Getting To Know The Watch Collectors’ Club
The Watch Collectors’ Club allows connoisseurs and enthusiasts to gather for watch-related events. You may have heard of similar watch groups, such as the long-running RedBar chapters or Time4APint in London. Where The Watch Collectors’ Club differs is going that extra mile for bespoke events and tailored experiences. Unlike RedBar, The Watch Collectors’ Club uses an annual subscription model ranging from £75 to £150 per year. What that gets you is experiences that are not unlike VIP client excursions but without needing to spend as much as a VIP. Even as a RedBar member and devoted follower of Time4APint, I was unaware of The Watch Collectors’ Club and was keen to learn more.
British Watchmakers’ Day
I had my most serendipitous encounter during the excellent British Watchmakers’ Day. After a long day of going from stand to stand, discussing wares, exchanging business cards, and taking pictures, I eventually gave myself some time. That time was well spent with a beer on the first floor of Lindley Hall (Royal Horticultural Halls) in Westminster. With a view of all the stands, I decided to take the weight off and look out over the crowded venue. Soon after, a polite gentleman from Dallas, Texas, joined me, looking for a British watch to take home with him. Later, another gentleman, already wearing a British watch, a Studio Underd0g 02Series, joined us. Before long, we chatted about what we do, and I learned about The Watch Collectors’ Club from the CEO, Hamish Robertson.
Image: The Watch Collectors’ Club
The Watch Collectors’ Club
The club was founded in 2020 during a pandemic-induced downturn in in-person events. Therefore, the first collective event occurred in October 2021 in Farringdon, London. Thirty collectors and enthusiasts turned up, all of whom were part of the mailing list. As the club gained traction, so did the viability of exploring brand-hosted events. A key difference from boutique-run experiences is that The Watch Collectors’ Club still takes the lead in organizing and presenting each occasion. You won’t necessarily have a brand representative waxing lyrical about its catalog. Instead, Robertson takes the reins, allowing the venue staff to relax and focus on hosting and security duties. The first brand-focused event was with Bremont in Birmingham, followed by a similar event in the Mayfair boutique in September 2022.
Image: The Watch Collectors’ Club
Following these successful boutique events, 20 members were invited to tour the Bremont Manufacturing & Technology Center, aka “The Wing.” Members could see where the cases are made and the components assembled in Henley-on-Thames, UK. By this time, Robertson had developed a business plan. With the wheels of The Watch Collectors’ Club always turning, the mailing list now boasts 1,300 individual sign-ups and counting. Thanks to this strong foundation, the club has more sway with higher-end brands like Breguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Breitling, and IWC. More recently, the club organized a trip for its members to Watches and Wonders this year. This offered them general admission to the venue, touch-and-feel sessions, and booth tours. Typically, organizing such opportunities outside of the media can be difficult.
Image: The Watch Collectors’ Club
Further details and how to join
Groups like this offer an opportunity to learn and access details about often-shielded brands. Some club members didn’t even know these groups existed. In one case, a member was brought to tears of joy upon finding other like-minded collectors and sharing a collective joy in this hobby. As a comparison, a typical RedBar event is free to join and attend. However, global events come with a ticket price. These costs are justifiable due to the tightly packed schedules of guest panels, special showcases, and swag bags. In the first event in the RedBar Global showcase in New York, attendees received venue wristbands in the shape of specially made Casio G-Shocks. So, yes, there are options out there. However, the relative infrequency of the RedBar Global events demonstrates the opportunity for The Watch Collectors’ Club to fill the void at a relatively lower cost than a single RedBar Global event.
Image: The Watch Collectors’ Club
The club achieved over 40 events last year with various retailer experiences, museum trips, watchmaker visits, and more to come this year. As mentioned, the membership tiers range from “steel” at £75 to “gold” at £150 per year. Many member-only events, including the trip to Watches and Wonders, don’t make it to the website. So it’s worth a free sign-up to the mailing list to get information about the more tailored experiences. You can find out more about the details of memberships here and upcoming events here. There is also a show in Manchester on November 9th, 2024, with 14 confirmed brands in attendance out of a targeted 25. Tickets for the Manchester show go on sale in August, and you can register interest via The Watch Collectors’ Club site and follow its Instagram account.
