Duckworth Prestex: Wait what? An English Watch Micro Brand?

You might start thinking that I'm getting a little obsessed with watches and Micro brand watches in particular. And I think you'd be right. All I can say is, it's a good job I'm not overly flush, because if I were, I'd be scooping up countless Micro Watches just on their looks alone. Today I'm continuing my investigations into Micro Brand watches and focusing on a brand called Duckworth Prestex.

Duckworth Prestex goes back a very long way in the history of watchmaking. Almost 100 years, in fact. For Neil Duckworth, the founder of Duckworth Prestex and the man who originally brought TAG Heuer to the UK in the 1980s, this is a very personal story. Neil’s family firm, Prestons, began making its own pocket watches under the Prestex name by the 1920s.

Expansion

When Neil’s father, Gordon Duckworth, took over the business in 1948 it grew and diversified, selling Swiss watches such as Omega, Rolex and Heuer. The home-grown Prestex range – where it all started – was quietly discontinued. Neil has since resurrected the original family watch brand that was lost in the 1960s.

These new watches are designed in England and inspired by the original models of Prestex watches that came before them.

Feedback according to Microbrand Store

Not only do these watches look fantastic, but you can clearly see careful references to Prestex models from the past, which means so much to Neil. Many microbrands have an interesting story behind them, and we think the Duckworth Prestex story is particularly personal, making these watches wonderful conversation pieces, adding to their already considerable charm.

Editor's Pick

From the website I've picked out one of the more pricier models, the Belmont 300 coming in at £695 on their website. It comes in three different colours,;Yellow, Green and Blue. The bracelet is well done, with a quick release spring bar. If you like the bracelet as opposed to the coloured rubber (which is £100 cheaper) then they have you covered.

I adore the thin profile even with the double dome sapphire, and I'll drop some notes on the spec below. The dial face has an intricate railroad on the inside bezel with some yellow tint. As does the 300m depth lettering. The cardinal positions (12, 3 , 6 , 9) give it a lovely retro vibe and it's nice to the name England on the dial face beneath the 3. Designed in England, as it specifies on the caseback.

Spec:

• Movement: Miyota 9039

• Double domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective underside coating

• Overall Case Thickness: 13mm

YouTube feedback

I found some interesting feedback on the Belmont in the comment section of the Random Rob YouTube Review:

Looks like a cross between a Seamaster 300 and a 50 Fathoms. I love that yellow second hand! Very nice watch with great specs and great lume. I think the price is appropriate for what you get. Drilled lugs too!

If you work for Duckworth Prestex and you happen to come across this article, I would love to be involved with future campaigns or press days. Please get in touch.