OLD ENGLAND WATCHES

Old England watches

Old England is a watch company that uses the Union Jack and archaic lettering to create a fun, playful British image. The design elements may be retro, but the watches manage to use them in a way that is both modern and innovative. Oversized dials and bracelets work with candy-bright colours in compositions that are anything but old-fashioned.

Old England’s watches tend to be on the large side, ranging from 38 to 54 millimetres in width. The dials are very wide and prominent, the colours bright and vividly contrasting. These are not watches for the meek and mild.

Many of these pieces use large, ornate Roman numerals to create an archaic look. The Old England name is written in script so deliciously old-fashioned, it could have been inscribed by the pen of Charles Dickens himself. Other models have the lines of the Union Jack as a background for the dial, sometimes in the normal colours and sometimes in bright greens, blues or purples.

That last detail is a good indication of the direction this company is taking. They love to juxtapose these old elements with outrageous colours that transform them into something new. One watch has Roman numerals and filigreed hands, but they’re on a background of eye-popping pink. Another model has the same design on a bright yellow background. The leather bracelets are extra-wide and coloured to match the dials.

However, there are some subdued colour schemes. Old England can live up to the staid respectability of its name at times, offering conservative compositions in black, white and polished metal. Some of these have dials reminiscent of classic pendulum clocks, an unusual touch for modern watches.

For a more modern look, there are models with only four Arabic numerals printed oversized on square faces. The wideness of the dials is accentuated by broad leather bracelets, enhancing the prominence of the dials.

Aware of the visual appeal of their creations, the Old England people ship each one in an elegant presentation box bearing their logo. This is perfect for a gift, and it allows the watch to be displayed when not being worn.

In addition to their wristwatches, Old England makes pocket watches. These use wide bezels and gleaming gold PVD to create retro-chic pieces of superb taste. The Roman numerals and Union Jack designs are repeated here to good advantage. Like the wristwatches, they are uniquely interesting.

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