Time+Tide take over Leica in London
Russell SheldrakeOn Wednesday evening we walked down to the Leica Mayfair store here in London and hosted an event to allow the local watch community to get to know Leica’s interesting watch offerings – a London version of the event that Jamie hosted in Melbourne late last year. We were joined by Henrik Ekdahl, the Managing Director for Ernst Leitz Werkstätten GmbH – The Leica Accessories Division. Together, we charted the course of Leica’s history in watchmaking, going all the way back to Ernst Leitz I’s education as a watchmaker before he founded the now world-renowned camera brand.
We talked through all the small details and Easter eggs that the Leica design team has hidden in their watches that help link them to their cameras and the wider brand, without going as far as slapping the red dot logo on the dial. There has always been a big crossover between those who love watches and those who love photography, and we saw a lot of that in the room on Wednesday night, with plenty of wrist shots being taken. Being able to go through the current Leica watch collection, including the original ZM 1 and 2, and the new sporty ZM 11 and its downsized brother, the ZM 12, created this incredible amalgamation of passions.
While we could have held this event in our own London Studio, we felt it important to host it in Leica’s own space. Not only is it an amazing store with a gallery attached, but to really get a sense of what these watches stand for, you need to experience them in a fully immersive setting, where you are surrounded by everything else Leica does so that you can full gauge how these watches fit into the brand’s wider world.
After a lively conversation and plenty of watches from those who came, it was time to try the watches on as focal lengths were adjusted and exposures set to try and capture the lively dials of the new ZM 12 as the Leica staff handed the watches around for all to try. It was a great evening, and we give our thanks to the Leica team for letting us host the event in their wonderful store. What became clear to me on the night was that you guys want more of this, and so hopefully, we can look to deliver just that in the near future!
Next up: Watches and Wonders Geneva. The Time+Tide team are already assembling from all the corners of the globe, and we can’t wait to get on the ground in Switzerland to bring you all the important news from the fair. Until then, have a wonderful weekend!
Russell and the Time+Tide Team
Watch meme of the week: horological philosophy
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It can be hard not to lose perspective in this hobby, but thankfully, we have memes like this to remind us what’s really important in life.
Wristshot of the week: Tim Vaux strikes again
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The young British photographer has been on a tear recently with some incredible shots gracing his Instagram feed. This series he took of this gorgeous Breguet tourbillon really caught my eye, and it’s clear that Tim connected with this watch just by how he shot it.
Time+Tide shop pick of the week: Doxa SUB 250T GMT
Dive watches with a GMT function have become a mainstay of catalogues across the watch world, and Doxa has been making some of the best looking dive watches for a while now, so building in a GMT function can only elevate their offering. The new SUB 250T GMT brings all of those classic Doxa design cues to the fore, with the barrel case, crisp rotating bezel and an uber comfortable beads of rice bracelet with brilliant micro-adjustment to boot.
The Doxa SUB 250T GMT is now available in our Melbourne studio and online (not available in the UK in-store or online). Price: A$3,990 (rubber strap), A$4,150 (steel bracelet)
Our favourite Time+Tide coverage of the week
Take a tour of British Watchmakers’ Day 2025
It has quickly become the date to circle in British calendars as British Watchmakers’ Day continues to be a runaway success for all involved. This year, we grabbed our cameraman and ran around the fair to speak with the movers and shakers to find out what it was like on the ground for them in this second year. Watch above and read more here.
Breitling debuts first three-hand manufacture movement (and Austin Butler partnership!) with new Top Time B31
Breitling doesn’t exhibit at Watches and Wonders, but rather likes to steal the WWG brands’ thunder by revealing watches at the same time. Just ahead of the fair, the brand has introduced the Caliber B31 – the first three-hand manufacture movement designed and developed by the brand – with a new Top Time model. Oh, and to introduce this new movement and model, the Swiss brand has tapped American actor Austin Butler to join their “Breitling Squad”. Not bad. Jamie has the scoop here.
Norqain now has a Wild One Skeleton in a 39mm case
It’s been a big week for Norqain in the run-up to Watches and Wonders. The Swiss independent brand announced Gary Neville as a new investor, and then shortly after released a new downsized Wild One Skeleton, now at 39mm. With four vibrant colours, this smaller model keeps the spirit of this tough timer very much alive – a rather fitting watch for the hard-nosed defender of the Class of ’92. Read Zach’s coverage here.