I recently had the pleasure of joining the Scottish Watches Podcast for episode 778, titled Chatting With An Old Friend.
It was great to catch up with the Scottish Watches team again and talk about a few things very close to my heart: independent watch brands, the growth of the UK watch scene, and of course, the upcoming WatchIt! Watch Fair, which Rikki will be attending.
For anyone unfamiliar, Scottish Watches has become one of the biggest and most consistent voices in the watch world, with a huge back catalogue of interviews, news, reviews and enthusiast-led discussion. So it was a real pleasure to be invited back on to talk watches, events and the wider community.
A big part of the conversation focused on how independent watch culture has changed over the past few years. When I first started 12&60, the independent and microbrand scene felt much smaller and more niche. Today, there are more interesting brands, more collectors paying attention, and a much stronger sense of community around the people actually making these watches.
Naturally, we also spent time talking about WatchIt! Watch Fair, which returns on Saturday 20 June 2026 at voco St. John’s Hotel in Solihull, Birmingham. This year is shaping up to be the biggest and best version of the event yet, with 40+ independent and established brands, media partners, giveaways, and a new event app designed to help visitors get more from the day.
The aim has always been simple: create a relaxed, friendly, hands-on watch event where people can meet the brands, try watches on, have proper conversations, and enjoy the hobby without feeling rushed.
Huge thanks to Rikki from Scottish Watches for having me on again. It was a really enjoyable conversation, and hopefully gives a good flavour of what WatchIt! is all about.
You can listen to the episode above, or head over to Scottish Watches to check out the full post: Scottish Watches Podcast #778: Chatting With An Old Friend.
