Our horological experts choose their favourite watches

Before we share the personal watch recommendations of two of the leading lights in the Rapport London enterprise, we wanted to briefly touch on the importance of watches in our culture.

As well as being an antidote to tardiness, high-quality watches can be an investment, a fashion statement and a conversation opener. When celebrating the importance of watches and watchmakers, where is the best place to start? Right at the very beginning, of course.

Going back in time

Watchmaking in this country goes all the way back to the 1500s, but unfortunately not much information was recorded form those early years, although we do know that monarchs during the Tudor era employed the services of leading clockmakers.

One of England’s earliest watchmaking pioneers was Daniel Quare, who is believed to have been born in Somerset in the middle of the 17^th century. Well represented in the British Museum, Daniel was an English clockmaker who invented the repeating watch movement in 1680, as well as the portable barometer in 1695.

Our humble beginnings

Some 200 years later, in 1898, a young 20-year-old called Maurice A. Rapport produced his first timepiece in London. The humble business he founded would go on to become a household name in clockmaking and horology across the globe.

Four generations later, the business still follows the same philosophy of innovation, quality and service, and continues to invest in new technologies and customer care. Rapport London has now established an unrivalled reputation for creating some of the finest watch winders and luxury accessories in the world. 

Recommendations from the experts

Two of Maurice’s great grandchildren, Oliver Rapport and Katie Goldblatt, who both play a leading role in running the family business today, have become part of the latest generation of horological experts in this country.

We asked these two industry sages which of today’s watches most appeal to them and they were happy to share their personal recommendations.

Katie’s choice

Katie Goldblatt was quick to make her selection: “Cartier Tank Must; an iconic design brought back. Super sleek and just beautiful. Fabulous choice of colours.” The original Tank Must was launched in 1977 and was based on the legendary Tank Louis Cartier watch of 1922. Bearing in mind our own particular area of expertise, it would be remiss of us not to mention that the watch winder specifications for this extraordinary timepiece are 700 turns per day, clockwise.

Oliver’s dilemma

Oliver Rapport required a little more time to make his recommendation, torn between the merits of two of his personal favourites. In the end, he simply couldn’t decide.

“The Patek Philippe Nautilus is a tried and tested model,” Oliver enthused. “It features a beautiful olive-green dial that has never appeared on a Nautilus before. This is a timeless model to me.” The watch winder specifications for this particular beauty are 800 turns per day, counter-clockwise.

Oliver’s second recommendation is equally magnificent: “Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Offshore Diver 42mm – the first redesign of a classic model. The new design features a brand new caliber 4308. The bracelets can also be detached and replaced with different colours without using any tools.” For this work of art and science, watch winder specifications are 650 turns by day in both directions.

View our watch winder range

For every great watch, of course, there’s an equally impressive watch winder. Whatever timepiece you happen to wear, why not take a look at the current selection of winders from the latest Rapport Collection.