This week’s unveiling of the full list of participants for British Watchmakers’ Day 2025 serves to highlight the growing significance of local watch shows and fairs. With multiple events emerging across different cities and countries, from the mighty Dubai Watch Week and Geneva Watch Days to the travelling US-based WindUp Watch Fairs, WatchTime New York and the Toronto Timepiece Show, the demand for community events is becoming increasingly stronger.

Regionally flavoured, but similar in style, these events offer direct engagement with brands and fellow collectors and most have a focus on independent and boutique brands, offering interactive experiences with watchmakers, panel discussions on industry trends and opportunities for collectors to preview new timepieces.

British Watchmakers’ Day – now entering its second year – differs from other shows in two fundamental ways. First, the one-day event organised by the not-for-profit Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers, only allows British brands to exhibit. Second, exhibiting brands are invited to create a special-edition timepiece that is only available to buy on the day of the show. Last year, the chance to acquire a unique Roger W. Smith Series 1, a Christopher Ward Bel Canto and a Studio Underd0g Pizza Party watch all helped the queue for entry become a line that stretched around the block.

Created to foster collaboration and support within the British watchmaking community, in 2024 more than 40 British watch and clock brands participated, hosting close to 1,300 people from different backgrounds, demonstrating the broad appeal of British watchmaking. At the event’s conclusion, a spontaneous round of applause broke out from both visitors and exhibitors, something rarely – if ever – seen at such a gathering and only serving to highlight the sense of community.

Of the 44 brands already committed to being a part of the 2025 edition, 26 will be presenting special-edition watches exclusively available for one day only in a gesture that Alliance CEO, Alistair Audsley describes as “the highlight of the event,” adding that the success of these pieces, “is proof positive that British brands are creating superbly collectible watches, which are accessible for every pocket”. Editions are up to 100 pieces (with one exception) and no pre-orders are allowed, in order for everyone to have a fair shot of buying their watch of choice.

British Watchmakers’ Day will be held on Saturday 8 March 2025 at the Lindley Hall, London. There will be 2 sessions: 10am-2pm and 2pm-6pm. General admission tickets are available from 31 January on the website but are expected to sell out very fast. britishwatchmakers.com

Special Edition BWD Watches 2025

Apiar – Gen 1.0 with unique red dial, 5 pieces, £TBC

Using generative design and additive manufacturing, the Apiar’s Gen 1.0 features organic forms, skeletonised lugs and a unique dial. Made from grade 23 titanium, it is lightweight yet robust. Five limited edition Gen1.B watches with red dials will debut at BWD 2025, with broader availability in summer 2025.

Alkin – Model Three Special Edition, 40 pieces, £TBC

This special edition Alkin Model Three features a Miyota 9039 automatic movement with 42-hour power reserve housed inside a 40.5mm steel case with 200m water resistance and a brushed steel bracelet with solid end links and micro-adjustment. The red tip of the seconds hand gives a British flavour to the blue dial with white numerals and hour markers.

Beaucroft – Penfold, 75 pieces, £649

Collaborating with Bristol-based artist Tim Gresham (Penfold), Beaucroft has created this new limited-edition. The 39.5mm watch features a unique layered dial design with a white base, airbrushed gradient and debossed Beaucroft emblem. Powered by a Miyota 9039 movement the watch is water-resistant to 200m. A portion of the proceeds will go to the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers.

BŌKEN – 3 Special Edition Breacher Time-Only watches, 3 pieces, silent auction from £1,300

BŌKEN will launch its “Built British” platform with the Breacher collection at BWD. The range includes three 39mm field watches with 200m water resistance, powered by Sellita movements that have been regulated by Horologium. The three BWD specials are a collaboration with artist Chris Alexander and inspired by England, Scotland and Wales. More details will be released on 1 March.

Christopher Ward – C1 Moonphase Mission to Maidenhead, 25 pieces, from £2,395

Showing its distinctive playful side, Christopher Ward has named this special edition, C1 Moonphase Mission to Maidenhead. The 37mm watch features an aventurine dial with a laser-etched Union Jack and a Globolight moon with a British-flag waving astronaut. Powered by the JJ04 module, it offers 128-year moonphase accuracy. All profits will be donated to the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers.

