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Where to shop for watches

The North East is home to a number of boutiques stocking some of the biggest names in the luxury watch market. Here’s our luxe list...

Goldsmiths, Newcastle upon Tyne

Goldsmiths’ Blackett Street store in Newcastle is home to a number of big name watch brands, with collections from the likes of Rolex, TAG Heuer, Jaeger LeCoultre, Panerai, Hublot and Bremont. Goldsmiths’ first showroom opened in Newcastle in 1778 and there are now 90+ showrooms in every major town and city from Scotland down to the south coast. With more than 230 years of tradition and experience in the trade, you’re certainly in good hands. goldsmiths.co.uk

Mappin & Webb, Newcastle upon Tyne

Mappin & Webb is a true British icon in the world of silver and fine jewellery. Silversmiths to all of the United Kingdom’s sovereigns since 1897, they know a thing or two about sourcing the best of the best. The company’s long-standing royal connection was further cemented in 2017 when Mappin & Webb’s master craftsman was appointed the position of Crown Jeweller - the custodian of the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London. A real Royal icon, Mappin & Webb is a sure bet when it comes to investing in fine jewellery and watches. mappinandwebb.com

ROX, Newcastle upon Tyne

ROX is all about ‘diamonds and thrills’. It’s the go-to jeweller for timeless pieces that are sure to wow. Striking interior design, paired with a captivating charm and some of the biggest brands in the business, a ROX visit is an opportunity to travel the world in search of the finest, ethically-sourced diamonds and luxury watches. Whether it’s the latest Swiss designs, limited edition collections or truly timeless pieces from the likes of Audemars Piguet, there’s plenty on offer to savvy watch shoppers of the North East and beyond. rox.co.uk

OMEGA Boutique, Metrocentre, Gateshead

OMEGA’s Metrocentre boutique offers the ultimate luxury shopping experience for those looking to invest in a trusty timepiece. Friendly faces will greet you at the door, where you’ll be guided through a bespoke, personalised experience to help you find the perfect watch. omegawatches.com

Richard & Ryan, Yarm

Richard & Ryan is a new arrival on the beautiful cobbled high street of Yarm. A luxury boutique stocking ethicallysourced diamonds, luxury watches and timeless, special occasion jewellery. With stock ranging from Rolex and Patek Philippe, to Cartier and Audemars Piguet, Richard & Ryan is a welcome edition to the North East’s prized watch market. richard-ryan.co.uk

Market Cross Jewellers, Guisborough

The North Yorkshire market town of Guisborough is home to Market Cross Jewellers, one of the largest independent jewellers in the North East, with branches now in Middlesbrough, Yarm, Hartlepool, Durham, Thirsk, the Metrocentre, Barnard Castle, Redcar, Peterlee and Skipton. Stocking a number of premium watch brands from Breitling to Rado, the experts at Market Cross know a thing or two about the luxury watch market and how it continues to move with the times. marketcrossjewellers.com

Berry’s Jewellers, Newcastle & York

Founded in 1897 with shops in Scarborough and Southport, Berry’s has since gone on to open beautiful boutique stores in Leeds, Nottingham, Hull, Windsor and on our doorsteps in Newcastle and York. Now a stalwart when it comes to the luxury watch market in the North East, the business is brimming with history and heritage, home to a number of experts in innovative jewellery and some of the biggest names in the watch industry. Stocking everything from Omega and Cartier, to Breitling and Bremont, it’s the place to go for on-trend timepieces that stand the test of time. berrysjewellers.co.uk

>> Bremont Edits - Alan Schaller - 26

Sharp & Sons Ltd., Darlington

This independent family jewellers and workshop in Darlington was established in 1983 and continues to serve its discerning customers with an outstanding service, stunning jewellery and watches, and exquisite antique pieces. Offering a wide range of pre-owned watches, it’s a trusted boutique to get your hands on exclusive pieces from brands including Rolex, Omega, TAG Heuer, Breitling and Cartier. sharpsjewellers.co.uk

One to watch >>

The British makers to look out for in 2021…

Watchmaking is a traditional British trade that is said to have started way back in the 1600s. But because of the handmade nature of English horology, the craft declined through the 1900s, after having made around half of the world’s watches in the 1800s. The Swiss and US markets boomed, being much more successful in adopting mass production methods. Today, we’re seeing the watchmaking market revolutionise with eyes back on the British market post-Brexit. ‘Made in Britain’ is reclaiming its rightful crown in the timeless craft and some of the inspiring watchmakers listed below are the reason why.

Roger W Smith >> With his ethos for crafting watches to a peerless standard of horological excellence, Roger W Smith has spent the last decade exploring the future of mechanical watchmaking. Discovering new ways of working and constantly pushing the boundaries, his studio applies next-generation science to what has always been regarded a traditional art form. rwsmithwatches.com

Loomes & Co >> Dating back to the 1600s, Loomes & Co are a family firm of watchmakers based in Stamford. Their story takes us back to the life of Thomas Loomes who ran London’s largest firm of clock and watchmakers in the 1650s. Today, the business continues to craft bespoke wristwatches, as well as restoring and repairing antique and vintage clocks and watches. robertloomes.co.uk contemporary design with the traditional craft of watchmaking. The brand’s watchmaker, Christopher, hand-assembles every watch in-house, working closely with the design team to create something truly unique. anordain.com

Bremont >> Creators of beautifully engineered chronometers from its brand new 35,000 sq ft HQ in Henley-on-Thames. In 2002, the Bremont team embarked on a journey to craft pilot’s watches of exceptional quality. Inspired by a love of flying historic aircraft and of all things mechanical, these timepieces are immensely precise, reliable and durable. bremont.com

Garrick >> Garrick are producers of true English time machines. Expect to find British-made watches handcrafted using parts engineered in Norwich. Infused with high-quality finishing and delightful details, a Garrick piece is sure to turn heads and really stand the test of time. garrick.co.uk

Harold Pinchbeck >> Harold Pinchbeck is the independent British watchmaker we should all add to our watchlist. The Pinchbeck name dates back to 1710 in the wonderful world of watchmaking, and today’s company is still managed by a family member. Shop here for luxuriously understated timepieces designed and built in an English workshop. haroldpinchbeck.co.uk