The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

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The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by nbg »

Looks like a shrewd move by CW to be involved as one of the founding members.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/roger ... dfcafb1f3d

https://britishwatchmakers.com/?cli_act ... 130957.758

Individual membership also available for those interested.

Can’t do CW any harm to be in at the start, alongside Roger Smith.

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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by Bahnstormer_vRS »

There's a hefty article about it within Loupe 19.

Very much a positive move.

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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by RichM »

In one if the comments underneath the Hodinkee feature, it says that CW manufacture in China so this "British Alliance" is a bit rich.

Is the China bit accurate?

Bremont would seem a good fit for the alliance as well.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by Clach77 »

RichM wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 9:25 am In one if the comments underneath the Hodinkee feature, it says that CW manufacture in China so this "British Alliance" is a bit rich.

Is the China bit accurate?

Bremont would seem a good fit for the alliance as well.
The cases are made in China. CWL have always been very open about this. As the watches are ‘Swiss Made’, I doubt that the Chinese made cases make the company any more or less British.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by RichM »

^^^ and presumably is what keeps the prices low (along with the direct online sell) compared to other brands with similar specifications.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by Viognier »

Might anyone know where the cases are manufactured for other larger watch brands? Rolex, Omega, Tag, Bremont, Zenith, Seiko ?
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by StrappedUp »

^^^ don't know whether it's rumours or truth, but I'd read that Tudors cases are manufactured by the same factory that produce CWs cases.

Unsure about others listed.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by iain »

Viognier wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:00 pm Might anyone know where the cases are manufactured for other larger watch brands? Rolex, Omega, Tag, Bremont, Zenith, Seiko ?
Rolex make their cases in house. I think Tag use an outsourced case manufacturer probably similar to most manufacturers they are competing against.

Bremont make their cases in the UK which goes some way to explaining their higher cost. I know there have been arguments online about how much is made here, but this link to an advertising complaint clears some of it up. One quote from the website states

“.....the whole case (apart from the ceramic bezel and crown) and the movement mount and internal workings of the case were also made in the UK.”

https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/bremont- ... 04008.html

I’m not sure about the others in your list though.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by TigerChris »

iain wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:52 pm
Viognier wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:00 pm Might anyone know where the cases are manufactured for other larger watch brands? Rolex, Omega, Tag, Bremont, Zenith, Seiko ?
Rolex make their cases in house. I think Tag use an outsourced case manufacturer probably similar to most manufacturers they are competing against.

Bremont make their cases in the UK which goes some way to explaining their higher cost. I know there have been arguments online about how much is made here, but this link to an advertising complaint clears some of it up. One quote from the website states

“.....the whole case (apart from the ceramic bezel and crown) and the movement mount and internal workings of the case were also made in the UK.”

https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/bremont- ... 04008.html

I’m not sure about the others in your list though.
This is one of the big reasons I’m such a fan of the brand. Their commitment to British manufacturing just appeals to me and I’m prepared to pay more for that rather than Chinese.
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by iain »

I agree Chris, I’m also a big Bremont fan. They are also soon to open their new manufacturing HQ, aka The Wing.

https://us.bremont.com/blogs/blogbook/t ... adquarters
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by nbg »

Viognier wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 4:00 pm Might anyone know where the cases are manufactured for other larger watch brands? Rolex, Omega, Tag, Bremont, Zenith, Seiko ?
Well the brand that many love to hate are made in Switzerland. :)

As to many other so called luxury brands...

Well your guess is as good as mine. Let’s just say the official definition of Swiss made doesn’t require them to be. :silent:

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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by iain »

nbg wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:39 pm
Well the brand that many love to hate are made in Switzerland. :)
Bremont aren’t made in Switzerland. :D

Or is there more than one brand many love to hate, maybe starting with R.... :lol:
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by exHowfener »

Am I the only person who find's CW's involvement to be a little bizarre? Matched only by the Alliance choosing to illustrate their website with a CW watch (at least the "Swiss made" text was carefully excluded from the photo). I'm not knocking CW in any way, I really like their watches, but they are hardly "British Watch & Clock makers" unless I'm missing something.

I'm sure that he cases are made on CNC machines these days so I wonder just how much it would really add to the cost to have them made closer to home?
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Re: The Alliance of British Watch & Clock Makers

Post by nbg »

iain wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 6:00 pm
nbg wrote: Sat Oct 31, 2020 5:39 pm
Well the brand that many love to hate are made in Switzerland. :)
Bremont aren’t made in Switzerland. :D

Or is there more than one brand many love to hate, maybe starting with R.... :lol:
Ah I see your point.😉

Well I am happy to say I like both Bremont and R@#*x, good to hear that both make their cases in the country that features on their dial. :)

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Alliance Of British Watch And Clockmakers

Post by kiter65 »

Just received a free offer from CW to join the Alliance Of British Watch And Clockmakers, set up by Roger Smith and Mike France, looks interesting
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