Russell Sheldrake
British Watchmaker Day is becoming a quick turnaround date on the London calendar, and its second article was born in the hype created by its debut last year. With more brands participating in conflict and other exhibitors (including themselves in Time + Tide), I was able to see more watches this year and experience more of what the UK industry has to offer than ever.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5lqpatyhaa
I know that even if there are no large crowds on British Watchmaker Day, not everyone who wants to attend can do it. The venue’s capabilities still limit tickets, so anyone who wants to know what it is in Lindley Hall could get the sense of controlled confusion that has become a critical feature of the event. So, our trusty photographer Pabolu and I went to as many brands as possible to find out what was on display, what was on sale and what the fair was like at this sequel fair.
Whether it was a big established name like Christopher Ward’s Mike France or Nicholas Bowman Scargill, or a young up-and-coming name like ANOMA’s Matteo Violet-Vianello, we wanted to talk to everyone and show them the incredible variety on display. The big story of the day was clearly the horror of x0G Gimlet. But that didn’t mean there were no queues or crowds elsewhere. Whether they are looking to drink coffee from bark and jack or desperately trying to get a donut from our stands, this year they start going outside at 5am and are flying from all over the world to make it into this unique showcase. And now we have only memories and hopes for next year’s show. Bring it to March 7th, 2026!
