Accurist 7366 Mens Blue Retro Racer Chronograph Watch

Product Information

Accurist is a British watch brand owned by Time Products Ltd - the company that also owns Sekonda and Limit watches. Until 2014, Accurist was a family-run business, having been founded in the 1940s by a husband and wife team. English watch manufacturer Accurist has made itself a household name thanks to its production of high-quality, attractive wrist wear. Accurist creates watches for men and women, providing options for a variety of style preferences. Almost exclusively analogue, many with chronograph function, the collection includes everything from vintage to ultra-modern designs, with beautiful faces featured on leather and metallic bracelets.The women's watches are nothing short of stunning. The Accurist company was founded by the Loftus family - originally Russian immigrants who came to Britain at the beginning of the 1900s. By the 1940s the family was settled here and one the children, Asher, was already involved in the watch trade.

This is the first of a couple of Accurist divers that caught my attention. Often dive watches are at the core of a brands range, but Accurist made their name with classic British watches - a marketing tool that they still use - so dive models aren’t over-represented in their line. The introduction of quartz watches killed many watch companies during the 1970s. Accurist pre-empted the worst of this by switching production from Switzerland to Japan and embracing the new technological innovations. Continuing their marketing efforts, they had celebrities including John Cleese advertise their watches and their new digital models were worn by the pilots of the newly launched Concorde aircraft. The brand was initially created with the intention of producing distinctive and affordable watches made from Swiss components. The name Accurist suggests an accurate wristwatch while also being recognisably English. The couple launched this new brand from their shop in Clerkenwell, London. They specialise in very affordable quartz watches, with an emphasis on classic British styling. As a British watch fan, I’ve had a fair few Accurist models through my hands over the years. I’d like to take you through a little of the brand’s history and then present a list of what I believe are the seven best Accurist watches currently available.Taking into consideration everything that I’ve discussed above. The British history, the brand’s involvement with the youth culture of the swinging sixties and the new ownership, these are my current favourite Accurist models. On first impressions the Retro Racer 7367 is both handsome and elegant, as well as eye-catching in it's retro departure from conventional round watch cases. The new ownership of the company is important when looking at Accurist. Time Products Ltd is owned by Marcus Margulies who has been described as a Bond Street luxury watch legend. He was raised in a watchmaking family, worked at several Swiss watch factories and now has the best collection of Audemars Piguet wristwatches outside of the company museum. Having expanded the business to include the distribution of Versace watches, the three Loftus brothers ultimately sold Accurist to Time Products Ltd. This acquisition, in 2014, ended nearly 70 years of family ownership - although the business is still British owned, with headquarters in Leicestershire, England.

He’s a dealer in rare and collectable watches and also owns Sekonda, Limit and Accurist. Like Sekonda - a company created by his father - Accurist is an entry-level watch brand.Although Chinese made, you can see from my list below that the watches are powered by Japanese movements. They have the workmanship and build quality that you’d expect at this inexpensive price-point and the reliability and accuracy that the Japanese movements are famed for. Having launched the Old England line worldwide in 1967, the company created a US showroom and then a Swiss office a year later. Accurist was truly an international brand, with a foot in the United States and a base in La Chaux de Fonds - the heart of Swiss watchmaking. They were then able to avoid the worst of the competition from quartz watches by embracing the technology, switching production to Japan and subsequently to China. Delicate and innovative bracelets are encrusted with stones to catch the light and add timeless glamour to your outfit. More easily wearable and practical daily pieces are also available, made with the standard and quality you've come to expect from the brand. Men's watches are equally beautifully designed, with subtle masculine features creating a timeless look in silver and yellow gold. Being a fan of vintage watches (I own at least 3 pre-1980 Seikos), and motorsport, the 1960's square, Tag Heuer-esque auto racing vibe of the Accurist Retro Racer was appealing, and it is clearly done very well.

Despite the intention to produce affordable watches, the company was also keen to promote the quality of their products. They advertised their watches on TV using the slogan Accurist 21 Jewels - a reference to the 21 jewel lever movement used in their watches.Although no longer family-owned, the brand is still in British hands - now held by Marcus Margulies, owner of Sekonda and Limit. Although now manufactured in Japan, the brand was still at the forefront of popular British culture. At a moderate 40mm I feel it wears large on my 7" inch (approx. 18cm) wrist, but I have a phobia of large watches, so I'm quite unforgiving of watches that wear bigger than perhaps they should.