MotoGP star Bradley Smith will appear at a special event at Northampton jeweller and watch shop Steffans on August 24, the day before the British Grand Prix weekend kicks off. Steffans is just 15 miles from the famous Silverstone circuit, where the British Grand Prix of the MotoGP series takes place from August 25-27. The […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Seiko opens global flagship store in London’s Knightsbridge
Seiko’s president and chief operating officer was joined by Japan’s ambassador to the UK for the official opening of its flagship store in London last night. Company president and COO Shuji Takahashi welcomed ambassador Koji Tsuruoka to the Knightsbridge store, along with invited guests and media. Instead of the usual ribbon-cutting, the store was officially opened […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
BREAKING NEWS: Harrington & Hallworth opens central Manchester boutique
Harrington & Hallworth, the 2016 winner of WatchPro’s Luxury Retailer of the Year Award, has opened a boutique in central Manchester. The business, run by Peter Harrington and Alf Hallworth, already operates prestige watch and jewellery stores in the Manchester satellite towns of Wilmslow and Ashton-under-Lyne. The Harrington & Hallworth city centre boutique is located on […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Dunkirk blockbuster sparks excitement among vintage Omega enthusiasts
Watch brands pay a fortune to have their timepieces featured in Hollywood blockbusters, but Omega appears to have been given a free boost in this summer’s widescreen epic, Dunkirk. Director Christopher Nolan is a stickler for historic detail, so when RAF Spitfires and their pilots feature in the WWII movie, he insisted that genuine aircraft […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Vacheron Constantin inducts a Patrimony model into its Excellence Platine Collection
The Patrimony family, which can trace its lineage back to the post-war watchmaking boom of the 1950s, is Vacheron Constantin’s cleanest and most minimalist model. Now the Patrimony is being introduced in 950 platinum, joining the ranks of Vacheron Constantin’s top end Collection Excellence Platine. The resulting watch, issued in a limited run of 150 […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, NEWS, UK
Michael Spiers welcomes sailors back to Plymouth after the Rolex Fastnet Race
Rolex sponsors the prestigious Fastnet Race — one of the world’s largest and most diverse sailing events — because the regatta shares the watchmaker’s values of excellence, precision, innovation, elegance and reliability. It also reaches a global audience of affluent sailing folk who are a prime target market for luxury watches. Closer to home, Rolex’s […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, NEW PRODUCTS, NEWS
Germany’s Eza Watches roars back into life under Dutch management.
Eza Watches has introduced a classically designed pilot watch to go with the dive watch it launched last year. The Eza AirFighter, which houses a Swiss automatic caliber 2824-2 movement, is inspired by classic pilot watches used during WWII. It has modern touches like an engraved logo and model name on the inside of the sapphire glass and […]
Posted inLEAD STORY, NEWS, Research, UK
Premier League of house price growth gives food for thought to watch retailers
Online estate agent eMoov has come up with a handy guide to property hot spots around England and Wales by mapping annual house price rises to the clubs in this year’s Premier League. Few economic factors influence consumer spending more than rising or falling house prices, with confidence to make hefty purchases boosted in line with growing […]
Posted inLEAD STORY
Consumers feel the pinch as retail sales growth slows
Spending on non-food items relapsed into negative territory last month as consumers get to grips with higher costs of living and economic and political uncertainty On a like-for-like basis, overall retail sales increased by 0.9% from July 2016, when they had increased 1.1% from the preceding year, according to the latest BRC-KPMG Retail Sales Monitor. Over […]
Posted inOthers
Rolex Fastnet Race under way in Cowes
Rolex’s Fastnet Race got under way at Cowes, Isle of Wight, on Sunday, boasting the largest fleet in the event’s 92-year history. The Swiss watch giant’s association with the event ties in with its ethos towards sponsorships in general, based on shared values such as excellence, precision, innovation, elegance and reliability. This approach to sponsorship […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL JEWELLERY LONDON, NEWS, UK
Distributor Bezel Watches confirms presence at IJL for Roberto Cavalli and Just Cavalli
Bezel Watches, the subsidiary of Kenneth Green Associates, which specialises in watch distribution, has announced that it will be exhibiting its exclusive brands, Roberto Cavalli by Franck Muller and Just Cavalli, at this year’s International Jewellery London (IJL) exhibition on 3-5 September. As reported by WatchPro in June, Bezel Watches represents a first break into […]
Posted inNEWS, UK
Survival of the Fittest sponsorship success for Luminox
Luminox is enjoying the afterglow of a hugely successful sponsorship of Men’s Health’s Survival of the Fittest event, which took place in July. As well as benefitting from general association with the increasingly popular event, Luminox also saw a number of tangible benefits as part of its sponsorship package. Branding played a key part on […]
Posted inNEWS, UK
Roseberys auction house takes on three former Christie’s staff members
On the back of Christie’s closing its South Kensington (CSK) salesroom on 19 July, Roseberys auction house has taken on three of the key individuals from Christie’s former operation. As well as Nic McElhatton, former chairman of CSK, and Fiona Baker, former head of Decorative Arts and Mark Bowis, former jewellery and watch specialist signals […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, INTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Rory and Sergio take lunar rover for a spin in Omega Speedmaster stunt
Omega demonstrated its two passions for golf and space travel at the 2017 PGA Championship on Monday as brand ambassadors Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia donned astronaut suits and took turns driving a lunar rover around the Quail Hollow Club. It is the 60th anniversary of Omega’s Speedmaster timepiece, which began its association with space […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Sekford offers personal strap selector on its ecommerce site
London watch brand Sekford has released a range of luxury straps for ladies and gents so that customers can buy their timepieces with the exact shade and material they want. The straps use the same Bariena and Saffiano leathers used by some of the world’s most expensive haute couture houses. They are offered in colours […]
Posted inINTERNATIONAL, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Misuzu Corporation acquires golf watch specialist Jaermann & Stübi
Misuzu Corporation, a Japanese business that distributes a range of watch brands in the country, has bought Jaermann & Stubi, a specialist in watches for golfers. Misuzu expanded from a computer wholesaler into a watch distributor that works with Citizen, Casio and Seiko as sell as smaller brands like Catorex and Union Hologere and Roberto […]
Posted inNEW PRODUCTS, NEWS, UK
Maurice Lacroix continues subtle evolution of its Pontos collection
Maurice Lacroix is now offering a brown-orange top leather strap with its Pontos Chronograph. The Pontos, first introduced 20 years ago, was re-issued in 2016 with a new case, designed to improve the look of the watch and make it more comfortable to wear. The watch houses an ML112 Maurice Lacroix Manufacture movement. “Over the last […]
Posted inEXHIBITIONS, NEWS, UK
Elliot Brown watches wins best collection prize at CMJ buying event
Elliot Brown was awarded the best collection in show prize at last weekend’s Company of Master Jewellers buying event. The exhibition was the first opportunity for many independent jewellers to see the new Kimmeridge collection of women’s watches, which were first unveiled in May this year. The Kimmeridge collection, named after a surf spot close […]
Posted inEDITOR'S CHOICE, FEATURES, IN MAG, INTERVIEWS, LEAD STORY, NEWS, UK
Movado president describes why he values Olivia Burton at £60 million
Movado Group had been courting Olivia Burton for almost a year before the deal to acquire the London-based watchmaker for £60 million was signed in June. In their first interview since the takeover was announced, WatchPro spoke to Olivia Burton co-founders Lesa Bennett and Jemma Fennings, and Movado Group CEO Efraim Grinberg, about plans to […]