Scottish Watches Podcast #760: British Watchmakers Day 2026 – What Happened
Date: March 12, 2026
Hosts: Ricky, Hamish, Dave
Guests: Katya (Alliance of British Watch & Clockmakers), Rich (Studio Underdog), Nicholas Bowman-Scargill (Fears Watch Co.), and more
Overview
This episode provides a deep dive into the 2026 edition of British Watchmakers Day, one of the UK's premier horological events. The hosts recount their experiences onsite in London, discuss major organizational changes, highlight exclusive watch releases, and interview key figures in the British watchmaking scene. The episode is rich with anecdotes, product details, and memorable conversations, all delivering the authentic, lively spirit that defines Scottish Watches.
1. British Watchmakers Day 2026: Bigger Than Ever
Event Growth and Organization
- Expansion: The event continues to grow, featuring 48 brands and three ticketed sessions, accommodating an extra 600 attendees compared to previous years. This year sold out entirely.
- Katya (00:54): “We sold out the event. We’ve got more watch brands this year, 48 this time.”
- Venue Improvements: The familiar venue now benefits from staggered entries, which has helped with crowd control and improved the experience for both attendees and brands.
- Hamish (05:13): “It was just the perfect containment with that pressure release valve running all throughout the day.”
Anniversaries & Celebrations
- Roger W. Smith: Celebrates 25 years in business with a special drawing by artist Sophie Scott Lewis and commemorative t-shirts.
- George Daniels: 100 years since his birth, noted for his contributions (including the coaxial escapement).
- Fears: Marking its 10th modern anniversary (and 180 years since its founding).
- Ricky (01:55): “Fears are celebrating as well tomorrow and I think they've got something happening there.”
2. Pre-Event Build-Up & Sneak Peeks
The Host's Journey Down South
- Travel Tales: Hamish recaps the journey with his wife, wearing favorite watches and sharing stories of late-night arrivals and a quirky gift-wrapped helicopter sighting (06:03).
- Visiting Pietro’s New Place: The hosts detail a private visit to Pietro's new London showroom – a beautifully designed, multi-purpose space commemorating their timeline and milestones.
- Hamish (07:29): “You walk in and the area is just phenomenally laid out. It’s massive, it’s expansive… you’ve got a museum area...a private viewing area…”
Friday Night Before the Show
- Setup Parties: Studio Underdog and other brands rushed to prepare elaborate stands.
- Social Recaps: The hosts meet key personalities from brands like Fears (Nicholas Bowman-Scargill), noting behind-the-scenes preparations and last-minute surprises.
- Hamish (14:10): “Supposedly quiet didn’t appear to be quiet, when people were building stands and there was hammers and all kinds of stuff going off in the background.”
3. Special Guests and Brand Spotlights
Katya, Alliance of British Watch & Clockmakers
- Event evolution and exclusives
- Katya (00:54): "We've got more watch brands this year, 48 this time… Celebrating a few birthdays tomorrow. One is our chairman, Roger W Smith's business…"
- Membership drive
- Ricky (02:25): “Join the alliance, become a club member. You don’t have to be a resident in the UK…”
Rich, Studio Underdog
- Brand Updates:
- New in-house assembly; launching “The Doghouse” in May where enthusiasts can assemble their own watches (11:57).
- Pizza-themed watches, community engagement, and vigilant monitoring of grey market activity.
- Rich (12:29): “I believe that should be up to 11 in the coming weeks. We’ve had our first clone of a pizza watch…It continues to be a great compliment.”
Nicholas Bowman-Scargill, Fears Watch Company
- Anniversary Piece:
- Special sterling silver Fierce model for British Watchmakers Day, referencing their 180th anniversary and the legacy of Edwin Fear (16:03).
- New manual movement and dial inspired by their first pocket watch.
- Nicholas (16:03): “It is a sterling silver Fierce piece…a unique reference…with a new manual movement…recreating the original watch Edwin Fear made 180 years ago…”
4. Saturday: Main Event Recap and Watch Highlights
Crowd Experience & Community
- Smooth Flow: The new session structure kept crowds under control and improved brand interactions.
- Hamish (19:04): “Everything just went like clockwork. For a watch and clock show, that is exactly what you want.”
- Face-to-Face Moments: Fans, collectors, and content creators mingled. "This wasn’t just a looky looky show, this was a come along, check it out...and buy it there and then show." (19:04)
- Content Creators: Bark and Jack, Andrew Morgan, Sophie (from Instagram), and more in attendance, blending digital and in-person watch communities.
Notable Releases & Brand Stories
William Wood Watches
- Great Fire of London Edition:
- 50-piece limited run, featuring design cues from historic firefighting and a commemorative £2 coin caseback. (23:16)
- Dave (23:16): “...connection to the fire of London on the case back, which uses a two pound commemorative coin…”
Zero West
- Epic New Models:
- Highly-localized manufacturing, including in-house case and strap production.
