Renowned British watchmaker Roger W. Smith OBE, and Christopher Ward founder Mike France, have today announced the establishment of a new trade body for the British watch and clock making industry – the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers – and they’re inviting watch and clock collectors and enthusiasts to join.

Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers

The ALliance of British Watch and Clock Makers is founded in collaboration with GREAT Britain campaign ambassador Alistair Audsley, and has four main aims:

  • To promote British watch and clock making.
  • To encourage British supply-chain, technology and jobs.
  • To give the sector a voice.
  • To champion British provenance

For an annual £55 membership fee, ‘Club’ members will receive:

  • An Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers members badge
  • Access to exclusive Special Editions from British watchmakers
  • Priority access to meetings and virtual events including Open Dial sessions, where British watch and clockmakers will give insights into their work
  • Priority access to video recordings of events (two months ahead of public posting)
  • A certificate of Club Membership
  • A digital badge to use on social media and emails

The Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers consists of several prominent British watch and clockmakers. As well as Roger W. Smith and Christopher Ward, other founding members also include Fears, Mr Jones and Robert Bray-Sinclair Harding.

The founders point out that Britain has an undeniable heritage of innovation in watch and clock making, and a unique provenance when it comes to time-keeping. A recent resurgence in British watch and clock making means there are now over 50 watch and clockmakers in Britain.

Roger W. Smith says of the Alliance: “It’s an exciting time because we have this real opportunity to forge our own vision of how watchmaking should be in Britain today in the 21st Century. If we can all start sharing our experiences, learning from each other, working out ways we can help each other, there’s no limit to what we can achieve. Above all, our founding of this Alliance is an invitation to watch collectors and horology enthusiasts all over the world to join us and be part of this exciting journey. ”

The Alliance has already commissioned its first report from KPMG: a Bellwether report for the British watch and clock making industryJanuary will see the first of the organisation’s quarterly virtual events, featuring an introduction from the founders, details of the first British Watch and Clock Makers Day and an ‘Open Dial’ with Roger W. Smith, giving an exclusive insight into his work.

Join the Alliance

Club memberships may be purchased at www.britishwatchmakers.com.

Social media links:

http://twitter.com/BritWatchmakers

www.facebook.com/BritishWatchmakers

www.instagram.com/britishwatchmakers

Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

By Mike Richmond

Mike spends what little spare time he has writing for WRUK; and what little money he makes building up his collection of timepieces.

Available for Amazon Prime