Over 200 executives from the British watch industry have cast their votes for the 2017 WatchPro Awards. Retailers voted for the brands they most admire for their work over the past 12 months; professionals working for watch brands, subsidiaries or distributors in the UK voted for the retailers they most admire. The finalists revealed here […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS
Roger Dubuis races into partnership with Lamborghini Squadra Corsa
Roger Dubuis and Lamborghini Squadra Corsa have screeched into a high octane partnership that screams extreme power and precision. Squadra Corsa is the racing arm of Lamborghini, and the collaboration was revealed today at its Italian R&D department, Centro Stile, where Roger Dubuis introduced the Excalibur Aventador S, named after Lamborghini’s iconic model. Roger Dubuis, […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Bremont backs Team UK for the Invictus Games with supporter’s bracelet
British athletes are boarding planes to Canada this week to take part in Invictus Games Toronto 2017. The international event bring together wounded, injured or sick armed services personnel and their associated veterans to compete in sports including wheelchair basketball, sitting volleyball, and indoor rowing. British watchmaker Bremont is an official supporter of the UK Team for the Invictus Games […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Breitling goes black and broody for Bentley Continental GT companion watch
Breitling has unveiled the latest limited edition timepiece celebrating its partnership with Bentley. The Breitling for Bentley Dark Sapphire chronograph has been created to launch alongside the all-new Bentley Continental GT, that was presented at the Frankfurt Motor Show and will start purring up British driveways next year. The 500-piece limited edition Breitling for Bentley […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEWS, SMART WATCHES
Richemont joins Swatch Group in Silicon Valley of Switzerland tech zone
Richemont has joined Swatch Group in opening a facility in Microcity, a tech park in Neuchâtel that aims to become the Silicon Valley of Swiss watchmaking. Richemont’s research and innovation director, Edouard Mignon, says the venture aims to help all watch brands in the group to invent and incubate new materials and advance mechanics for its timepieces. In […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Richard Mille set for 30% increase in production over two years
Richard Mille, founder of his eponymous watch brand, says the company is rapidly increasing production and will make around 4600 timepieces next year, an increase of 30% units in just two years. The number may seem small, but this is a watch brand that made 70 limited edition McLaren F1 RM 50-03 (pictured above) and priced […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, FEATURES, NEWS, UK
TEST DRIVE: WatchPro heads to Morgan Motor Company to make sense of its collaboration with Christopher Ward
News of a collaboration between Christopher Ward and Morgan Motor Company broke at Salon QP last year. It was a partnership that fate appeared unable to resist. Morgan is a quintessentially British carmaker, Christopher Ward, a British company (although it makes its watches in Switzerland). The very first watches ever made by the company were […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK, WATCHPRO AWARDS
Final chance to cast your vote for the 2017 WatchPro Awards
Voting closes today for this year’s WatchPro Awards. The survey takes just a couple of minutes, and we hope all WatchPro readers will join the hundreds of industry executives that have already chosen the watch brands and retailers that have impressed them most over the past 12 months. The WatchPro Awards are voted on by […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Swiss startup The Electricianz bring disruptive creativity to watch market
MDS Time Limited, UK distributor for Sevenfriday watches, is introducing The Electricianz, a brand new Swiss watchmaker, to market next month. The Electricianz, based in Bienne, promises to bring “unprecedented mix of luxury, disruptive creativity and affordability” in a range of £300 watches. How the watches’ use of electricity differs from the millions of other battery-driven […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Rolex, Patek Philippe and IWC anchor Laings latest showroom in Southampton
Westquay Shopping Centre, a mid-market shopping centre in Southampton, has been given a taste of the high life with Laings opening a flagship boutique offering Patek Philippe, Rolex and IWC along with its prestigious fine jewellery. The boutique is adjacent to John Lewis, an Apple Store and upmarket shoe shop Russell & Bromley. The shop, […]
Posted inNEWS, UK
IN PICTURES: Take a tour of the new Laings showroom in Southampton’s Westquay Shopping Centre
The new Laings in Southampton’s Westquay Shopping Centre is anchored with windows and VIP areas for Patek Philippe, Rolex and IWC along with the company’s prestigious fine jewellery collections. Patek Philippe and Rolex dominate the window frontage to the left while jewellery is promoted to the right of the entrance. Fitted out to the highest specification, the […]
Posted inNEWS, UK
IWC and British Film Institute announce finalists for £50,000 filmmaker bursary
The British Film Institute and Swiss watchmaker IWC Schaffhausen revealed three emerging filmmakers competing for a £50,000 bursary that can be used to fund future projects. Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper, Amanda Nevill, CEO of the BFI and Christoph Grainger-Herr, CEO of IWC will select the winner, who will be announced in London on October 3. […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
NEWS FLASH: George Daniels watch sets new world record auction price
Sotheby’s London has sold a George Daniels Space Travellers pocket watch for £3,196,250, a new world record for an English-made watch sold at auction. The exact same watch previously held the record after selling for £1.3 million it set in 2012. Made circa 1982, the 18ct gold chronograph with Daniels’ independent double-wheel escapement is one of the British watchmaker’s […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEWS, SMART WATCHES, UK, WATCHPRO AWARDS
Kronaby sponsors WatchPro Awards as it builds bridges to Britain’s most innovative watch retailers
Kronaby has joined a growing list of watch brands and suppliers to sponsor the 2017 WatchPro Awards. The Swedish smartwatch maker says that the partnership sends an important message to British retailers about their commitment to working with them to develop the brand and drive sales. “Being a sponsor of such a key event in […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
IN PICTURES: Boca do Lobo’s watch winding works of art
Luxury interior design company Boca do Lobo has created a range of eclectic and unusual watch winders inspired by some of its favourite creative themes. The handcrafted objet, designed and made in Portugal, are made to appeal to the ultra-wealthy clients that appreciate Boca do Lobo’s furniture and other home accessories. Three models have been […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Legendary Braun designer talks watches with Dezeen
Dietrich Lubs, the legendary designer behind the Bauhaus-inspired designs of Braun, has taken a break from retirement to help update a limited number of Braun watches. Mr Lubs was a student and then partner with Dieter Rams, and the pair worked together on some of Braun’s most influential products. He was hired by Mr Rams […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, LEAD STORY, NEWS, Research, UK, WATCHPRO AWARDS
WatchPro Awards voting goes down to the wire
With just 48 hours to go until voting closes for the 2017 WatchPro Awards, the margins separating top five watch brands and retailers in some categories are razor thin. “A few votes either way will cause the finalists and winners to change in almost half the Award categories, so every vote counts,” says Rob Corder, […]
Posted inNEWS, Research, UK
Online retail sales growth accelerates in August
UK online retail sales were up +16.4% year-on-year (YoY) in August, according to the latest figures from the IMRG Capgemini Online Retail Sales Index. This makes August the best month for online retail growth so far in 2017. The Home sector had a particularly strong August, with 20.5% year-on-year growth and an average basket value (ABV) of […]
Posted inGALLERIES
IN PICS: Ice-Watch’s 10th anniversary bonanza
It has been 10 years since Ice Watch was launched in 2007, and the Belgian brand is determined to build on the success of its first decade. The company, which was brought to the UK by Peers Hardy, maintains its focus on affordable prices, stylish designs, bold and exciting colours and excellent versatility. Ice Watches are […]