There’s something happening in British watch collecting right now.
Not the corporate side of the industry. Not the endless hype around impossible waiting lists. Something far more genuine than that.
Across the UK, collectors are rediscovering independent brands, founder-led stories, and watches with real personality behind them. That’s exactly why events like The Glasgow Watch Show have become so important — bringing enthusiasts together with the people actually designing and building the watches they wear.
On Saturday 9th May, Duckworth Prestex will be joining collectors, enthusiasts and some of the most exciting independent brands in Europe at The Glasgow Watch Show, hosted by The Watch Collectors’ Club at Hampden Park.
And yes — Neil Duckworth will be there in person.
For anyone who has followed the Duckworth Prestex journey over the past few years, this is exactly the kind of event the brand was built for. Real conversations. Real collectors. Real watches.
British Designed Watches with Real Heritage
Duckworth Prestex might feel like one of the freshest names in British watchmaking right now, but the story actually stretches back almost 100 years.
The Prestex name originally dates back to the 1920s through Neil Duckworth’s family business, Prestons of Bolton — a company with roots going back to 1869. Today, Duckworth Prestex combines that heritage with modern Swiss manufacturing and distinctly British design language.
Every Duckworth Prestex watch is designed in England by Neil himself, with collections inspired by vintage military watches, classic chronographs, mid-century dress watches and functional tool watches.
That authenticity is exactly why the brand has developed such a strong following among enthusiasts.
The Glasgow show gives collectors the opportunity to handle the full range properly — from the Belmont and Broadgate GMT to the Chronograph collections, Verimatic and Parker — but this year there are two watches generating particular excitement.
The Big Date – One of the Most Anticipated Prestex Releases Yet
Collectors have already started talking about the upcoming Prestex Big Date Automatic.
And once you see it in person, it’s easy to understand why.
The watch blends elegant proportions, classical dial design and mechanical sophistication into something that feels genuinely timeless. It captures the sort of understated watchmaking that British collectors tend to appreciate most — refined rather than flashy, detailed without being overcomplicated.
Duckworth Prestex recently described the Big Date as “a study in classical watchmaking,” and that feels accurate.
For visitors attending Glasgow, this will be one of the first real opportunities to discuss the watch directly with Neil Duckworth and register early interest before demand builds further.
Expect plenty of conversation around this piece throughout the day.
The Marcato – The Watch Everyone Wants to See
If the Big Date represents classical watchmaking, the new Marcato shows the more daring side of Duckworth Prestex.
The Marcato has already started creating serious momentum among collectors thanks to its jumping hour complication, elegant case proportions and beautifully executed guilloché detailing.
Limited to just 75 pieces, the watch combines vintage-inspired design with a proprietary mechanical module and Swiss-made Sellita movement.
More importantly, it feels different.
And in today’s watch world, genuinely different matters.
Collectors attending Glasgow will be able to get far closer to the Marcato than photographs ever allow. Watches like this need to be seen properly — the finishing, the dial textures, the interaction of the jumping hour display — it’s exactly the kind of watch that creates conversation the moment somebody puts it on wrist.
Pre-order interest is already building strongly ahead of the event.
Why The Glasgow Watch Show Matters
The Watch Collectors’ Club has quickly become one of the driving forces behind the UK enthusiast scene.
Their events aren’t built around velvet ropes or luxury posturing. They’re built around collectors meeting other collectors, discovering new brands, and talking directly to founders and designers.
That’s what makes Glasgow special.
The event will feature more than 40 brands from across Europe, giving visitors the chance to try watches on, attend talks, meet industry figures and spend the day surrounded by people who genuinely love watches.
You can find full event details and tickets via The Watch Collectors’ Club here:
And for Glasgow event information specifically:
A Proper Watch Community
What’s refreshing about these events is how personal they feel.
You’ll see collectors bringing their own watches to share. Conversations starting between complete strangers over case finishing or dial textures. Founders talking openly about design decisions and future projects.
That’s where independent watchmaking comes alive.
For Duckworth Prestex, Glasgow feels like exactly the right environment — British designed watches, genuine enthusiasts, and direct access to the people behind the brand.
Saturday 9th May is shaping up to be one of the standout events in the UK watch calendar.
And if the early excitement around the Big Date and Marcato is anything to go by, the Duckworth Prestex table is going to be busy all day.
