Britain has been home to many notorious watch brands over time. In fact, the origins of the watchmaking industry are strongly rooted in British soil. Cities such as London and Coventry were hotbeds for watchmaking in their prime, and England as a whole was once a hub of watchmaking innovation. To celebrate this rich history and the coronation this weekend, today we will be discussing the best British watch brands.
The Best British Watch Brands
Accurist
A fairly new addition to the First Class Watches family, Accurist was founded in 1946 by Asher and Rebecca Loftus. The Loftuses were originally watch retailers based in Clerkenwell, London. With the expertise they had gathered over their eight years of experience, the pair decided to develop their own watch brand. Blending the words ‘accurate’ and ‘wrist’, they chose the name ‘Accurist’ to reflect their intention to create premium yet affordable watches.
Business skyrocketed in the 1960s and 70s for Accurist. Characterised by large faces and contemporary colours, the brand’s ‘Old England’ collection revolutionised the watch industry. Watches were no longer a ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ investment, but a fun fashion accessory. The line was an immediate success and was worn by British icons such as the Beatles, Twiggy, and Princess Anne.
Accurist has continued to be a giant in the industry and even became the official timekeeper for the Greenwich Royal Observatory in the 1990s. However, for many, the name ‘Accurist’ will be most recognisable from BT’s speaking clock. The line “at the third stroke, the time sponsored by Accurist is…” remains a nostalgic part of British culture.
Accurist Origin Mens Green Dial Gold PVD Plated Steel Bracelet 70009
Recently, Accurist has rebranded to re-centre itself around its heritage. This move has included reissuing previous designs from its archive, like this Accurist Origin model. Inspired by a best-selling model from the 1970s, the Accurist Origin collection reinvigorates former designs with a contemporary touch. Enclosed by a gold ion-plated stainless steel case, the green block textured dial is accessorised with luminescent gold hands and indices. The dial is complete with the brand’s iconic lollipop seconds hand and a date aperture at 3 o’clock. Adhering to the brand’s promise of quality timepieces at accessible price points, an ultra scratch-resistant sapphire crystal protects the watch. Moreover, the Origin collection boasts water resistance of 100 metres. Finishing the design is a sleek gold ion-plated stainless steel bracelet, which is interchangeable to tailor the watch to your own style.
Rotary
Rotary actually originated in Switzerland. The brand’s founder, Moise Dreyfuss, initially opened the first Rotary factory there in 1895. However, just twelve years later, the founder’s sons Georges and Sylvain moved to Britain in order to open an office. This allowed the brand to grow exponentially and Rotary to become a well-known name in the industry.
By 1940, the brand had become the official supplier of watches to the British Army. Rotary’s reputation of reliability made it a great aid in the Second World War. Soldiers needed a dependable timepiece so that they could synchronise their attacks, which is exactly what Rotary provided them with.
At the turn of the millennium, Rotary officially relocated its head office to 13-16 Elm Street, London. Ever since, Rotary has remained rooted at this address. The brand has also been awarded various accolades like the Supplier of the Year Award at the 2002 UK Jewellery Awards.
Rotary Greenwich Silver Skeleton Dial Brown Leather Strap GS02945/06
Fusing the brand’s hybrid heritage, this Rotary Greenwich Skeleton watch unites Swiss craftsmanship with British design. The centrepiece of the model is its exposed automatic movement, which exhibits its high-quality manufacturing. Protected by a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the skeleton dial is accompanied by silver baton indices and hands. A stainless steel case frames the design, which measures 42mm. To complete the design, a classic brown leather strap secures the watch to the wrist. Timeless and traditional, this watch marks Rotary’s loyalty to its heritage.
J&T Windmills
One of the oldest contenders on our list, the J&T Windmills brand originates as early as 1680. The brand’s name pays homage to father and son watchmaking duo Joseph and Thomas Windmills. In late 17th century London, Joseph Windmills made a name for himself by making clocks and pocket watches. The earliest watch produced by the brand was created before 1680 and currently resides in the British Museum. Following his father’s death in 1724, Thomas took over his legacy.
Watches produced by the modern-day J&T Windmills brand reflect these traditional roots. With a relatively small portfolio, each watch is crafted in a classical design. J&T Windmills are also one of the few brands that still take pride in producing traditional pocket watches.
