Visiting London later this week - shopping?
Discussion
Myself, my wife & 10yo niece / 7yo nephew are visiting London on Thursday for a few days from South Wales.
Doing the tourist things (Belfast, Shard, Tower Bridge, Shrek’s adventure, the eye etc) & staying Tower Bridge area.
I fancy fitting in some watch shops if time allows. Not so much chain stores, perhaps older stuff like Omega or newish / good quality used stuff.
Any ideas welcome.
Thanks,
Simon
Doing the tourist things (Belfast, Shard, Tower Bridge, Shrek’s adventure, the eye etc) & staying Tower Bridge area.
I fancy fitting in some watch shops if time allows. Not so much chain stores, perhaps older stuff like Omega or newish / good quality used stuff.
Any ideas welcome.
Thanks,
Simon
If you like vintage Omega it’s worth visiting Somlo Antiques in the Burlington Arcade - they have an amazing collection of watches. The Burlington arcade also has a number of other watch dealers which are worth checking out. I’d also recommend Watch Club which is just round the corner and Bond Street also has a number of boutiques (Omega, JLC, Vacheron, Patek, Bregeut and Panerai all spring to mind)
If you have time Selfridges and Harrods are also well worth a visit.
If you have time Selfridges and Harrods are also well worth a visit.
nikaiyo2 said:
Austin Kaye often have some nice things in.
W.o.S on Regent st is worth a visit.
RE WOS Regent St, I find it an odd place and EVERY member of staff greeting you and asking how you are gets really boring after about 15 steps into the shop!W.o.S on Regent st is worth a visit.
I’ve experienced super pushy sales staff who don’t know much about the products, which is a bad combination!
Burlington Arcade has,as already said, a good number of dealers and you are close to New Bond Street so can have a look in the watch boutiques there (new watches). If you are in the City there is Watchfinder, WoS (which has a window dedicated to used watches) and Royal Exchange Jewellers who have quite a few top end brands in their window. Bremont and Omega also have stores. It is also just a minute from the Bank of England Museum if you are interested. Beau Gems in Leadenhall Market have a few used watches but not an extensive range.
don logan said:
RE WOS Regent St, I find it an odd place and EVERY member of staff greeting you and asking how you are gets really boring after about 15 steps into the shop!
I’ve experienced super pushy sales staff who don’t know much about the products, which is a bad combination!
I have never found them pushy but the greeting and offering of coffee all the time is ver wearing. Still think it’s worth a visit as their selection is amazing.I’ve experienced super pushy sales staff who don’t know much about the products, which is a bad combination!
Forgot Wempe on Bond St, nice shop.
Edited by nikaiyo2 on Monday 5th August 23:15
Grays Antique Market
1 min walk from Bond Street station, got myself a BNIB Omega moon watch there from a grey dealer 7 years ago with a 20% discount.
1 min walk from Bond Street station, got myself a BNIB Omega moon watch there from a grey dealer 7 years ago with a 20% discount.
I know you said you don't fancy the chain stores, but Harrods and Selfridges both have excellent watch departments that allow you to see literally hundereds of models all in one go. They're great for actually seeing things in real life, getting a good feel for which are nice and which are not and then going and buying them somewhere not quite so expensive.
Both shops also benefit from having enough other departments that your wife and niece will find plenty of things to peruse as you look at watches.
Word of warning: If you're in Harrods then watch out for the 19 year old sales assistant with something of an attitude in the ladies posh fashion department - it's my daughter doing a summer job. I keep telling her that she should at least act the part even if she does find it boring and similarly finds a lot of the customers unbearably full of themselves.
Top tip for Harrods - very easy to get lost in, so arrange to meet up at the Starbucks outside and at the back of the shop.
Both shops also benefit from having enough other departments that your wife and niece will find plenty of things to peruse as you look at watches.
Word of warning: If you're in Harrods then watch out for the 19 year old sales assistant with something of an attitude in the ladies posh fashion department - it's my daughter doing a summer job. I keep telling her that she should at least act the part even if she does find it boring and similarly finds a lot of the customers unbearably full of themselves.
Top tip for Harrods - very easy to get lost in, so arrange to meet up at the Starbucks outside and at the back of the shop.
Squadrone Rosso said:
We’ve got a WoS in Cardiff. Nice staff there although never purchased anything from them (yet).
I do have a couple of pieces in mind (don’t tell the wife....lol).
Tudor Black Bay 58 or Omega Speedmaster 57 Trilogy edition but I’m open minded
I have recently purchased both of those watches, you have good taste :-).I do have a couple of pieces in mind (don’t tell the wife....lol).
Tudor Black Bay 58 or Omega Speedmaster 57 Trilogy edition but I’m open minded
The Omega Royal Exchange shop has a good selection and there is an Ernest Jones selling Tudor watches (either end outside of Bank tube station).
Edited by seadragon on Tuesday 6th August 09:13
Edited by seadragon on Tuesday 6th August 09:15
Just thought I’d update this thread.
