24 Best British Watch Brands: Top Watchmakers from Great Britain

Great Britain has a rich horological history, and several watch brands from the UK have made significant contributions to the industry. Here's a list of some of the best British watch brands known for their craftsmanship, design, and innovation:

Bremont

Founded in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English, Bremont is recognized for its aviation and military-inspired watches. The brand emphasizes British engineering and craftsmanship, offering durable, high-quality timepieces. Bremont collaborates with various military units and has developed a reputation for precision and robustness.

• Design and Features: Bremont watches are known for their rugged design, often featuring hardened stainless steel cases, anti-magnetic Faraday cages, and anti-shock mounts. Many models have a vintage military aesthetic with modern mechanical movements.
• Notable Collections: ALT1-P, MBII, Supermarine.

Roger W. Smith

Roger W. Smith is one of the world's most exclusive watchmakers, producing entirely handmade timepieces in limited quantities. As an apprentice of the legendary George Daniels, Smith continues the tradition of British watchmaking excellence, creating pieces that collectors highly sought after.

• Design and Features: Smith's watches are characterized by their meticulous hand-finishing, intricate complications, and traditional techniques, such as the co-axial escapement. Each watch is a masterpiece, often taking years to complete.
• Notable Models: Series 1, Series 2, Great Britain.

Christopher Ward

Established in 2004, Christopher Ward aims to make luxury watches more accessible without compromising on quality. The brand has gained a strong following for offering innovative designs and in-house movements at competitive prices.

• Design and Features: Christopher Ward combines classic and contemporary elements in its designs, offering models ranging from divers and dress watches to chronographs. They are known for their COSC-certified movements and in-house calibre, the SH21.
• Notable Collections: C60 Trident Pro, C65 Trident Diver, C1 Grand Malvern.

Garrick

Garrick is a boutique watch brand dedicated to reviving traditional British watchmaking techniques. The brand produces watches with hand-finished details, including intricate dials and in-house movements, reflecting a blend of modern and classical aesthetics.

• Design and Features: Their timepieces often feature open dials showcasing the movement, intricate guilloché patterns, and hand-engraved details. Each watch is made to order, emphasizing the bespoke nature of Garrick's craftsmanship.
• Notable Models: S4, Regulator, Portsmouth.

Fears

Fears is one of Britain's oldest watch brands, originally established in 1846 and recently revived. They focus on creating classic, timeless watches that blend modern manufacturing techniques with traditional design principles.

• Design and Features: Fears watches are known for their understated elegance, featuring clean dial designs, polished cases, and Swiss movements. They aim to produce versatile, everyday timepieces that can be worn in any setting.
• Notable Collections: Brunswick, Redcliff, Archival 1930.

Schofield

Schofield creates watches with a strong design identity, often inspired by British maritime and coastal themes. The brand focuses on producing high-quality timepieces with unique and unconventional aesthetics.

• Design and Features: Schofield watches are characterized by their bold, oversized cases, distinctive crown designs, and attention to detail. They often use materials like bronze and ceramic, with dials featuring textures and patterns that reflect their maritime inspiration.
• Notable Models: Signalman, Beater, Telemark.

William Wood

William Wood incorporates firefighting heritage into its watch designs, named after the founder's late grandfather, a firefighter. The brand uses upcycled firefighting materials, such as old hoses and helmets, in its watches, creating a unique connection to this heritage.

• Design and Features: The watches often feature dials made from melted-down brass from old firefighting helmets and straps crafted from repurposed fire hoses. This makes each piece unique and carries a story of bravery and history.
• Notable Collections: Valiant Collection, Triumph Collection.

CWC (Cabot Watch Company)

Established in 1972, CWC has a long history of supplying watches to the British military. Their timepieces are known for their utilitarian design, durability, and adherence to military specifications, making them popular among servicemen and watch enthusiasts alike.

• Design and Features: CWC watches are built to withstand harsh conditions, featuring rugged cases, reliable movements, and legible dials. Models include divers, pilot watches, and general service timepieces, often with NATO straps.
• Notable Models: G10, RN Diver, SBS Diver.

Speake-Marin

Founded by Peter Speake-Marin, this brand blends traditional British watchmaking with avant-garde design. Although now operating out of Switzerland, it retains its British identity through its unique styling and innovative watchmaking approach.

• Design and Features: Speake-Marin watches are known for their bold design elements, such as the distinctive "Piccadilly" case, intricate dial work, and complex mechanical movements. The brand focuses on creating artistic and mechanically interesting pieces.
• Notable Models: One & Two Collection, London Chronograph, Wing Commander.

AnOrdain

AnOrdain is celebrated for its use of hand-enamelled dials, which are crafted in-house in Glasgow, Scotland. The brand combines Scottish craftsmanship with modern design to create unique and colourful timepieces.

• Design and Features: Each AnOrdain watch features a hand-enamelled dial, a process that makes every piece unique. The dials come in vibrant colours with a distinctive depth and texture, paired with minimalist case designs.
• Notable Models: Model 1, Model 2.

Farer

Farer is known for its adventurous spirit and colourful designs, offering a range of watches that include automatics, GMTs, and chronographs. They focus on creating versatile, high-quality timepieces with a playful twist.

• Design and Features: Farer watches feature a mix of vintage-inspired and modern designs, often with bold use of colour and intricate detailing. They utilize Swiss movements and offer complications like GMT and chronographs.
• Notable Collections: GMT Automatic, Aqua Compressor, Chronograph Automatic.

Marloe Watch Company

Marloe focuses on creating affordable mechanical watches with minimalist design aesthetics. The brand emphasizes traditional watchmaking techniques, producing high-quality timepieces with a clean, contemporary look.

