It was in London, more than 20 years ago, that The Watch Gallery first saw light of day. The project was inspired by a simple and obvious, yet revolutionary principle: a showroom where only exclusive timepieces would be displayed and sold. At this time, such a concept was revolutionary and almost unthinkable, watchmaking being very intimately interlaced with jewellery. Jeweller’s shops rarely presented more than a corner or a showcase of watches. Watches were not understood very well, inexpertly dealt with and suffered from a great deal of misinformation. Once this first Watch Gallery was up and making good business, a second shop was opened in Barcelona, under the same name and management. After a time, though, the Barcelona branch went its own way under the rule of a rather wise English businesswoman, Priscilla Newman. Newman had the insight and the courage to concentrate her efforts on this original concept. It was a cutting edge store for the city, and even more so considering its location, which was in an area of Barcelona that was on the border of the high street commercial zone and a residential area.
Nowadays, the original Watch Gallery concept has been replicated with more or less fortune by others, proving that the idea was a good one.




Priscilla Newman


The Gallery brings together the very best of the Swiss watchmaking brands, with Patek Philippe leading the pack. Patek Philippe supported the project right from the beginning and this is just one of two stores in this large city where one can contemplate the most extraordinary pieces of the Geneva based manufacture. Furthermore, Patek Philippe has just overseen the addition of a very preferential corner shop in The Watch Gallery.
We can also find other fine watch brands like Audemars Piguet, Breitling, Glaschütte Original, IWC, Jaeger-LeCoultre and more to complete a list of more than 30 brands that make up an extensive and varied offer. Some of the brands, such as JeanRichard, MeisterSinger, Volna or Vulcain are exclusively represented by the shop.
The timepieces on show to the public are a carefully chosen selection of the most rep-resentative pieces from modern day watchmaking, covering the whole range of budgets and styles, which is a most remarkable achievement by the Watch Gallery.
The curator at this exhibition, Priscilla Newman, and the tight-knit team around her, have turned the shop into the place in Barcelona, where the future owner of a quality watch is able to receive professional and independent information about all watches, from modestly priced pieces to those most unique and sought-after timekeepers.


Source: Europa Star October-November 2008 Magazine Issue
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