What is .watches?
.watches entered the DNS root zone on December 14, 2015, 10 years ago. It came out of ICANN's New gTLD Program, the 2012 application round that grew the root from 22 generic TLDs to well over a thousand.
Identity Digital Domains Limited also runs 23 other TLDs, including .archi, .bet, .bio, .black and .blue.
On the technical side, .watches is served by 4 authoritative name servers, every one of them reachable over IPv6. It is also DNSSEC-signed: the root zone carries a DS record for .watches, which lets validating resolvers check its answers cryptographically. Registration data is published over RDAP.
Same registry, other endings
23 other TLDs share this operator.
.watches FAQ
What does .watches mean?
.watches is a generic top-level domain named for the word "watches". It doesn't belong to any country.
What country is .watches?
None. .watches is a generic top-level domain, so it isn't tied to any country.
Who owns the .watches domain extension?
Identity Digital Domains Limited operates .watches as its registry, under a registry agreement with ICANN.
When was .watches created?
.watches was delegated to the DNS root zone on December 14, 2015.
Is .watches a valid domain?
Yes. .watches is an active top-level domain in the DNS root zone, delegated in 2015, so .watches addresses work in every browser.
Can I buy a .watches domain?
.watches names are sold through ICANN-accredited registrars. Some gTLDs restrict who can register, so read Identity Digital Domains Limited's policy if you're unsure.
Is .watches DNSSEC-signed?
Yes, the root zone holds a DS record for .watches.
Sources
Data from IANA root zone version 2026102000. Last changed September 4, 2025. Spotted something wrong? Tell us.