• Design and Features: Marloe watches are known for their simplicity and elegance, featuring hand-wound movements, domed sapphire crystals, and clean dial designs. They are designed to be versatile for both casual and formal wear.
• Notable Models: Haskell, Morar, Derwent.

Vertex

Originally founded in 1916, Vertex was one of the original manufacturers of the "Dirty Dozen" watches for British soldiers during World War II. The brand has been revived, focusing on modern reinterpretations of its classic military designs.

• Design and Features: Vertex watches pay homage to their military heritage, featuring robust construction, legible dials, and vintage-inspired designs. The modern models incorporate Swiss movements and are built to high specifications.
• Notable Models: M100, MP45, Bronze 75.

Hoptroff

Hoptroff is known for creating technologically advanced timepieces, including some of the world's most accurate atomic watches. The brand combines cutting-edge technology with traditional watchmaking, producing highly innovative and complex timepieces.

• Design and Features: Hoptroff watches often include features like atomic timekeeping, celestial displays, and bespoke complications. They focus on precision and innovation, using advanced materials and technologies.
• Notable Models: No. 16 Atomic Pocket Watch, No. 8 Celestial Watch.

Mr. Jones Watches

Mr. Jones Watches takes a unique and playful approach to watch design, creating pieces that are both artistic and unconventional. Each watch tells a story or presents a concept, making them more like wearable art than traditional timepieces.

• Design and Features: The brand is known for its creative designs, which often include humorous or thought-provoking elements. Watches may feature animated dials, optical illusions, or unconventional ways of displaying time.
• Notable Models: The Accurate, A Perfectly Useless Afternoon, Last Laugh Tattoo.

Elliot Brown

Elliot Brown specializes in creating tough, reliable watches designed for outdoor and sports activities. The brand is known for its rigorous testing and durable design, making its watches suitable for extreme conditions.

• Design and Features: These watches are built to last, with features like shock resistance, water resistance, and robust case construction. The designs are functional and utilitarian, with a focus on readability and durability.
• Notable Models: Bloxworth, Canford, Kimmeridge.

Robert Loomes

Robert Loomes is a small, independent watchmaker who produces watches using British-made components, including the movement. The brand emphasizes traditional craftsmanship and classical design, creating elegant and timeless pieces.

• Design and Features: Loomes watches feature traditionally styled cases and dials, often with hand-engraved details and vintage-inspired aesthetics. They aim to create watches that are not only beautiful but also preserve British watchmaking heritage.
• Notable Models: Stamford, Robin, Loomes Original.

Backes & Strauss

Backes & Strauss is one of the oldest diamond companies in the world and has a British heritage dating back to 1789. They specialize in luxury, diamond-studded watches, combining horology and high jewellery.

• Design and Features: The watches are known for their opulent design, often featuring diamond-set cases, dials, and even movements. They use high-quality Swiss movements, with an emphasis on both technical excellence and luxurious design.
• Notable Models: Regent, Piccadilly, Victoria.

Dreyfuss & Co

Established in 1925, Dreyfuss & Co. creates elegant, classic timepieces that reflect the brand’s heritage. They offer a range of traditional designs with Swiss movements, blending British style with Swiss precision.

• Design and Features: Dreyfuss & Co. watches feature sophisticated designs, often with clean, classic dials, Roman numerals, and leather straps. They aim to offer timeless elegance with reliable Swiss movements.
• Notable Models: 1924 Collection, 1890 Collection.

Storm London

Storm is a fashion watch brand known for its bold, futuristic designs and unconventional approach. They offer a wide range of affordable watches that appeal to those looking for unique, statement pieces.

• Design and Features: Storm watches often feature unusual case shapes, digital displays, and the use of materials like stainless steel and coloured glass. Their designs are modern and edgy, catering to a fashion-forward audience.
• Notable Models: V2 Navigator, Slim-X, Dualon.

Dent

Founded in 1814, Dent has a rich heritage in British watchmaking and clockmaking, famously creating the Great Clock of Westminster (Big Ben). The brand focuses on creating classic, elegant wristwatches that reflect its historical significance.

• Design and Features: Dent watches typically feature traditional, sophisticated designs with high-quality materials and Swiss movements, embodying British elegance and heritage.
• Notable Models: Dent Parliament, Dent Ministry.

Harwood

Founded by John Harwood, who invented the world's first automatic wristwatch in the 1920s. The brand holds historical significance in the development of self-winding watches and has been revived to honour this legacy.

• Design and Features: Harwood watches have a classic aesthetic and often pay homage to the original 1920s designs, featuring modern movements while retaining a vintage charm.
• Notable Models: Harwood Classic.

Pinion

Founded in 2013, Pinion produces watches with a vintage military and aviation-inspired aesthetic. The brand focuses on robust, reliable timepieces with an emphasis on British design and Swiss craftsmanship.

• Design and Features: Pinion watches are known for their simplicity and functionality, often featuring large, legible dials and sturdy construction. They are designed to be practical yet stylish.
• Notable Models: Axis II, Pure Pro, Elapse.

Loomes & Co

This independent British watchmaker emphasizes the use of British-made components and traditional watchmaking techniques. Their watches are handcrafted and offer a classical, understated elegance.

• Design and Features: Loomes & Co watches feature traditional styling with great attention to detail, including hand-finished movements and classic dial designs.
• Notable Models: Stamford Original, Robin.

These British brands represent a diverse spectrum of the British watchmaking scene, from historic brands and luxury manufacturers to innovative and independent watchmakers. Each brand brings a unique perspective to horology, contributing to the diversity and heritage of British watchmaking, from luxury and bespoke craftsmanship to utilitarian military designs and innovative modern styles.