Hundreds of the UK’s leading watch industry executives gathered last night for the 2024 WatchPro Awards that honour the achievements of this country’s greatest retailers and watch brands.
Rugby World Cup winner Ben Kay took to the stage alongside WatchPro editor-in-chief Rob Corder to announce the winners on the biggest night of the year for the watch world.
The Awards are all about the people who have made the UK one of the biggest, and arguably the most sophisticated, market in the world for watches at all price points.
WatchPro Awards are voted on by members of the industry. Retailers vote for the brands they have admired most over the past year while brand executives vote for the retailers that have impressed them.
Since the last WatchPro Awards in October 2023, the world has experienced a significant slowdown in sales. However, the UK market has been among the most resilient with Swiss watch exports to this country down by just 1.8% in the nine months to September 2024. Retail sales, according to analyst GfK, down by less than 3% from the start of the year.
This year’s winners have demonstrated the sort of energy and expertise that is needed more than ever in a cooler market; helping them to maintain sales, gain market share and continue to invest in delivering exceptional service to their customers.
The winners of the 2024 WatchPro Awards are:
Multiple Watch Retailer of the Year
For retailers with 10 stores or more, the winner is Watches of Switzerland.
Independent Watch Retailer of the Year
For privately-owned family jewellers, the winner is James Porter & Son.
Multi-Generational Watch Retailer of the Year
For retailers that are managing the business from one generation to the next, the winner is Berry’s Jewellers.
Best New Store of the Year by a Retailer
For new stores run by retailers (as opposed to run by brands). Franchised or JV stores are permitted. The winner is Laings new flagship in Glasgow.
Best Refurbished Store of the Year by a Retailer
For new stores run by retailers (as oppose to run by brands). The winner is Beaverbrooks in Peterborough.
Pre-Owned or Vintage Watch Retailer of the Year
For secondary market specialist retailers and platforms. The winner is Watchfinder.
Marketing, events, collaboration or partnership activation of the year
This award is open to both watch brands and retailers. And the winner is WOLF for its 190th Anniversary Gala at the Royal Opera House.
Watch Brand Awards
Awards for watch brands designed so that, insofar as it is possible, watchmakers are grouped by price point. The aim is to avoid brands specialising in high volume, inexpensive watches competing with the low volume, high priced marques.
Luxury Watch Brand of the Year
For brands whose watches sell predominately for £10,000 or more the winner is Patek Philippe.
Prestige Watch Brand of the Year
For brands whose watches sell predominately for £5,000 to £10,000. The winner is IWC.
Innovators and Indies Award
This award is for emerging independents and microbrands. And the winner of this hotly-contested category is ID Genève.
Jewellery Watch Brand of the Year
For brands with specialist lines in gem-decorated timepieces, the winner is Jacob & Co.
Affordable Luxury Watch Brand of the Year
For brands whose watches sell predominately for £1,000 and £5,000. The winner for 2024 is Raymond Weil.
Volume Watch Brand of the Year
For brands whose watches sell predominately for below £1,000, this year’s winner is Citizen.
British Watch Brand of the Year
This award is for brands headquartered in the UK. It is not a requirement to manufacture all or parts of watches in this country. There were some exceptional finalists, but the winner is Christopher Ward.
Best New or Refurbished Branded Store of the Year
And finally, the award for the best new or refurbished store by a watch brand is Patek Philippe, for its recently expanded flagship on London’s Bond Street.