Hands On Horolgy
A Day of Discovery in Shoreditch
The sun was shining as I strolled through the trendy streets of Shoreditch, London, en route to Protein Studios—the industrial-chic venue playing host to the capital’s newest watch event: Hands on Horology. As I approached, I was greeted by a long, enthusiastic queue of collectors and enthusiasts, all eager to get hands-on with timepieces from the 40 brands on show.
From the moment I stepped inside, it was clear this event was going to be something different. As a watch photographer, lighting is everything—and Protein Studios didn’t disappoint. Huge rooftop windows bathed the venue in glorious natural light, making my portable LED light completely redundant. A rare joy.
Within minutes, the venue was buzzing. Each brand’s table became a hive of activity, surrounded by excited fans snapping wrist shots, asking questions, and generating a low, constant hum of watch-fuelled conversation. I was especially pleased to see a strong mix of familiar favourites and brands not often seen exhibiting in the UK. Here are a few standouts from the day:
Nalla Neram – The Kaalam Minutes Timer brings a thoughtful, Indian-inspired twist to Swiss watchmaking. It encourages a mindful relationship with time, prompting wearers to appreciate every minute as it passes.
Bravur – Hailing from Sweden and steeped in cycling culture, Bravur’s Grand Tour chronographs are a tribute to the iconic races of the sport. Vibrant colours, a compact 38.2mm case, and strong design cues make these both sporty and refined.
Straum – Norwegian beauty in dial form. I’ve had hands-on time with their Jan Mayen Glacial Rift, one of my favourite pieces to photograph last year. New at the show were four watches inspired by Arctic phenomena, Aurora Sky with its dancing northern lights hues, and Alpine Glow, which captures the sun’s final kiss on icy terrain, were particular highlights.
Micromilspec – Always a pleasure seeing these guys. The Milgraph, their left-hand chronograph developed for Special Ops, still looks and feels like an industrial-grade timekeeping tank. Built like a brick, wears like a glove.
Baltic – A consistent crowd-pleaser. Their Scalegraph Tour Auto 2025 edition, celebrating their third year as Tour Auto’s official timekeepers, had me smitten. That oversized “big eye” sub-dial channels 70s motorsport vibes perfectly.
Atelier Wen – True dial artistry. Their Perception, with its handmade guilloché dial crafted by China’s first master of the art, continues to impress. Under-the-embargo pieces were also available to try on—featuring tantalum cases and stunning enamel dials. Let’s just say: you’ll want to keep your eye out.
Serica – Retro-modern done right. The 5303 PLD, created with France’s Mine Clearance Divers Association, is a certified COSC diver with real personality. And the 1174-1 Parade? A tasteful, water-resistant dress watch with a brass dial and beautifully unique stadium-shaped case.
RZE – First time seeing RZE in the UK, and they made an impression. I own the Endeavour in Polar White (which my son’s quietly adopted), but the new UTD-8000 stole the show. With an in-house digital module and a lifetime warranty, it’s a serious G-Shock alternative, for just £220.
Where Hands on Horology really stood apart was in its inclusion of high-end horology—something not always easy to pull off at more accessible shows.
Bianchet displayed their featherweight tonneau-cased tourbillons, including the Ultrafino and the award-winning Carbon Sky Blue Flying Tourbillon Grande Date, both weighing in at around 60 grams.
Laine also caught my eye—this Finnish watchmaker, nestled in Switzerland’s Jura Mountains, brought serious handmade charm. The P37 Guilloché and the V38 with triple Breguet hands were both exquisite.
A special shoutout goes to Ben Li, aka Ink Dial, who was sketching watches live at the event. He drew quite the crowd, and chatting with him was a real pleasure. As a fellow creative, I’ve long admired his work—great move by the organisers to include him.
It wasn’t all overseas brands either, as there was a real blend with British brands, Isotope, Studio Underd0g, Christopher Ward, AnOrdain, Beaucroft and Duckworth Prestex all had a really positive presence.
All in all, Hands on Horology was a real success: well-organised, well-lit, and spacious enough to enjoy without feeling like you were dodging elbows all day. Hats off to everyone involved. We’ll be back next year, without question.