IDEAL for surprising your loved ones with this Christmas
It seems as though with every new tick of the second hand, a new British watch brand emerges, offering elegant watches at inexpensive prices.
But if it’s sophistication and timelessness (an ironic notion in a watch, perhaps) that you’re after, then you may well have to pay a premium for a British watch brand that your loved one will truly be proud to wear. Not to worry; such purchases represent a worthwhile investment as well as a warmly received present, since a premium watch is built to last…for life, not just for Christmas and all that.
With that in mind, here are 5 of the best British watch brands, IDEAL for surprising your loved ones with this Christmas.
BREMONT WATCHES
Bremont is a Great British watchmaker that produces luxury watches. The company was founded in 2002 by two brothers, Nick and Giles English. Inspired by the aviation heritage of their grandfather, who designed an aeroplane for Brabazon during WWII which set several records at high speeds across the Atlantic Ocean, they set out to make a timepiece that matched this engineering ingenuity.
Bremont Watch Company has become famous because its timepieces have been chosen to be worn on space missions. They include Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo program and the Project Juno mission to Jupiter.
Interestingly, in 1971’s Apollo 15 mission, David Scott became the first ever astronaut not from the USA to land on the moon. Guess what he was wearing on his wrist?
The most popular models are the Supermarine 500 (chronograph) and Jet Team Limited Edition (42mm case). Prices start from £2700.
If that feels excessive for a watch, then buying component parts may help you keep the cost down. Consider investing in exclusive watch straps and faces separately, allowing you to change things up and switch between timepieces effortlessly. You’ll need a special tool to attach the watch strap and a couple of minutes spare to do so. But with the right watch, you’ve got all the time in the world…
GARRICK WATCHES
Garrick Watches was founded by David Brailsford and Simon Michlmayr in 2014 with the intention of making a watch and clock brand that was an affordable alternative for Swiss watches with similar designs and quality levels.
Let’s just say that they more than succeeded.
It should be noted that since each timepiece is crafted from scratch following an order being made, you may have to wait several weeks after clicking ‘buy’ to receive your watch. The wait, however, is most certainly worth it; Garrick makes a maximum of 50 watches a year, prioritising quality and exclusivity over mass production.
Perhaps their most popular model is the S1 Timepiece, an absolute work of art that takes four months to construct and with a production cap of just 5 per annum. This high degree of exclusivity comes at a price; yours for £23,329 ex VAT.
WILLIAM WOOD WATCHES
William Wood is another British watchmaker which is worth considering if your wallet is furnished with plenty of notes or your bank balance plenty of zeros.
The company was founded by Jonny Garrett in 2016 as a tribute to his grandfather William Wood, a firefighter. A 1920s firefighter’s helmet adorns each and every bespoke watch, which are made with Swiss movements, sapphire glass, leather straps, and a very British soul.
Despite being a newcomer on the market, this British company has already received several awards for its timepieces including the Watches of Switzerland Award in 2010 as Best New Watch Brand and Red Dot Design Awards also in 2010 for Product Design.
William Wood watches keep things tight and quality focused with just four watch collections in their range; the Triumph, Valiant, Bronze and Chivalrous. It’s the former that is our favourite, with the Triumph collection coming in three forms, Oxygen, Fuel or Heat (rendered in blue, yellow or red straps, respectively). The back of the watch face is truly iconic, displaying the watch’s inner workings but also that famous instruction; ‘’In case of fire, break glass’’.
It’s yours for £2’995, with every purchase driving a donation to The Fire Fighters Charity, to whom William Wood have so far donated over £25’000.
VERTEX WATCHES
Vertex watches are among the best luxury British watch brands and just like other luxury timepieces, they are not cheap; prices range from £2’500 for the M Series to £3458 for the MP45 series.
That said, you get what you pay for here, and the watches produced by Vertex boast exquisite craftsmanship in their manufacturing process. Founded in 1916 by Londoner Claude Lyons, the company is now run by his great grandson Don Cochrane, and it’s this lineage and heritage that’s reflected in these seriously stylish timepieces.
CHRISTOPHER WARD WATCHES
Christopher Ward is a relatively new brand which was established in 2004, but that’s not to say that the watches produced here don’t have the enduring quality and exquisite craftsmanship you expect from a luxury watch.
In fact, the Christopher Ward brand offers high-quality watches to any taste. Here, you’ll find outstanding dive watches as well as dress timepieces, making it a versatile choice. Christopher Ward watches are designed in England’s Maidenhead and produced in Biel, Switzerland.
The price of Christopher Ward watches varies from £700 to £7400 depending on the model, type of watch (chronograph or automatic), and material it’s made from (gold or steel).
THE BOTTOM LINE
The British watch industry has a long and revered history of excellence. With world-class engineering and the finest materials, these five top British watch brands are sure to please any discerning horologist in your life.
From classic designs with timeless appeal to cutting-edge technology that will have them checking their wrist far more frequently than is necessary, if you’re looking for a luxury Christmas present with some serious longevity, look no further than upwards, at the article you’ve just read.