Guests to British Watchmakers’ Day may have the chance to purchase sold-out Bel Canto watches from Christopher Ward

Christopher Ward’s Bel Canto hourly chiming clock has been so profitable that the mere alternative to see it within the wild is a giant draw for British Watchmakers Day in March.

The Bel Canto was launched final 12 months and was the primary watch from a British firm to win the Petite Aiguille Award on the 2023 Grand Prix d’Horlogerie de Genève.

The award goes to business watches with a worth between 4,000 and 10,000 CHF. Bel Canto watches are made in 4 colours with a alternative of bracelet or metal bracelet and price £3,195 to £3,530.

Christopher Ward and his managing director Mike France have been instrumental within the growth of the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers, which organizes British Watchmakers’ Day.

The one-day occasion will happen on March ninth at Lindley Corridor in London and can characteristic watches from over 40 manufacturers, a lot of which produce distinctive timepieces that may solely be bought on the present.

Christopher Ward C1 Bel Canto

Christopher Ward is making ten new Bel Canto minute repeaters for the truthful.

They are going to be marketed through a raffle on the Watchmaker’s Day. Winners of the raffle have the chance to buy their Bel Canto and take it house on the identical day.

That is your solely likelihood to buy a Bel Canto this summer season.

The watches are provided on-line on Christopher Ward’s e-commerce web site, however the buyer can solely pay a deposit for items delivered in July.

All income from the sale of the watches will probably be donated on to the Alliance of British Watch and Clockmakers.

Christopher Ward is making the provide as a part of his sponsorship and help of the Alliance and British Watchmakers’ Day.

Roger Smith Sequence One

Roger Smith, one other co-founder and chairman of the alliance, is producing a singular Sequence One look ahead to the occasion.

“I wished to make it clear how a lot this occasion means to me, so I dedicated to constructing certainly one of my very own watches particularly for this occasion,” says Mr. Smith.

It’s the second time that Roger Smith has made a watch in help of the Alliance.

A singular and unworn Roger Smith Sequence 1 watch bought for £660,000 in November 2022 after being auctioned to boost cash for a fund to help watchmakers within the UK.

The one-of-a-kind watch was bought on-line by A Collected Man, a London-based specialist within the uncommon watch commerce, with 20% of the proceeds donated to the Alliance of British Watch and Clock Makers.

Duckworth Prestex

Duckworth Prestex makes 10 particular person watches in the identical cushion-shaped case from its Rivington and Verimatic traces.

They value £950 every and use Miyota 9039 automated mechanical actions.

Every of the ten clocks has a dial with the title British Watch & Clock Makers.

Firm founder Neil Duckworth developed the design after noticing that “British Watch & Clock Makers” was made up of 24 letters, which he organized in two concentric circles of 12 letters every, which doubled as hour markers.

“The result’s surprisingly clear and symmetrical. At first look, you do not instantly notice that this watch is one thing totally different, as a result of the human eye is used to seeing numbers or Roman numerals – and that is precisely what the mind expects. However it is just upon nearer inspection that the true nature of the hour markers turns into clear,” explains Mr Duckworth.

All watch firms on British Watchmakers’ Day have been inspired to provide distinctive watches for the occasion.

WatchPro is the official media associate of the occasion and can announce these particular editions upon publication.