It’s been brewing for a while, and today the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers has finally announced its first showcase for member artisans and manufacturers.
Aptly named British Watchmakers’ Day, the event will be – as its name suggests – for one day only on Saturday 9 March 2024 at Lindley Hall (Royal Horticultural Halls) in Westminster, London.
So far more than 30 brands have confirmed their attendance – covering a multitude of styles and price ranges.
Some, like Accurist and Christopher Ward, will need no introduction – although visitors may be surprised by the creative new-look of the former brand – others will, no doubt, be a journey of discovery.
Among those showcasing their wares are: Accurist, Alkin, Arken, Backes & Strauss, Beaucroft, Brooklands, Christopher Ward, Clemence, Duckworth Prestex, Elliot Brown, Escudo, Farer, Fears, Great British Watch Company, Helicon, IOTA, Isotope, MHD, Mr. Jones, Nomadic, Omologato, Pinion, Pompeak, Roger W. Smith, Schofield, Shoreham, Sidereus, Studio Underdog, Tesouro, Vertex, William Wood and Zero West.
A highlight of the event will be the Special Edition watches created by exhibiting brands. The collectors’ issues will be available to buy exclusively at British Watchmakers’ Day.
With most exhibitors already committed to creating Special Editions, organisers say that there will be something “perfect for every wrist and wallet size – a demonstration of just how far the British watch sector has come along in recent years.”
Roger Smith is one of the watchmakers that will be taking part and has agreed to make a Series One watch for the event.
In June, Mr Smith achieved an outright record for any British watch when Pocket Watch Number Two sold at Phillips New York for $4.9m. Unsurprisingly, the waiting list for his handmade watches, created following the George Daniels method and that sell at auction for high six figure sums, is currently closed to new collectors, so the opportunity to acquire this one-off piece at retail (which is still in the tens of thousands) is sure to create huge interest.
Details of how the watch will be sold are still to be announced, but the potential for a high-end MoonSwatch scrum of people trying to get their hands on it is high.
Speaking of the importance of the event in raising awareness of British watchmaking, and his desire to be involved in the Special Editions, Mr Smith, who is chairman of the Alliance says: “My hope is that British Watchmakers’ Day will become an annual event as we try to raise awareness of our sector around the world.
“I wanted to make clear just how much this event means to me and that’s why I’ve committed to build one of my own watches especially for the event”.
The Alliance, which now has more than 80 member watch and clock companies aims to promote British horology around the world. Highlighting the major resurgence of the sector, they believe that now is the right time to showcase the country’s talent.
More details of British Watchmakers’ Day will be published as they emerge.
