Help Build The British Bench

Aim

Help us document modern British watchmaking, preserving its makers, methods and stories in an independent public record.

Help Build The British Bench

British watchmaking is going through an exciting period, with historic names returning, established manufacturers expanding and small independent makers producing watches in workshops across the country.

But understanding what actually makes a watch “British” can be surprisingly difficult.

One watch may be designed in Britain but manufactured overseas. Another may use imported components but be assembled, regulated and tested in a British workshop. Others may have dials, cases, movement components or other parts manufactured here.

None of those approaches is automatically better or worse.

The problem is that they are often described using the same language.

The British Bench is being built to make those differences clearer.

We are creating an independent public record of modern British watchmaking, documenting makers, collections, production methods and the provenance of individual watches.

Rather than simply repeating marketing claims, the project aims to answer practical questions such as:

• Where was the movement manufactured?
• Where were the dial, case and hands made?
• Who assembled the watch?
• Where was it regulated and tested?
• What work genuinely took place in Britain?
• What evidence supports those claims?

What has already been built

The British Bench is already live and growing.

Work completed or underway includes:

• a public directory of British watchmakers;
• detailed maker and collection records;
• a five-tier provenance framework;
• the public British Bench Provenance Standard;
• model-level provenance research;
• evidence and corrections processes;
• direct engagement with British watchmakers;
• infrastructure for managing maker information, images and supporting evidence.

The Provenance Standard is currently being developed and refined rather than presented as a finished certification scheme.

The aim is to create a consistent and transparent way of describing where and how watches are designed, manufactured, assembled, regulated and tested.

Why I am asking for support

Until now, I have largely funded and developed The British Bench myself alongside my normal work.

As the project grows, so do the costs involved in maintaining it properly.

The initial £1,000 target will help towards:

• website hosting, database and storage costs;
• maker and collection research;
• provenance and evidence work;
• security and backups;
• improvements to the website and CMS;
• specialist legal, policy or technical advice where required;
• the time and direct expenses involved in researching, editing and maintaining the project.

This is deliberately a small first target.

I want to establish whether collectors, enthusiasts and others interested in British watchmaking believe an independent resource like The British Bench is worth supporting before attempting anything larger.

What happens if we raise less than £1,000?

This campaign uses flexible funding, so every contribution can still help.

£250 can help cover infrastructure and storage.

£500 can fund infrastructure alongside additional maker research.

£1,000 allows us to make meaningful progress across several areas of the project.

What if we raise more?

Any additional funding will remain within the project and be used to expand the work.

Priorities would include:

• adding and improving maker records;
• expanding collection-level research;
• gathering better supporting evidence;
• continuing development of the Provenance Standard;
• improving hosting and infrastructure;
• commissioning freelance research or editorial help where useful;
• developing future tools for British watchmakers.

If substantially more than the target is raised, I will publish an updated use-of-funds plan.

No rewards — just support

I have deliberately chosen not to offer merchandise or different reward levels for this first campaign.

I would rather put as much of the money raised as possible into The British Bench itself.

Everyone who contributes will have the option to be recognised permanently as one of The British Bench Founding Supporters, regardless of how much they contribute.

Supporters can also remain anonymous if they prefer.

Contribution amounts will not be published and supporters will not be ranked according to how much they gave.

Support does not buy influence

This is particularly important for The British Bench.

Financial support does not:

• guarantee a watchmaker will be listed;
• influence a provenance classification;
• purchase a higher provenance tier;
• secure favourable editorial coverage;
• change the evidence required from a maker;
• prevent corrections or criticism;
• provide access to confidential maker information;
• give anyone control over the Provenance Standard.

The credibility of The British Bench depends on keeping financial support separate from its editorial and provenance decisions.

Watchmakers and industry businesses are welcome to support the project, but relevant commercial relationships will be disclosed where appropriate.

Transparency

After the campaign, I will publish updates explaining:

• how much was raised;
• the fees deducted;
• what the money has helped fund;
• major work completed;
• any significant changes to the original spending plan.

The British Bench is not a registered charity.

Contributions are voluntary support towards the development and operation of the project. They are not charitable donations, investments, loans, shares or payments for editorial treatment or provenance status.

Why it matters

There is a fascinating story developing around British watchmaking.

But preserving that story requires more than another list of brands.

It requires proper records, sources, technical information, corrections and a willingness to say “we don't know yet” when the evidence is incomplete.

That is what I want The British Bench to become.

If you believe that work is worth doing, I would be extremely grateful for your support.

Thank you,

Stephen O'Connor
Founder & Editor
The British Bench
thebritishbench.com

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 19th September 2026 at 4:52pm