Plot your watch shop route
If some nifty wristgear features in your beloved’s letter to Father Christmas, you need to plan your shopping expedition with appropriate precision – easy thanks to London’s bulging watch-retail scene
The Square Mile
The Royal Exchange, Bank
Probably the UK’s most luxurious shopping mall, REX has become a mini-hotspot of horology, thanks to the recent addition of neighbouring boutiques from Bremont and pre-owned pioneers Watchfinder (now retailing Ressence, pictured). Along with Watches of Switzerland, Omega and Montblanc, you needn’t leave the Square Mile for your Christmas watch shopping, if we’re honest.
theroyalexchange.co.uk
Mappin & Webb, 125 Fenchurch Street
At Watches of Switzerland’s more venerable sister, you’ll find some rather spiffing silverware, Lalique crystal and even Mikimoto pearl jewellery in amongst the Jaeger-LeCoultres, IWCs and Zeniths (pictured).
mappinandwebb.com
The West End
The Wonder Room, 400 Oxford St
The jewel in The Watch Gallery’s crown, this beautiful space on the ground floor of Selfridges features just about every luxury brand going and commands its own exclusive editions, such as the new TAG Heuer Formula 1.
thewatchgallery.com
Omega, 373 Oxford St
If you can’t schlep to Omega’s mega-boutique in Westfield Stratford, go to this one, where you’ll find the new De Ville Trésor dress watch – a pared-down highlight of 2014.
omega.ch
Frost of London, 108 New Bond St
With a newly refurbished showroom unveiled this month, you’ll struggle to find a portfolio comparable to Frost’s – eclectic to say the least, including Corum and Roger Dubuis (Velvet ladies’ piece, pictured), alongside bling from Shamballa and Theo Fennell.
frostoflondon.co.uk
Breitling, 130 New Bond St
A vast addition to Bond Street’s booming mono-watch-brand scene (IWC and Bell & Ross on the horizon), browsing Breitling’s pilot watches is a pleasure thanks to a flood of natural light and pop-art décor.
breitling.com
Wempe, 43-44 New Bond St
Lush carpets, grandfather clocks and mahogany counters all create a reassuringly traditional luxury shopping experience. Quite right too, given the top-end stock, including fellow German brand, A. Lange & Söhne. (Lange 1 Perpetual, pictured.) wempe.com
Watches of Switzerland, 155 Regent St
The biggest watch retail environment in the UK by a country mile, this cutting-edge flagship boasts two floors of in-store boutiques and the “Calibre Room” below ground level, perfect for last-minute browsing. Do check out Rolex’s little sister, Tudor.
watches-of-switzerland.co.uk
Marcus Watches, 170 New Bond St
We doubt you’ll be forking out hundreds of thousands to buy your aunt one of Greubel Forsey’s feats of horological wizardry, but pausing on Bond Street to steam up Marcus’ windows is always a worthwhile distraction.
marcuswatches.com
William & Son, 10 Mount St
Such a civilised diversion, Mount Street. After a spot of lunch at Scott’s, why not browse the auteur watch brands at number 10, in amongst the fine gentlemanly requisites? One glance through the caseback of a Laurent Ferrier will make it worth the spur from Bond Street.
williamandson.com
Atelier Parmigiani, 97 Mount St
Over the road from William & Son is Parmigiani’s super-slick boutique, where a watchmaker greets you on arrival – a fascinating spectacle before you’ve even locked eyes on the watches themselves. (Ladies’ Metropolitaine pictured). parmigiani.ch
Bremont, 29 South Audley St
The British brand’s first boutique feels more “gentleman’s club” than “shop” thanks to all the Biggles-worthy paraphernalia, reflecting Bremont’s tally-ho approach to its rugged chronometers. The new, polished version of its ALT1-C is definitely one for the officer’s mess (pictured).
bremont.com
The Watch Club, 4 & 5 The Royal Arcade
The website might still be a mess, but don’t let that put you off venturing down Bond Street’s bijou Royal Arcade to admire the vintage rarities at The Watch Club’s decidedly un-messy boutique – such as the Sixties beauty from Vacheron Constantin (pictured).
watchclub.com