Clemence – The Munro 2025 Concept Edition, 10 pieces, £650

A 37.5mm contoured case, water resistant to 150m, houses an automatic movement in this new piece from Clemence. Premium elements include a box sapphire crystal and an ergonomic bracelet with toolless micro-adjust clasp. Assembled in Britain, each watch is serialised and comes with a two-year warranty.

Duckworth Prestex – Prestex No.2, 25 pieces, £950

Taking on a British aesthetic, the Prestex No.2 has a white dial featuring red and blue accents. Housed in a cushion-shaped case and powered by a Miyota automatic movement, the watch builds on the success of the Bolton Original.

Elliot Brown – Holton Auto GMT: XXV/X, 10 pieces, £950

The Holton Auto GMT: XXV/X features a ‘Lake Yard Blue’ dial, ‘Postbox Red’ accents, and a brushed steel case and bracelet. The 43mm watch houses a Seiko NH34 automatic GMT movement with a 40-hour power reserve, combining rugged functionality with a more refined appearance

Farer – The Aurora, 10 pieces, £925

Farer’s Aurora is a 36mm dress watch featuring a copper guilloché dial with Lumicast numerals. The watch houses a La Joux-Perret G101 automatic movement with a 68-hour power reserve.

Fears – Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour Edwardian Edition, 10 pieces, £5,450

The Fears Brunswick 40.5 Jump Hour ‘Edwardian Edition’ for BWD. Features a sterling silver case, a diamond-set crown and white lacquer dial inspired by Edwardian-era pocket watches. It will be sold exclusively at the event on 8 March and a portion of profits will be donated to the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers.

Geckota – Pioneer Special Edition in Lapis Blue, 50 pieces, £399

Geckota’s special edition Pioneer watch features a Lapis blue dial, a 41.5mm cushion-style case with 100m of water resistance and a Horween Chromexcel leather strap. Within the case is a TMI NH38 automatic movement.

Golby Watches – The Coastal, 25 pieces, £359

For its debut at BWD, Golby Watches will release a special edition of The Coastal. This 36mm dive watch features a navy oil-pressed dial, custom lighthouse hands, and Miyota 905S movement. The timepiece offers 200m water resistance and comes with a stainless-steel bracelet and complimentary navy strap.

Isotope – Mercury BWD Cloisonné and Micro Marquetry, 5 pieces of each, £4,900 and £4,700 (+VAT)

Isotope unveils two limited-edition timepieces for BWD: the Mercury M BWD Micro Marquetry and Mercury C BWD Cloisonné. Inspired by the Union Jack, these 38mm watches feature rare artisanal techniques – straw micro marquetry and cloisonné enamel.

Marloe Watch Company – Morar 310, 100 pieces, £TBC

In 2025, Marloe Watch Company is celebrating 10 years, 20 collections and 20,000 watches with the limited-edition Morar 310 dive watch. Assembled in-house by watchmaker Alison Eardley, this 100-piece special edition, with 310m water resistance, ceramic bezel, and helium release valve, features colours inspired by Swedish and Skye flags.

Mr Jones Watches – Khaosify mechanical, 10 pieces, £TBC

Mr Jones Watches will launch the Khaosify, a mechanical version of an existing design, exclusively for BWD. Powered by a Sellita SW200 movement, the watch’s chaotic design cleverly conceals the time, with elements indicating hours, minutes, and seconds.

Monro – MOA-BWD, 1 piece, £TBC

Monro celebrates BWD with a unique MOA-BWD dive watch. This special edition 41mm timepiece features a Seiko NH38A automatic movement, 200m water resistance, and a red, white, and blue color scheme. The watch comes with a stainless-steel bracelet and bespoke rubber strap.

