About time: Barbour gets into the watch game
From teaming up with Savile Row tailor Patrick Grant to reviving its motorcycle-inspired International line, Barbour has been working hard recently to prove it’s not just about wax jackets. This August sees the brand’s strongest statement of intent yet: it’s branching into time wear pieces.
Barbour, a fifth generation family owned business, established in 1894. A British brand to the core, offering a complete wardrobe of beautifully-made, classically-designed, functional clothing for men, women and children.
Today, a truly global lifestyle brand, Barbour has licensing for perfume, eyewear, mobile technology accessories and loads more. Now, 2014 sees the launch of Barbour Timewear – a collection designed to celebrate the brands’ modern-classic style.
Fitted with solid Swiss quartz movements and inspired by the label’s 120-year history, you’ll find all sorts of British elements on the watches themselves, from tweed and quilted leather straps (the material for which is taken from Barbour’s UK workshops), to dial-laden, polished steel faces that throwback to the brand’s biking background.
The collection of ladies and men’s watches will be designed, marketed and distributed by Zeon Limited under the Barbour and Barbour International brand names.
David Godfrey, Barbour’s Global Licensing Manager said “Barbour is known across the world for its iconic clothing, accessories and footwear. Developing a collection of watches is a natural evolution in our brand extension as we work towards our goal of becoming the best British lifestyle brand worldwide. The watches we have developed with Zeon are smart, contemporary classics that include features which are unique to Barbour such as our exclusive tartans and Barbour studs.”
Zeon Limited will initially offer the watches through Barbour retail stores, select, high-end UK department and jewellery stores before moving into similar outlets across Europe, the US and Asia.
Richard Tibber, Managing Director from Zeon said “”As a British Company we are delighted to be associated with such an iconic British Brand. The Barbour and Barbour International watch collections will be totally designed in Britain. We are excited to be launching the collection at the BaselWorld Watch fair on March 27th”.
Zeon will design, market and distribute a collection of watches under the Barbour brand name and the first products will be launched in the second half of 2014.
Steve Buck, managing director, Barbour said: “Zeon Limited is renowned as one of the market leaders in the watch industry. Their focus on quality and attention to detail make them the ideal partner to launch our new collection. The watches that Zeon will design will complement our stylish co-ordinated clothing, footwear and accessories as we grow as a lifestyle brand.”
Our particular favourite is the Redley GMT with a clean, round, triple-dial face that comes in a variety of strap and case combinations from all-metal gold-plate to black suede and steel. And while it won’t keep you as dry as your trusty wax jacket when you’re out for a ride, just think how good it’s going to look on your wrist as you rev up.
The watch collection consisting of a range of women’s and men’s watches retailing between £125 to £325 will be available in stores from Autumn 2014. Watch this space!
Latest watches can be found here.
