The Time+Tide London Discovery Studio has had a bumper first two weeks
Russell SheldrakeTime+Tide has officially opened in London, and we’ve had an amazing first fortnight! Our new London Discovery Studio officially opened on Monday the 28th of October, and from the moment those doors opened, we’ve had the incredible watch community of the UK filing through them. I’ve been here pretty much every day, and it’s been a real honour to see just how excited and passionate everyone who comes into our space is about the vision we have hopefully realised. At Time+Tide, we have always strived to be the home of watch culture, and just as we embodied this sentiment when we opened our first and flagship Studio in Melbourne, we are doubling down on this in London.
We’ve had countless people through the door already at 4 Great Portland Street, and the prevailing sentiment has been one of wonder, as people are amazed that we’ve been able to build a space that is purely dedicated to the watch community in the heart of London. Whether people are coming in for a specific brand, celebrating a special occasion, or just wanting to chat watches, I haven’t seen a single person leave unsatisfied or disappointed. And we’ve even had people come back in this short time.
While the sales figures have been great so far, it’s the many five-star reviews and constant buzz around the space that are a far better signal of success to me, and will hopefully prove to be a sign of things to come. If you have yet to visit us, make sure you don’t have too busy a day – it proves incredibly easy to slip into a deep and gripping chat with any of our Studio staff and let the day escape you.
Also, while I have loved to seeing so many passionate people discovering new brands and watches, my personal highlight of the past two weeks has to have been the number of dogs we’ve had through so far. You can’t beat a good watchdog (or Studio Underd0g!). A big thank you to those who have already come in to see us, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone else.
Leica x Time+Tide in Melbourne
Later this month, we’re hosting an event with Leica – “the Patek Philippe of cameras” – to showcase the German firm’s impressive new range of mechanical watches. The event will be held at Leica’s glamorous new Melbourne flagship store at 267 Little Collins St in Melbourne (a block away from our Melbourne Discovery Studio) on the 29th of November from 6-8:30 pm, and is open to all Time+Tide readers and Redbar community members.
Time+Tide’s Australian Editor Jamie Weiss will be your MC for the night, alongside Leica’s Watch Content, Community and Training Manager (and bang-up photographer) Kristian Dowling, who will showcase Leica’s new watches as well as share tips on how to photograph timepieces, a notoriously difficult exercise. The event is free but we only have limited spaces, so RSVPs are essential. Get your tickets now to avoid disappointment! You can RSVP and find out more here.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!
Russell and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: imitation is the sincerest form of flattery
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We might be beating a dead horse here, but this Patek Philippe Cubitus meme really made us chuckle. There’s a kernel of truth to it, though. As Zach postulated earlier this week, the Cubitus could potentially improve the value and interest in other square watches, including from smaller brands (we’ve already seen the Benjamin James Scarifour enjoy some time in the spotlight…) Give Zach’s opinion piece a read here.
Wrist shot of the week: blue beaut
@watchbiao shared this beautiful shot of his De Bethune DB28 Kind of Blue Tourbillon earlier this week on his IG story, and I was taken by the contrast between this azure watch and the hint of NYC autumn hues.
Time+Tide Shop pick of the week: Hamilton American Classic PSR 74
Inspired by the Pulsar Cushion introduced in 1974, the new Hamilton PSR 74 scales the iconic and pioneering digital watch down to 30.9mm across, 12.4mm in thickness, and a case length of 25.6mm. That being said, while it is noticeably smaller, it’s equally robust, maintaining a 100-metre depth rating. Its best feature might be its bracelet, however. The full-size PSR already boasts quite a nice bracelet, but the thin, tapered number found on the PSR 74 gives it a new-found shapeliness. Read our full review on this retro-futuristic piece of wrist candy here.
The Hamilton American Classic PSR 74 is available for pre-order in the Time+Tide Shop, either online or in person at our Melbourne Discovery Studio. Price: A$1,200 (stainless steel), A$1,325 (gold PVD).
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
Seiko President Akio Naito on Grand Seiko’s impressive growth, community engagement, and making icons
As Grand Seiko eyes further Australian (and global) expansion, Seiko Watch Corporation President and Grand Seiko CEO Akio Naito reveals the brand is committed to closely listening to its fans. Jamie sat down with the dynamic and friendly Seiko boss for a wide-ranging chat on all things GS in Melbourne, with Naito revealing exciting details about the brand’s future direction – set aside some time and give it a read here.
Our favourite microbrands of 2024
With 2025 almost in sight – the supermarkets have long since started putting Christmas decorations up – we’ve put together a shortlist of the microbrands that particularly spoke to the Time+Tide team in 2024 (in no particular order). Dig in here.
Justin Hast and Andrew search for the best field watch under £1,000 at our new London Studio
London-based watch expert Justin Hast meets up with Andrew McUtchen to check out our newly opened Time+Tide London Discovery Studio, a space perfectly suited for Hast’s mission to explore and evaluate the best field watches priced under £1,000 in a London watch buying challenge. By the way, Justin plans to purchase one of the three finalist field watches for himself – as well as one for a lucky viewer based in the UK! Watch along above, and read here for details on how you can enter our competition. Good luck!