British Watchmakers with all British mechanisms?

[Danesgate]

I have had a rush of patriotism (accompanied by a tightening of the wallet and an indifference to microsecond accuracy... )

Is there a British Watchmaker that uses British mechanisms?

And what is the starting price?

[bry1975]

:O British watch mechanisms.

[glazbagun]

If you want all British you'll have to either go vintage (Smiths were the last guys mass producing movements in the UK), antique pocketwatch (London was once the world capital for high-end watchmaking) or high end from someone like Roger Smith or possibly Frodshams if they ever get their watch into production.

You also have guys like Peter Speake-Marin who is British and has his own designs, but makes them in Switzerland where most of the watchmaking industry is on his relative doorstep. And I guess if you really want to stretch the British link then one of the founders of Greubel Forsey is British.

[Danesgate]

Smiths was the only one I could think of

[bry1975]

Weren't Smiths movements Jaeger or Movado?

[whoami]

Dent?

[cg360]

Timezone do watches whch are designed in the UK, but use renowned mechanisms. Other than ultra-low volume and ultra-high prices, I don't know if you can do better.

[sparkyhx]

http://www.howtospendit.com/#!/articles/6351-the-h...

I think most are case designers using swiss movements

[volks al]

I thought Bremont assembled thier movements in London?

edit,

looks like they don't, swear they did when starting out, hence the london dial faces.

Edited by volks al on Thursday 12th January 23:33

[NDA]

George Daniels?

[IroningMan]

Alas Mr Daniels is no more, and I at any rate would probably need to part with both kidneys in exchange for one of his creations.

Smiths were, I think, the last, with their 'Astral' mechanicals and 'Everest' automatics - Edmund Hillary wore a Smiths watch, not a Rolex, on Everest.

[IroningMan]

bry1975 said:

Weren't Smiths movements Jaeger or Movado?

All the ones I've seen have 'Made in England' on them - but that's not the same as 'Designed in England', I daresay.

[NDA]

Not strictly British anymore .... But you could look at Harwood. I have one in my collection, an important maker in British watchmaking, and now available again. Nice to own.

[skmark]

Wasn't Rolex first established in London

[hiltonig]

Here is one British watch maker

http://www.brianloomes.com/watchmaking/

[LukeBird]

skmark said:

Wasn't Rolex first established in London

True.
Just be careful where you post that; otherwise, can of worms, everywhere!

[AstonZagato]

Not sure but don't Dent make their own movements?

[whoami]

AstonZagato said:

Not sure but don't Dent make their own movements?

^^^^^^A few posts up....^^^^^

[sparkyhx]

hiltonig said:

Here is one British watch maker

http://www.brianloomes.com/watchmaking/

not strictly a maker, but as near dammit - looks liek he uses bought in poljot movements and assembles himself. I assume the movement from parts, as opposed to assemble the watch from a completed movement.

There is one other true maker in Isle of Man one of Georges ex protege's

[AstonZagato]

Missed that one!

I looked at their website and they are silent on movement.

I rather like Dent watches.