Nomadic – Fíor 555, 50 pieces £1,595

Belfast-based Nomadic is releasing the Fíor 555 for BWD. This 41mm GMT watch features a ‘Pepsi’ bezel, white dial, and is powered by a Sellita SW330-2 movement with a 56-hour power reserve. The name Fíor means ‘true’ in Irish and is a symbol of the brand’s roots.

Olivier Meylan – PES, 5 pieces, £1,349

The PES Special Edition is a 42mm timepiece featuring an ETA self-winding movement and marks the brand’s first UK assembly. The watch showcases a union jack arrow at 12 o’clock, a skeleton caseback, and comes with two strap options.

Omologato – Arnage Rouge London Edition, 10 pieces, £TBC

Omologato celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2025, marking a decade of watchmaking and motorsport support, with the British brand now sponsoring over 30 race teams across 14 countries. To commemorate this milestone, Omologato is launching the Arnage 24h GMT watch. Ten exclusive Rouge London Editions will be available at BWD.

Pinion – The Neutron Violet, 30 pieces, £1,150

Pinion introduces the 38mm Neutron Violet featuring an electroplated guilloché dial, raised polished numerals, and a Sellita SW200-1 automatic movement. An exclusive Keisha Karlsen spider illustration adorns the personalisable caseback.

Pompeak – Smoked Red Edition, 15 pieces, £341.10

Featuring a deep red fumé dial and Miyota 82S5 automatic movement, this special 15-piece limited edition in steel represents the Gentlemen’s Collection’s latest evolution and embodies modern elegance with precision engineering.

Schofield – B6 Deep Blue,10 pieces; B6 Shallow Green,10 pieces; B6 ‘Sea-Change’, 20 pieces, £4,495

Schofield introduces the B6 limited edition in Deep Blue and Shallow Green. The patinated bronze watch features a Swiss STP automatic movement, sunburst fade dial, and elaborate caseback designs. A collaboration with artist Benjamin Guffee resulted in a Sea-Change edition, inspired by Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Sidereus – Gordon Bennett, 5 pieces, £TBC

The Gordon Bennett special edition timepiece celebrates the historical connection between Ireland, Britain, and motorsport heritage. The watch features a British Racing Green dial, paying homage to the 1903 Gordon Bennett Cup motor race held on 2 July 1903, on closed roads in Ireland. The British team, in appreciation of Ireland’s role, adopted shamrock green for their cars, which became known as British Racing Green.

Studio Underdog + Fears – The Gimlet, 200 pieces, £1,000

Already receiving a lot of press attention, The Gimlet is a collaboration between Fears and Studio Underd0g. The 38mm cushion-shaped watch features a lime green gradient dial made up of seven layers of custom-made Super-LumiNova with floating numerals and indices. Powered by a Sellita SW210-1 movement, it combines Fears’ elegance with Studio Underd0g’s playfulness and comes with a Swift Calfskin strap.

Vertex – M60 Taormina, 50 pieces, £2,950

Inspired by the blue depths of Taormina, Sicily, this professional dive watch features a vibrant blue dial, matte blue ceramic bezel, and adheres to ISO 6425 standards. Water-resistant to 600 meters, it includes Super-LumiNova X1 markers for enhanced visibility. The watch comes with three interchangeable straps and is presented in a waterproof Peli Case ‘Ruck’.

Zero West

Details not yet released

Exhibiting brands:

In total, 44 brands will show at British Watchmakers’ Day 2025: Accurist, Adley, Alkin, Anoma, Arken, Apiar, Backes & Strauss, Bamford, Beaucroft, Bremont, Brooklands, Bōken, BVOR, Christopher Ward, Clemence, Duckworth Prestex, Edward Christopher, Elliot Brown, Farer, Fears, FWM, Geckota, Golby Watches, Great British Watch Company, Harold Pinchbeck, Helicon, Isotope, MHD, Mr Jones Watches, Marloe, Monro, Nomadic, Omologato, Olivier Meylan, Pinion, Pompeak, Roger W. Smith, Schofield, Sidereus, Sinclair Harding, Studio Underd0g, Vertex, William Wood, Zero West