Time was tight so we only visited vintage Omega store & the Regent Street Omega boutique.
I took both my inherited vintage Omega watches with me to ask for advice on serial numbers so I could order archive extras from Omega Switzerland.
Nice enough lady met us but basically unable to help which was frankly disappointing.
The boutique on Regent Street was a challenge due to my niece having a meltdown in there. Despite promising to be good & having an hour in Hamleys.
I was intending to purchase a Speedmaster 60th anniversary 57 Ltd Ed. None in store or locally at the other boutiques.
I asked about the very rare Seamaster 48. They had one in store but said it was earmarked for someone, although said customer was overdue in making further contact.
The nice lady assisting me was about to get it when my niece threw a total tantrum. I could have throttled her. Hence, we had to leave.
I banned her from electronic devices that evening & other than a visit to the Shard, she spent the evening alone “thinking” in her bed whilst we played board games.
We did Tower Bridge & the Belfast the following morning. She was really apologetic & “offered” to sacrifice Buckingham Palace so I could go back but I declined. She knew she’d overstepped for sure.
Kids! So glad we decided against them.
We’re taking them away for a week this Friday. A chalet holiday in the new forest. Must be mad!!
Time was tight so we only visited vintage Omega store & the Regent Street Omega boutique.
I took both my inherited vintage Omega watches with me to ask for advice on serial numbers so I could order archive extras from Omega Switzerland.
Nice enough lady met us but basically unable to help which was frankly disappointing.
The boutique on Regent Street was a challenge due to my niece having a meltdown in there. Despite promising to be good & having an hour in Hamleys.
I was intending to purchase a Speedmaster 60th anniversary 57 Ltd Ed. None in store or locally at the other boutiques.
I asked about the very rare Seamaster 48. They had one in store but said it was earmarked for someone, although said customer was overdue in making further contact.
The nice lady assisting me was about to get it when my niece threw a total tantrum. I could have throttled her. Hence, we had to leave.
I banned her from electronic devices that evening & other than a visit to the Shard, she spent the evening alone “thinking” in her bed whilst we played board games.
We did Tower Bridge & the Belfast the following morning. She was really apologetic & “offered” to sacrifice Buckingham Palace so I could go back but I declined. She knew she’d overstepped for sure.
Kids! So glad we decided against them.
We’re taking them away for a week this Friday. A chalet holiday in the new forest. Must be mad!!
Squadrone Rosso said:
Just thought I’d update this thread.
Time was tight so we only visited vintage Omega store & the Regent Street Omega boutique.
I took both my inherited vintage Omega watches with me to ask for advice on serial numbers so I could order archive extras from Omega Switzerland.
Nice enough lady met us but basically unable to help which was frankly disappointing.
The boutique on Regent Street was a challenge due to my niece having a meltdown in there. Despite promising to be good & having an hour in Hamleys.
I was intending to purchase a Speedmaster 60th anniversary 57 Ltd Ed. None in store or locally at the other boutiques.
I asked about the very rare Seamaster 48. They had one in store but said it was earmarked for someone, although said customer was overdue in making further contact.
The nice lady assisting me was about to get it when my niece threw a total tantrum. I could have throttled her. Hence, we had to leave.
I banned her from electronic devices that evening & other than a visit to the Shard, she spent the evening alone “thinking” in her bed whilst we played board games.
We did Tower Bridge & the Belfast the following morning. She was really apologetic & “offered” to sacrifice Buckingham Palace so I could go back but I declined. She knew she’d overstepped for sure.
Kids! So glad we decided against them.
We’re taking them away for a week this Friday. A chalet holiday in the new forest. Must be mad!!
That sucks for you. I am sure the 'thinking' definitely helped :-) Time was tight so we only visited vintage Omega store & the Regent Street Omega boutique.
I took both my inherited vintage Omega watches with me to ask for advice on serial numbers so I could order archive extras from Omega Switzerland.
Nice enough lady met us but basically unable to help which was frankly disappointing.
The boutique on Regent Street was a challenge due to my niece having a meltdown in there. Despite promising to be good & having an hour in Hamleys.
I was intending to purchase a Speedmaster 60th anniversary 57 Ltd Ed. None in store or locally at the other boutiques.
I asked about the very rare Seamaster 48. They had one in store but said it was earmarked for someone, although said customer was overdue in making further contact.
The nice lady assisting me was about to get it when my niece threw a total tantrum. I could have throttled her. Hence, we had to leave.
I banned her from electronic devices that evening & other than a visit to the Shard, she spent the evening alone “thinking” in her bed whilst we played board games.
We did Tower Bridge & the Belfast the following morning. She was really apologetic & “offered” to sacrifice Buckingham Palace so I could go back but I declined. She knew she’d overstepped for sure.
Kids! So glad we decided against them.
We’re taking them away for a week this Friday. A chalet holiday in the new forest. Must be mad!!
Hope you get what you are looking for
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