Two former magazine executives have launched Watchepedia, an online source book for watch companies and watch lovers to share their passion for watches.

The Web site was created by hr:WATCHES magazine’s former publisher Joe Urich and former editor Natalie Campisi. It offers watch companies and retailers an up-to-the-minute place to post the latest news and press releases on their watches and other related goods. Watchepedia, based in Tampa, Fla., gives the watch industry a means to report on their watches firsthand by offering one complimentary company page, with the option of adding more.

With thirty years combined experience in the watch world, Urich and Campisi understand the need for a Web site like Watchepedia. According to Campisi, it’s often difficult to filter through unofficial information on the Web, not to mention the smaller companies that scramble to get their message out among the behemoths.

“Most watch Web sites are beautiful and do a great job of promoting their brand image, but they usually don’t offer a lot of information in the way of specs, prices, and even the latest models,” Campisi said. “Additionally, there are dozens of wonderful, but small, watch companies who simply lack the budget to promote the way the larger brands do. Watchepedia is an even playing field for all watch companies. We simply want to get the information to the world, in a quick and reliable manner.”

In addition, Watchepedia is also creating a community for watch collectors, wherein members are offered a complimentary “profile page” to post photos of their watch collection, a wish list and a customized home page which alerts them of any news on their “favorite” watch brands.

Watchepedia’s mission is to establish an online source book of information for the watch community, including journalists and other industry leaders. By offering this unfiltered, straight-from-the-source information online, people all over the world will have access to the latest watch news anytime and anywhere.

JCK