Cabot Watch Company
Cabot Watch Company (CWC) is a British watchmaker established in 1972 by Ray Mellor, specifically to supply timepieces to the British Ministry of Defence (MoD). For over fifty years, the brand has provided hundreds of thousands of watches to all branches of the British Armed Forces, including the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force. CWC is best known for its historically significant models such as the G10 Quartz, which was the first quartz watch issued to British forces, and the Royal Navy Diver, which replaced the Rolex Submariner as the standard-issue diving watch in 1980. Other key pieces in their catalog include the SBS Diver, a black PVD-coated quartz watch requested by the Special Boat Service, and the W10 mechanical general service watch. Today, CWC continues to produce Swiss-made timepieces built to military specifications, featuring functional elements like fixed strap bars and highly legible dials for both military personnel and collectors.
Bremont
Bremont is a luxury British watchmaker founded in 2002 by brothers Nick and Giles English, headquartered in Henley-on-Thames where it operates a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility known as The Wing. The brand is defined by its focus on aviation, military partnerships, and engineering durability, frequently utilizing its signature three-part Trip-Tick case construction and hardened steel. Key collections include the Supermarine dive series, the pilot-oriented Altitude and Solo lines, and the Martin-Baker (MB) collection, which was developed in collaboration with the iconic ejection seat manufacturer and is tested to withstand the same rigorous conditions. Recently, the brand has expanded its technical capabilities with the Supernova, an integrated-bracelet sports watch featuring the in-house manufactured ENG300 movement series, and highly exclusive limited editions like the Altitude Chronograph Pulsograph, which utilizes restored vintage Valjoux 23 movements. As a primary player in the revival of British horology, Bremont provides official timepieces to the UK Ministry of Defence and has developed specialized models such as the Armed Forces and various space-themed chronographs designed for lunar exploration.
Benjamin James
Benjamin James is a British watch brand based in Birmingham, founded by designer Benjamin James Adams, who previously held a leadership role at Geckota. Drawing inspiration from his grandfather’s preference for classically sized rectangular timepieces, Adams launched the brand with a focus on refined proportions and integrated bracelet designs. The brand’s debut model, the Scarifour, features a 31mm by 40mm rectangular case and a distinctive chevron-patterned “heraldry” dial inspired by the coat of arms of Cheltenham. The Scarifour collection is offered in several iterations, including the extra-thin Scarifour Classic, available with either a Swiss Ronda quartz or a hand-wound Sellita SW210-1 B movement, and the Scarifour Automatic, which utilizes a self-winding Japanese movement. More recently, the brand expanded its lineup with the Stone Collection, featuring dials crafted from natural materials like green jade, orange agate, and lapis lazuli, as well as models with mother-of-pearl dials.
Beaucroft
Beaucroft is an independent British watch brand based in Cambridge, founded in 2019 by friends Karim Faisali and Matt Herd with a focus on blending classic elegance with modern functional design. The brand emphasizes British craftsmanship, with its timepieces hand-assembled, tested, and regulated in Great Britain, often utilizing reliable Japanese Miyota 9039 automatic movements. Beaucroft’s design language is heavily inspired by its home city, featuring a signature teardrop emblem that mirrors architectural details found at King’s College. Its core collections include the Element, a 39.5mm “go-anywhere, do-anything” sports watch featuring a three-tiered sunburst dial and 200m water resistance; the Seeker, a refined 37mm model designed with a slimmer profile; and the Signature, a 40mm dress watch characterized by its vibrant fumé gradient dials. Additionally, the brand is the official watch partner of the University of Cambridge, producing the licensed Senate range, and recently expanded its offerings with the Contour GMT, a travel-oriented timepiece featuring a tropical teal aesthetic.
Anicorn
Anicorn is a Hong Kong-based independent watchmaker and design studio founded in 2014 by graphic designer Joe Kwan and entrepreneur Chris Chan. The brand distinguishes itself through a minimalist, contemporary aesthetic that often subverts traditional horological displays, replacing standard hands with rotating concentric discs or unique geometric arrangements. Anicorn is widely recognized for its extensive collaborations with global cultural icons and institutions, including NASA, PlayStation, SEGA, and Hideo Kojima’s Kojima Productions. Key collections include the Series 000, which features a needle-less speedometer design; the Series K452, inspired by Johannes Kepler’s discovery of Earth-like planets; and the Trio of Time (TTT) series, which partners with international designers to explore different perceptions of time. Recent limited-edition releases, such as the PlayStation 30th Anniversary mechanical watch and the Death Stranding-inspired Reverse Trike Time, emphasize the brand’s focus on narrative-driven design and high-concept collectibles, often incorporating specialized packaging and digital components like NFC-enabled authenticity cards.