To those in the know, watches are about so much more than telling time. A well-designed wristwatch is a feat of artistry, a wearable collector’s item that will often be passed down from generation to generation. It is this unique quality that has ensured that watches are one of the most coveted accessories in society and justifies their high-end price tags.
British Made Watches
The UK is renowned the world over as one of the top destinations for horological expertise and exquisite timepieces, especially for collectors and industry leaders who understand the status and prestige that the right watch can bring. With so many options available, it is important to differentiate between horologists so you can determine which are the top British watch brands. Three of our favourites amongst the best of the best are Loomes, Schofield and Bremont.
Robert Loomes of Stamford
Loomes & Co has an ancestry that dates back to the 1650s. This is a family run collective of watchmakers who use traditional techniques and a small band of expert craftsmen to create their superior watches, all from their workshops in Stamford, only two hours from London, Oxford, Birmingham and York. Watch aficionados are fans of the brand in part thanks to its commitment to design, sketch and manufacture every component of the watch. At Robert Loomes, each tiny aspect is carefully sketched by hand and then meticulously crafted into machined components and the final superb timepiece. The brand’s beginnings start with Thomas Loomes who managed London’s largest firm of clock and watchmakers in the 17th century.
Today, it is helmed by Robert Loomes and Managing Director Robina Hill. Robert himself grew up immersed in a world dedicated to horology and served a traditional apprenticeship under his father. Robert is now the Chairman of the company and a Director of the British Horological Institute. Robina Hill has been the Managing Director since 2011 and spearheaded a vision that Robert Loomes should only produce entirely British-made watches. In her own words, “watchmaking is where art meets science and it’s fun”. Under the pioneering leadership of these two, it is hardly surprising that Robert Loomes is a top British watch brand that is beloved the world over.
Schofield
Schofield is an eccentric and innovative British watchmaker focused on forging a new path through a future era of horology. Situated in the Sussex countryside, the brand is heavily influenced by the sea and is committed to telling a story with every watch, strap, buckle and box. Once described by a journalist as a ‘disruptive luxury brand’ Schofield has developed a reputation for thinking outside the box and setting new trends in the luxury watch market. Schofield is led by CEO Giles Ellis who has unending enthusiasm for ensuring the brand
tracks its own course, “unwavered by industry trends and persuasion”. Its company mission is “to make beautiful and considered things, maintain a sustainable business, protect people and the environment while supporting those that do the same”.
It was actually a desire to create his own timepiece and the challenges he faced that led Ellis to start Schofield. A designer himself, Ellis was determined to find engineers, strap makers and manufacturers who could live up to his exacting standards and propel Schofield towards becoming a top British watch brand. With these experts by his side, Ellis continues to rewrite the horological rule book, all from his base in a leafy corner of the English countryside.
Bremont
This award-winning British watch brand is known for developing beautifully engineered chronometers from their headquarters in Henley on Thames, England. Founded in 2002, the company was inspired by “a love of flying historic aircraft, watches and all things mechanical”. The original remit was to make expertly crafted pilot’s watches of exceptional quality that would rise to the occasion when tested beyond the normal call of duty. Today, the brand produces all of its watches from its state of the art ‘Manufacturing and Technology Centre’, ensuring that each design demonstrates the highest levels of innovation and mastery.
The co-founders of Bremont are Nick and Giles English, two dynamic former pilots who have structured the brand around its three pillars; British engineering, adventure and aviation & military. Bremont is the exclusive luxury watch provider to the Ministry of Defence in the UK and has manufactured watches for over 400 military units around the world. They pride themselves on producing watches that have the class and stamina to work in the boardroom and at the top of Mount Everest, a huge reason as to why they are a top British watch brand that customers can rely on, no matter what life has in store.
The name of the company has its own auspicious beginnings, derived from a French saviour who took in the brothers when their 1930s biplane had to make an emergency landing in the late 1990s. His hospitality and inspiring collection of wall clocks and engine parts made quite the impression on Nick and Giles, leading them to honour their host in the highest possible manner, his name, of course, was Antoine Bremont.
The calibre of British watchmaking, especially amongst the top British watch brands, is simply undeniable. For discerning individuals looking for an exceptional timepiece that will exceed their expectations, support them in their daily lives, last through the generations and look great throughout it all, a top British watch brand is the way to go. To ensure you are only getting the best of the best, no matter your preferences, Bremont, Robert Loomes and Schofield are definitely worth checking out.
