Privacy Policy

Who we are

BestWatchFor is operated by Ferdinando Bons. You can contact us at hello@bestwatchfor.com.

What data we collect and why

Newsletter subscriptions

When you subscribe to our newsletter via the footer form, we collect your email address. We use it to send you The BestWatchFor Edit, our biweekly editorial newsletter. The legal basis for processing is your consent (GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)). You can withdraw consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any email we send.

Watch Finder Quiz

When you take our Watch Finder Quiz, we collect your email address and your answers: who the watch is for (yourself or a gift), the occasion, and your budget range. You may optionally provide a free-text note with additional context. We may also record the page you came from (referrer URL) to understand which content leads to quiz completions.

We use this data to send you a personalised watch recommendation by email. If you also opt in to The BestWatchFor Edit newsletter via the checkbox on the quiz form, we will add you to our biweekly newsletter after you confirm your address. The two consents are separate: you can receive your recommendation without subscribing to the newsletter. The legal basis for processing is your consent (GDPR Art. 6(1)(a)). You can withdraw at any time via the unsubscribe link in any email.

Analytics (Hotjar)

With your consent, we use Hotjar to understand how visitors interact with our site (heatmaps, session recordings, click patterns). Hotjar may set cookies and collect data about your browsing behavior. This data is processed by Hotjar Ltd, a company incorporated in Malta.

You can manage or withdraw your analytics consent at any time using the cookie banner on this site, or by visiting Hotjar's opt-out page.

Server logs

Our hosting infrastructure (Amazon Web Services, Frankfurt region) automatically logs standard server information including IP addresses. These logs are retained for 30 days for security purposes only.

Where we store your data

Email addresses and newsletter subscription data are stored in Amazon DynamoDB, hosted in the EU (Frankfurt, Germany, AWS eu-central-1 region). All data remains within the European Economic Area.

How long we keep your data

• Confirmed newsletter subscribers: until you unsubscribe.
• Unconfirmed subscriptions (double opt-in pending): automatically deleted after 48 hours.
• Analytics data (Hotjar): governed by Hotjar's privacy policy. Hotjar retains session data for 365 days.

Affiliate links

Some links on BestWatchFor are affiliate links. When you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we genuinely believe in. Affiliate relationships have no influence on our editorial recommendations.

Cookies

We only use cookies if you explicitly consent to analytics via our cookie banner. We do not use tracking cookies, advertising cookies, or any cookies for non-consented purposes. Your consent choice is stored locally in your browser (localStorage) and never sent to our servers.

Your rights under GDPR

If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have the following rights:

• Access: request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Deletion: request that we delete your personal data.
• Portability: request your data in a machine-readable format.
• Objection: object to processing based on legitimate interest.
• Withdraw consent: withdraw previously given consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at hello@bestwatchfor.com. We will respond within 30 days.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Third-party processors

• Amazon Web Services (AWS): hosting, database, and email delivery. AWS acts as a data processor under our instruction. We have a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) in place with AWS. Data is stored in Frankfurt, Germany (eu-central-1).
• Hotjar Ltd: analytics, only if you consent. Hotjar acts as a data processor under our instruction. We have a Data Processing Agreement (DPA) in place with Hotjar Ltd. See Hotjar's privacy policy.

Changes to this policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised. We will not retroactively reduce your rights without explicit consent.

Contact

For any privacy-related questions or requests: hello@bestwatchfor.com