- “Epic X” design ethos at an accessible price point.
Pairs + The Dial Artist Collaboration
- 3D printed carbon and titanium cases.
- Limited to just 3 pieces, with unique hand-painted dials inspired by London Tube lines. (26:45)
- Dave (26:45): “They only made three watches, each of them being slightly different from each other. It was priced around £3,000 and they vanished like the proverbial...”
Christopher Ward
- C1 Loco 7326:
- 10-piece limited edition with Union Jack influences, classical design, and sterling popularity (sold out in 26 minutes). (29:43)
- Dave (29:43): “It’s a completely new interpretation of the Loco … only did 10 pieces, and they were all gone…”
Ember Watches
- Candy-Inspired Limited Edition:
- Eye-catching dual-color dials, playful British motifs. (30:51)
Pinion Watch Company
- Pure Chance:
- Aventurine glass dial, 38mm case, limited to 50 pieces, value for money at £1,350. (32:19)
- Dave (32:19): “This was one of the bargains of the show…just an excellent watch at a price point that really belies the quality…”
Schofield
- Sceptico (Artifacts and Sightings):
- Stainless steel and aerospace-grade translucent orange “Ultim” case versions, UFO-inspired design, £4,680.
- Dave (34:19): “...when you loom up and charge up the lume in the dial, especially in the one with the ultim, you can see that, you know, shining through the side of the case…”
Anoma
- Alien Aesthetics:
- Triangular, organic pebble-shaped watches, with more innovation teased for later in the year. (35:58)
Elliott Brown
- Beachmaster Automatic with limited green dial (10 pieces).
- Upcoming: Halton Professional pre-order, new brushed steel case, minimalist “flat dark earth” colorway.
- Jem (41:16): “We launched a pre order limited edition Halton Professional...very minimal branding...flat dark earth color...first time we’ve put it on a dial.”
Brooklands Watch Company
- Redline Limited Edition:
- Celebrating 100 years since the first British Grand Prix. Only 10 pieces, racing heritage baked in. (43:19)
- Guy (43:19): “…it’s 100 years since the first British Grand Prix, which was in 1926 at Brooklands…we’ve got a limited edition of just 10 watches. That series is called the Redline.”
5. Memorable Quotes & Moments
On Why Fans Keep Returning:
Hamish (19:04): “This wasn’t just a looky looky show, this was a come along, check it out, put it in the wrist and if you like it, buy it there and then show.”
On Event Vibe:
Dave (04:43): “There were still lots of limited editions...but it just felt a bit more relaxed, a bit more easygoing. The flow was good...Altogether a more chilled, easygoing feeling, which in my opinion...is a good thing.”
On Watch Collecting Culture:
Dave (21:35): “Maybe actually us talking nonsense about watches actually influences people...Apparently we are some kind of influencers to some people. I don’t advise taking our advice, to be honest, too seriously...”
On Industry Resilience:
Ricky (02:25): “This is the best show in the UK by a country mile. And a lot of other shows have just disappeared, fallen by the wayside. This one's getting bigger and bigger.”
6. Other Notables & People Met
- Influential industry personalities: Adrian (Bark & Jack), Andrew Morgan, Joshua (Watch It Fair), Chris Alexander (Dial Artist), Piers (Pinion), and many more.
- Spontaneous encounters with listeners, fans, and industry insiders, fostering both business and friendship.
- Hamish (22:26): “No, he looks absolutely wild to the moon. But he’s a great guy because we’ve met him a number of times…”
7. Looking Forward
- The UK’s watch scene continues to rise, with British Watchmakers Day setting the benchmark for future events.
- New collaborations, innovations in material science (e.g., 3D printing, Ultim plastic), and collector engagement shape the “new era” of British horology.
- The hosts tease further tours, collaborative events, and podcast episodes with luminaries and regulars.
8. Timestamps for Key Segments
- Event Beginnings & Katya Interview: 00:22–02:53
- Evolution of the Show: 03:25–05:13
- Pre-Event Adventures: 06:02–09:32
- Studio Underdog (Rich): 09:51–13:16
- Fears Watch Co. (Nicholas Bowmanscaro): 15:07–17:48
- Saturday Main Event Kickoff: 18:54–19:04
- People & Community: 20:46–22:47
- William Wood Watches & Fire Story: 23:16–25:34
- Mechanical Innovations & Highlights: 25:34–32:19
- Schofield & Anoma: 34:19–35:58
- Elliott Brown Team: 39:15–42:09
- Brooklands Watch Company: 43:13–45:09
9. Conclusion & Community Call
The episode rounds off with reference to more upcoming horology events (including in Glasgow), shout-outs to recent and future podcast guests, and a reminder for listeners to subscribe, engage, and check out the show notes and YouTube for visuals of everything discussed.
For photos, full product specs, and visuals from the event, refer to the show notes and the Scottish Watches YouTube channel.
Final word from Dave (46:53):
"Take care."