Ok, full disclosure: As well as being a tragic indies collector, I’m a watchmaker. I lived in Switzerland and got to know a few independent watchmakers quite well, one of whom is Peter Speake-Marin, a true British gentleman and good friend. So this review on the Speake Marin Piccadilly may be a little biased, but bear with me…

During vacation in my second year of watchmaker training, I did a 1-week “stage” (work experience) at Peter’s small attic workshop in Rolle. My job was to dismantle, clean and re-assemble 2 Piccadilly pieces, one steel and one gold. At the time Peter was already known for these classically styled watches using modified ETA 2824 movements, and was now working on his awesome in-house SM2 movement. But I digress. I could not afford a Picadilly at the time, however the seed was sown and I kept my eye out hoping that sooner or later one would come up. One did, directly from an associate of Peter, in 2013. This one had been sitting in a safe and is serial no.2 of approximately 25 made in this iteration.

The case is based on old English clock proportions, with large elegantly chunky (oxymoron ?) lugs added. Strap is attached by a solid bar held in by big end screws. PSM has used his iconic flame-blued spade “Foundation” hands on a cream enamel dial with fine roman numerals and a beautiful railway minute track. A non-functional blued screw head sits at 6 o’clock, a nod to adjusting screws on old clocks. The movement is a basic workhorse however Peter has enhanced it by designing an auto-system bridge in maillechort and a very charming rotor support in the shape of an old topping tool wheel.

These also exist with Arabic numerals & white dials, in 38mm or 41mm. Mine, happily, is my favourite version.

Anecdote: the bridge on the Speake Marin Piccadilly is engraved FW2012, taken to stand for Foundation Watch, however for Peter it represents the initials and birthdate of his son…