, like boarding passes or Ottoman-era title deeds. I think I love watches because they’re art, design and history wrapped into one.”

One thing Gülmez emphasises repeatedly is how Dubai’s bureaucracy or lack of it - made entrepreneurship a realistic option.

“Starting a business in Dubai is incredibly easy,” he said. “I used the DED Café, and it took me just one hour to complete everything from company registration to getting the permits.”

He describes the process as “walk in in the morning, walk out in the afternoon with your own company.”

Despite Dubai’s reputation for luxury shopping and massive malls, Gulmez says the second-hand watch market is thriving.

“People today want something with a story. They want pieces with history, personality and soul,” he explained. “Vintage watches give them that.”

For anyone starting a business, Gülmez says passion is essential. Entrepreneurship comes with challenges, financial pressures, and moments of doubt, but loving the work makes them easier to face.

“If you love what you’re building, you will find solutions you didn’t know you were capable of,” he says.

Trust, he adds, is the currency of small businesses. In the vintage watch market, reputation matters more than marketing. Customers return when they feel safe and respected, which is why he offers a three-month warranty, no-fee exchanges, and full transparency.

“I’ve sold 5,000 watches. Each has a story, some dating back to the 1910s. Buying a vintage watch means continuing its history.”