Shhhh! A secret….
If you’re in London, you may know that you can find vintage watches on Bond Street, the Royal Arcade and the Burlington Arcade but just across the street from Burlington Arcade is Fortnum & Mason. More famous as being the grocer to the Royal Family and their hampers but on the 2nd Floor there is a small, curated collection of vintage watches by Mann About Time. Worth checking out. This UG Polerouter was there today (with box).
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Chung
Really into watches and photography. Come say Hi on here or IG: chunghauphoto
London
Member since
Last active: 2 hrs ago
6.25” / 15.88 cm
Nice find!!!🍻
Nice find!!!🍻
Thanks - I didn’t buy it (my dream Polerouter is the RG Deluxe version), it was in lovely condition and the winding felt brand new
I must pop into both Burlington Arcade and Fortnum's. Both probably way out of my league but I can dream!
I must pop into both Burlington Arcade and Fortnum's. Both probably way out of my league but I can dream!
Burlington Arcade is ‘out of my league’ too but I’ve seen pieces in F&M for a ‘few’ hundred £££s. Whether we want to buy or not, it’s always nice seeing the watches, developing our tastes and appreciation
Burlington Arcade is ‘out of my league’ too but I’ve seen pieces in F&M for a ‘few’ hundred £££s. Whether we want to buy or not, it’s always nice seeing the watches, developing our tastes and appreciation
I'll be in the area on Friday afternoon so will try to visit then.
I can spend hours just admiring all watches on offer at the Burlington Arcade. I’ll make sure I go up to that 2nd floor at Fortnum & Mason next time I’m around Bond Street!
I'll be in the area on Friday afternoon so will try to visit then.
Oooh nice! Hope you get to see some cool pieces!
I can spend hours just admiring all watches on offer at the Burlington Arcade. I’ll make sure I go up to that 2nd floor at Fortnum & Mason next time I’m around Bond Street!
There’s a little something for everyone in the Burlington Arcade, isn’t there? I was once in there and saw Roger Smith admiring some Pateks…
Let us know what you see in Fortnum’s….!
How are the dealers in London? I'm very much a country boy so haven't been to anything similar before but I do like the idea of doing some serious window shopping and trying some cool pieces on - how accommodating are they likely to be?
And they have a website :
https://www.mannabouttime.com
Awsome find
Love strolling down Burlington Arcade. Bond Street fun too - even if I mainly go for servicing.. About the only thing I’d buy around there is a lower priced Cartier from the boutique..
Somewhere I want to explore more is Hatton Garden. Seems to be a lot of stock - just a bit harder to navigate with the range of dealers and all being squirrelled away in the little buildings..
Thanks for this, news to me. As someone who has long been in the market for a Polerouter this sounds like something I need to keep tabs on. While we're sharing London-based secrets I'd like to whisper about Kibble Watches - similarly impressive curated range, from surprisingly affordable to terrifyingly unaffordable and high turnover so worth checking regularly.
And they have a website :
https://www.mannabouttime.com
Thanks for posting this!
Love strolling down Burlington Arcade. Bond Street fun too - even if I mainly go for servicing.. About the only thing I’d buy around there is a lower priced Cartier from the boutique..
Somewhere I want to explore more is Hatton Garden. Seems to be a lot of stock - just a bit harder to navigate with the range of dealers and all being squirrelled away in the little buildings..
I’m not an expert on vintage prices but I would assume that the BA would be one of the most expensive places to buy vintage watches in London due to its location alone. Obviously, one has to factor in their own negotiation skills too!
I have been to Hatton Garden to sell a watch but I didn’t enjoy the experience. Its more trade orientated and tends to deal in more desireable pieces. Nobody knew about the Omega Railmaster Trilogy watch for example (may have been a sales tactic, of course). I’m sure there are bargains to be had if you’re after a Rolex and you know every detail about a particular reference, for example.
I should mention, that Grays Antiques next to Bond St was a lovely little place to view/buy/sell. I sold an vintage Longines pocket watch there and the people were really nice and chatty. They’ll tell you stories or just generally chat about watch related things. There’s a big selection of vintage there too.
Credit Cards, that was the actual problem last two meetups😎
Hmmmm…. Tricky this is how I see it:
Cut up the credit cards.
Bring a suitcase full of cash and a couple of ex-para-military bodyguards to accompany you.
Temporarily hand control of your back accounts to a more financially prudent adult.
Ask all the London watch shops to hide their ‘good stuff’ for the period of your stay.
Just pop along to see all your UK based WC pals for some great conversation and hi-jinks and admire things from afar.
😉
PS Hope the Stockholm meetup goes well!
Hmmmm…. Tricky this is how I see it:
Cut up the credit cards.
Bring a suitcase full of cash and a couple of ex-para-military bodyguards to accompany you.
Temporarily hand control of your back accounts to a more financially prudent adult.
Ask all the London watch shops to hide their ‘good stuff’ for the period of your stay.
Just pop along to see all your UK based WC pals for some great conversation and hi-jinks and admire things from afar.
😉
PS Hope the Stockholm meetup goes well!
I’ll go for option 3 and 5👍
A
Very unique and dapper watch! 👍
Very unique and dapper watch! 👍
Its a lovely watch - one day…..!
Just been there. Not a watch in site.
Just been there. Not a watch in site.
Second floor? Its in a cabinet next to some accessories like wallets and scarves? Did you ask someone?
Didn't have a lot of time. Plus the stink from all the perfumes was getting up my nose (pun intended)!
The website only shows a handful anyway.
Didn't have a lot of time. Plus the stink from all the perfumes was getting up my nose (pun intended)!
The website only shows a handful anyway.
Yes - it’s only a small curated collection
Yes - it’s only a small curated collection
I took a walk along Oxford St, New Bond St and Burlington Arcade to get there. Lots of watch window shopping en route.
I took a walk along Oxford St, New Bond St and Burlington Arcade to get there. Lots of watch window shopping en route.
Anything catch your eye or surprised you?
Anything catch your eye or surprised you?
Surprised at how oversized and ugly Bell and Ross watches are.
Saw loads of vintage watches of various makes I would love to add to my collection. Unfortunately, all were either out of my league or no price was shown which no doubt means the same.
Surprised at how oversized and ugly Bell and Ross watches are.
Saw loads of vintage watches of various makes I would love to add to my collection. Unfortunately, all were either out of my league or no price was shown which no doubt means the same.
My favourite shop (to press my nose against the glass) in the Burlington Arcade is Somlo (at the Bond St end). Always beautiful pieces in there esp. VC
First on the right? That had loads of lovely pieces.
First on the right? That had loads of lovely pieces.
That’s it. I have to look at the Railmaster every time I walk past….😍. I’ve never been inside but I am tempted to go in when it’s not so busy and try something on.
Don’t know if you’ve seen it before but Hodinkee done a good video on them a few years ago as part of their Road Through Britain series….