J&T Windmills Men’s Bartholomew Mechanical Rose Gold Plated Watch WGS50001/01
In line with the brand’s commitment to traditional timepieces, this J&T Windmills model features a Swiss-made hand-wound mechanical movement. The antique-style dial is white with black Roman numeral indices and Breguet hands. Stretching over the dial is a sapphire crystal, which joins onto an 18-carat rose gold plated sterling silver case. On the back of this case, there is a floral engraving encircling a window into the watch’s movement. The design is then completed by a brown articulated leather strap.
Duckworth Prestex
Although Duckworth Prestex may seem like a new brand, its origin story spans back to almost a century ago. The Duckworth family business, Prestons, was founded back in 1869 in Bolton. The firm began making pocket watches in the 1920s, branded under the name ‘Prestex’. By 1948, Prestons had begun selling other luxury branded watches from companies like Omega and Rolex. But amongst its success with these other brands, Prestons’ own Prestex brand was discontinued in the 1960s.
20 years later, Neil Duckworth was still mourning the loss of Prestex. After a successful career in the world of watchmaking, he made the decision to revive the Prestex brand. And so, Duckworth Prestex was born. Reimagining the original Prestex lines, the brand has sought to create versatile and high-quality pieces for an affordable price.
Duckworth Prestex Chrono 42 Green Dial Green Rubber Strap D550-04-ER
A stunning example of a Duckworth Prestex is this Chrono 42 model. Featuring an all-over green colour scheme, the sunburst dial is contrasted by two white subdials and orange accents. For optimal readability in low light conditions, the applied baton indices and hands have a luminescent coating. Moreover, the dial also boasts several functions, such as a chronograph and a date aperture which sits at the 6 o’clock position. Measuring 42mm in width and 13mm in thickness, the case is solid stainless steel. Adjoined to this is a sapphire crystal which protects the dial from damage. However, it’s not just the appearance of the model that makes it a worthwhile investment. In addition to 100 metres of water resistance, the model has an accuracy of +/-20s per month.
Elliot Brown
Rooted further in the south than its predecessor on this list, the Elliot Brown brand was born in Dorset. Founded by Ian Elliot and Alex Brown, Elliot Brown began when the pair crossed paths while Elliott was working for the brand Animal. At the time, Animal was sourcing expert advice whilst beginning to design stainless steel watches and appointed Brown to help. Brown was a qualified horologist, and Elliot had come from a background studying engineering. Together, the two worked to create durable wristwatches that could withstand the pressures of watersports, a passion the two shared.
Since the brand opened its doors in 2013, Elliot Brown has been headquartered on Poole Harbour. Reinforcing its southern British roots, each collection name has a Dorset-based back story. For instance, the Kimmeridge collection got its name from Kimmeridge Bay, where the founding duo spent lots of their time. Moreover, Elliot Brown has organically collaborated with many organisations, such as the Armed Forces, Mountain Rescue England & Wales, Land Rover, and many more.
Elliot Brown Men’s Holton Professional Military Black Rubber Strap 101-001-R06
The Holton is a collaboration between Elliot Brown and the British Armed Forces. In fact, it was the first new military watch to be created by a British watch company in over a decade. Like other Elliot Brown models, the collection’s name is significant. ‘Holton’ refers to Dorset’s Holton Heath, which was the location of a wartime cordite factory.
Refreshing a vintage military design with modern technology, the Holton features a hobnail-knurled bezel. The design of the black bezel is deliberate so that it’s easy to turn, even when wearing gloves. However, it is the outstanding durability of the model that makes it stand out. Hardened to 1200HV, the bezel is incredibly robust and is played in black PVD coating. Underneath the bezel, the gunmetal PVD stainless steel case has an anti-fingerprint coating which repels mud and dirt. Additionally, it is also water resistant to 200 metres and has a bolted-down case back, which creates a compression seal.
Practicality-wise, the dial is equipped with luminescent hands and mixed indices for better legibility. Other functions on the watch include a date aperture at 4 o’clock and a low battery indicator. For a stylish touch to a dependable model, a matte black EPDM rubber strap fastens to the wrist with a gunmetal buckle.
That concludes our Best British Watch Brands. With all of our diverse contenders, which one was your favourite? Do you have any other recommendations for our other readers? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
