Watch shops in London and other recommendations

[ck1109]

I’ll be visiting London over the weekend and will have some free time. Any recommendations for watch shops or just nice/unique places to visit?

I know there was a thread about this in the past - just couldn’t find it through search.


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[crownpuller]

Well, there's a little place in Knightsbridge called Harrods... they usually have a few watches in stock !

[CFR]

Well, there's a little place in Knightsbridge called Harrods... they usually have a few watches in stock !

A pretty good chance to get the exclusive Tudor BB Harrods Edition,

[tribe125]

There are dozens within easy walking distance. Bond Street has most of the fancy boutiques. The big Watches of Switzerland shop is in Regent Street. Selfridges in Oxford Street is close by. There’s the Burlington Arcade and the Royal Exchange. Bremont is in South Audley Street. William & Son in Bruton Street has FP Journe and other exotics. Harrods is good, but a bit further away.

Sadly, Austin Kaye on The Strand has closed down, so no vintage browsing there anymore.

For CWC, take the Circle Line to Stepney Green.

[OhDark30]

Austin Kaye has closed??

[tribe125]

Austin Kaye has closed??

Yup - a month or two ago. Retirement, I think.

[Matt]

Face it, London prices are silly, so if you are looking at vintage there are three places to gawk. The Burlington arcade. Go to Piccadilly, walk past Cording’s towards Green Park and keep walking until it appears on your right. This has everything but at price that will shock for their Chutzpah. After that, you”l have been disabused of any desire to actually buy anything so go to the Science Museum and head to the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers collection upstairs. This is as good as it gets.
Finally, drop into The British Museum, turn left as you enter and head up to the top. There’s an excellent clock collection, but tucked out of the way at the back there’s a few tasty watches.

If you actually want to buy something, I’d head down to the area along the Edgeware road and generally between Marble Arch and St Mary’s Hospital which is erratically dotted with highly specialist jewellers and pawn shops that supply a fair bit of the expertise, repair and stock to places like The Burlington and Hatton Garden. (Don’t bother with Hatton Garden). However, bear in mind that this is an area that is lower in smooth customer service and higher on expertise. You are unlikely to get a bargain but just might get value for money, especially on more unexpected or unfashionable stuff. There used, decades ago, to be a brilliant scene along The Cut, behind Waterloo, but it has all but disappeared. There’s still Marie’s on Lower Marsh Street if you want a decent cheap Thai meal or a classic builders breakfast. Which is still a combination that delights.

[Fantasio]

And if you go to Harrods, Grand Seiko Boutique is only a couple hundred meters away.

Well, there's a little place in Knightsbridge called Harrods... they usually have a few watches in stock !

[tribe125]

And if you go to Harrods, Grand Seiko Boutique is only a couple hundred meters away.

Good point.

[Pip]

I was in the GS boutique a month or two ago, some beauties in there. And the Rolex boutique is nearly opposite, Patek (or someone like that, I can’t actually remember as I was in a rush) almost next door.


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