The watch world is a slow place, yet the recent turnaround at Dunhill has been astounding. Timepiece dealer Tom Bolt had no experience of developing a new line, yet produced a range in ten months. “Because it was new to me and I didn’t understand the stuff,” he says, “I wouldn’t take no for an answer.”
Bolt has taken Dunhill watches upmarket, with an honest approach, “I’m cynical of modern watches. We’ve taken a look at the purity of the design and added things that make boys want to buy things.” “For him, it isn’t a money-making exercise – he relishes the challenge. “Retailing in high-end watches has been rekindled by this. My passion for Dunhill is huge.”
Like the reintroduction of the Mini motorcar over a decade ago, this reinterpretation of Big Pilot by IWC is better than the original. This 1st series Platinum example is of course the top of the top.