Pounding the Pavement with Porthole… #1 Stratford Westfield

Strap in folks, it’s content you didn’t ask for.

So I have the MIL over, and that’s fine, she’s great. I got 30mins to f*ck about in Westfield whilst wifey and MIL were in M&S, so I thought I’d report on what’s around, try on random watches, genuinely put boots on the ground.

Effort; you get nothing if you don’t put in the effort.

And so we begin… gotta go with the flow with a bag full of baby clothes! Let’s roll…

Where to start: Omega. Small boutique, chatty assistant. Was trying to sell me a Speedmaster Chronoscope. Most popular models are blue and bronze… I quite like the silver dial with the black and red highlights (red/white barber-pole seconds hand is a very nice touch) but that makes me the minority. MoonSwatch to Moonwatch conversion is from around 1 model a day to nearly 2, so that was interesting to talk about. Servicing for vintage now runs to around £895 for a vintage complication (Omega Geneve and/or Dynamic we discussed)… bear that in mind folks. Didn’t try anything on, I had places to be…

Beaverbrooks: meh

Watches of Switzerland: I saw a huge boarded-up front for WoS, so was worried that I’d have less to lol at, but then I saw the word “Rolex” out of the corner of my eye and realised they had just moved. Panic over.

WoS is like my refuge in this stressful environment, my log in the dam. I’m currently on “Operation Radiomir”; daddy wants a Panerai and daddy gets what he wants (usually). I have a Radiomir homage inbound, but whilst I’m here, I’m reaching. Grand Seiko display is over-priced and underwhelming. Hublot looks fun, but not today. Oris collection is great - good job. Rolex section is heaving, but no space on the waitlist for what I’m after…

Panerai

I try on a Luminor 8 Day on the black rubber, and a blue Radiomir on blue suede calf leather. They are both lovely. Looking at the prices, compared to other brands who seem to have upped theirs, Panerai seem to have remained at the same entry point (whether this is true or not, but it’s telling that my gut reaction to being told the price for both of these was - yes, sign me up). This is very, very tempting. If I had more time, I’d probably negotiate for the Radiomir, but I don’t. I then spot a flash of red out of the corner of my eye:

Tag Heuer Carrera, Calibre 7, luminous pink.

Oh sh*t, I think I’m in love.

Wears very well, and it’s soooooo shiny.

Lots of other colours as well, there is a lovely mossy, textured green dial. I then spark a debate amongst the staff as to whether this works or not. It’s also not worth the price tag… have a word.

No one can agree. I then ask about Rolex and Tudors, and waitlists: all new model Tudors are waitlist affairs, so that sucks. I’m also not allowed to ask about the remaining Rangers 😂. I’m not bothered, we had a laugh. I take the nice ladies card, and tell her I’ll be thinking about the Panerai, and to let me know if any 8 Day Radiomirs or a California drops in. This was a bad idea…

I roll into Breitling, drunk on power and caffeine… and come crashing back down to Earth. There are a lot of watches in there, but it’s just a bit confusing. Lots of different colours, but nothing that looks particularly amazing. Breitling seem to have an identity crisis, they have surfers and sportsmen/women flogging quite technical pieces, and it is quite jarring. It’s seems ok when Eddie Redmayne is trying to flog me an Aqua Terra, or Chris Hemsworth is bludgeoning me over the head with a Carrera (he’s a friend from work!), but Haaland trying to flog me a Chronomat dual-time seems a bit of a stretch. He always scores goals, it’s not like many of his penalties end up in orbit… perhaps Harry Kane would be a better choice of mascot. Anyway, new Breitling looks awful, heritage Super Ocean just looks terrible in turquoise and orange flavours, and the rest all look shiny and soulless.

I skip merrily to Ernest Jones:

I go in through the Tudor door - and quickly burst into the main bit. The lady could tell I was unimpressed. She hands me a Bremont book - I like freebies, and she points at the Bremont Audley and Fury…

These are new, she mysteriously coos…

Are they, I thought the Supernovas were the new Bremont they keep on about, and still note you haven’t got any in…

But these are nicer, she replies…

I try them both; she’s not wrong. These are cracking. Customisable outer as well… I think I prefer the Audley on the counter, but the Fury on the wrist. Fury comes in black and blue, the latter is quite striking, with the textured dial and the Flieger-esque crown. Good job Bremont. Then I catch the price… wtf!? They can stay here for that!

At least I got a catalogue.

So, what did I learn: nothing. I’m still a magpie and most brands have increased their prices as expected with a couple of exceptions. I still don’t know what Breitling are or want to be. I still want a Panerai. The wife still thinks I’m mad; she half expected me to come back with something shiny. Her response to each pic: no, no, maybe (oh, it’s the same? No), no, god no, wtf, that’s not amazing, that’s nice in the white but how much?