Stratford jewellers Pragnell opens pre-owned watch boutique
IF you’re stuck for gift ideas this festive season, how about a watch worn by James Bond or the Queen of Naples?
Both are available at a new pre-owned watch boutique, Number Forty-Three by Pragnell, which opened in October in Wood Street, Stratford.
The shop is an expansion to jewellers Pragnell’s well-established base directly opposite at numbers 5 to 7.
The founder of the family company, George Pragnell, opened his first store in Stratford in 1954. There are also Pragnell showrooms in Mayfair and Leicester.
“It’s been going really well since we opened,” says Connor Jones, showroom manager of the new store.
“You get the same Pragnell service here as over the road. With our experts in the workshops, we always know what we’re selling is an authentic watch. If needs be it will be serviced or have a new strap fitted before it is sold. Each watch comes with a two-year warranty, so there’s peace of mind.”
Formerly home to Acorns charity shop, the shelves of the small but chic showroom boast some spectacularly snazzy timepieces. Well-known brands such as Rolex, Patek Philippe, Omega and Cartier vie for the attention of those lucky enough to consider a purchase.
“Prices range massively, from £500 to £100,000,” says Connor. “There’s something for everyone. It’s all relative to the buyer what is affordable, we have luxury timepieces but then there are those on a lower margin.”
Connor has worked at Pragnell for two and a half years. His enthusiasm for watches is infections and genuine.
“For me it’s always been a passion,” he tells the Herald.
“My grandfather was a mechanical engineer and taught at a university. I would go and sit in his office and be given a nut and bolt to play with. Lego was banned in our house – Meccano only. So I’ve always enjoyed understanding how watches work.
“I remember my dad’s chronograph watch with a slide rule bezel on it [for doing calculations], it was similar to a Breitling Navitimer, and I’ve still got that watch at home.
“My passion for watches brought me here. I enjoy making people really love watches – that’s what I aim to do when someone sits down. Everything here is a very special purchase. As long as they love the watch they buy, that is the most important thing.”
The first wristwatch is believed to have been made by Abraham-Louis Breguet for the Queen of Naples in 1810.
A modern version of the watch, Reine de Naples (Queen of Naples), is still made by Breguet – and Pragnell currently has a pre-owned one available for £24,000; it also has a selection of newer ones too at around £10,000 more.
What would Connor’s choice of watch be?
“My choice changes every day,” he says. “An Omega Speedmaster is a very iconic watch – and that would be on my wish list. It’s been to the moon and back, quite literally. It is still the watch that NASA issues to its astronauts. You can’t buy into the space programme but you can buy that watch. That’s quite cool.
“I’m also a massive James Bond fan, and he has worn Omega for the past 25 years. My favourite Bond film is Goldfinger with Sean Connery. He wore a Rolex Submariner.”
Connor hears many personal reasons for people’s watch preferences.
“Someone might come in and sit down and say my grandma had a Cartier Tank and I’ve always aspired to have one, and again it’s so iconic. Everyone’s watch story is different.”
As a final thought, Connor adds: “There aren’t many things like watches and jewellery that will last beyond our lifetime and be passed down to generations to come. And we take great pleasure and pride in being part of that.”
