Ben Winstanley
Deputy Editor
Ben Winstanley is Deputy Editor at Square Mile, London's leading luxury lifestyle magazine for the City, and Editor of its sister title HEDGE, where he covers the intersection of haute horlogerie, fine dining, travel, and sporting culture.
As Square Mile's head watch writer, he stands on the front line of the latest industry news and releases, regularly attending Watches & Wonders in Geneva and interviewing some of the most influential figures in watchmaking. Over his tenure, Ben has profiled industry titans including Breitling CEO Georges Kern, Vacheron Constantin's Laurent Perves, and MB&F founder Maximilian Büsser, while taking readers inside esteemed manufactures from Jaeger-LeCoultre to Tudor. His writing spans the full spectrum of horology – from accessible gateway timepieces to seven-figure complications – always with an eye toward helping readers navigate the intricate world of mechanical watchmaking.
Beyond watches, Ben's expertise extends across the luxury landscape. He's interviewed Hollywood stars like Austin Butler and Tom Hardy, explored Michelin-starred restaurants from London to Tuscany, and profiled everyone from fashion dynasty scions to legends of Formula 1 like Lewis Hamilton. However, if you were to nail him down to a singular passion it would be his love affair with golf.
As an avid course aficionado and student of golf architecture, Ben has travelled the length and breadth of the planet in search of his next great round. Whether it be the wind-swept links of Northern Ireland or the dramatic coastline of Saint Lucia, he's experienced the lot – typically found in heated competition with his equally golf-mad wife, Sophie.
Outside of the office, you'll find Ben studying the art of cocktails and coffee making, or having the occasional flutter at the racetrack.
Ben Winstanley's articles
Meet Audemars Piguet's most complicated watch ever: the CODE 11.59 Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
CODE 11.59 broke all the rules when it was first launched by Audemars Piguet in 2019. Four years later, the collection has matured and now contains some of the watchmaker’s most exciting innovations – like the oh-so extra Ultra-Complication Universelle RD#4
Published: Tuesday 7th February 2023
The reluctant superhero: Mike Colter is ready for his next adventure
Mike Colter was quietly building a career as an ensemble actor when Marvel came calling with a job offer too good to refuse. Five years on, the breakout star of Luke Cage sits down with Ben Winstanley to discuss his circuitous route to fame – and new blockbuster Plane
Published: Tuesday 7th February 2023
Manchester City's Erling Haaland on his footballing mindset, pressure, and Breitling watches
As we publish this interview, Erling Haaland has scored 25 goals in 19 Premier League appearances. It’s a staggering record for the game’s next global superstar. Ben Winstanley heads to Man City to meet him
Published: Wednesday 1st February 2023
Enter the dragon: Dominic Scriven, founder of Dragon Capital, on investing in frontier Asia
Dominic Scriven ventured to Vietnam in the 1990s to learn a new language. He ended up launching the country’s first asset manager. We speak to the chairman and founder of Dragon Capital to find out more about his colourful investment journey
Published: Friday 13th January 2023
The Vacheron Constantin 222 is back – and better than ever
The Vacheron Constantin 222 is one of the finest alternative sports watch designs of the 1970s. Christian Selmoni, heritage and style director at the Maison, explains why it’s had a reboot
Published: Friday 16th December 2022
The cryptic blurred masterpieces of the Miaz Brothers
The Italian-born Miaz Brothers bring their distinctive blurred creations to Maddox Gallery this year. Ben Winstanley interviews younger brother Roberto to find out about his artistic journey
Published: Friday 16th December 2022
Match Hospitality's Jaime Byrom on the future of luxury hospitality
Ahead of the World Cup final, we sit down with Jaime Byrom, executive chairman of MATCH Hospitality, to discuss the evolving landscape of luxury hospitality
Published: Friday 16th December 2022
Georges Kern: "Success comes from within – from intuition"
Meet Breitling CEO, Georges Kern: our 2022 recipient of the Industry Hero gong at the Square Mile Watch Awards. The veteran watch boss sits down with Ben Winstanley to talk about his career and what the future holds for the industry
Published: Friday 9th December 2022
The Audemars Piguet Starwheel is back – as part of Code 11.59
First created in 1991, the Starwheel is one of the most intriguing watches Audemars Piguet has ever created. Now it’s back as part of the watchmaker’s Code 11.59 collection
Published: Tuesday 6th December 2022
Meet the ultra-rare Cartier Crash going under the hammer in New York
The Crash is one of the most distinctive designs in Cartier’s catalogue. Ben Winstanley tells the story of a rare 1967 London model going under the hammer at the Phillips New York Watch Auction in December
Published: Thursday 1st December 2022
The Renpho AI Smart Bike brings Peloton-style tech to a wider audience
The Renpho AI Smart Bike promises to elevate your home workout regime without costing you a (well toned) arm and a leg. But does it live up to its technology-forward billing? Ben Winstanley hops in the saddle to put it to the test
Published: Friday 18th November 2022
Hands-on with the new King Seiko watch collection
The cult of King Seiko has grown exponentially during its decades-long production hiatus, but the return of this much-loved name to Seiko’s permanent watch collections has once again made it an absolute must-have for collectors
Published: Wednesday 16th November 2022
The story of King Seiko's rebirth – in the words of the Seiko team
The return of King Seiko isn’t simply the revival of a vintage watch, but a new chapter in the story of this historic brand. We speak to King Seiko planner Kohei Egashira and designer Hikaru Matsumoto to find out more
Published: Monday 17th October 2022
The return of the King: meet the King Seiko ‘Garyu-Bai’
Seiko thrilled fans last year by announcing that its cult brand, King Seiko, would be returning to its core collection in 2022. Ben Winstanley takes a closer look at the plum red ‘Garyu-Bai’ model, one of five new colourways, to find out more
Published: Friday 23rd September 2022
Could a George Daniels timepiece break watch auction records again?
George Daniels watches rarely make it to auction, but three wristwatches going under the hammer at Phillips Geneva Watch Auction: XVI in November – including one extra-special piece loved by Daniels himself
Published: Sunday 11th September 2022
Top of the chops: how Blacklock carved up the capital
Since launching in 2015, Blacklock has taken London by storm with its subversive affordable chophouse concept. We meet founder Gordon Ker to learn more about his journey to the top of the Capital’s food chain
Published: Thursday 18th August 2022
The Spinnaker Spence: a serious diver with great looks
Spinnaker’s wallet-friendly watches might draw you in with their price point, but it’s their fresh take on the dive watch that will keep you coming back for more. We take the new Spence 300 Automatic for a spin
Published: Thursday 28th July 2022
"I want to say we did it the right way." Inside the mind of Toto Wolff
Toto Wolff is one of Formula 1's great thinkers and most successful team principals, but can he steer Mercedes through choppy waters?
Published: Wednesday 20th July 2022
The best golf trip in the world? Stay at Rusacks hotel and play The Old Course in St Andrews
Ahead of The 150th Open, hosted at the iconic Old Course, Ben Winstanley heads to St Andrews to play the world-famous venue – and stay at the spectacular Rusacks Hotel
Published: Tuesday 5th July 2022
Meet the star of the Phillips NYC Watch Auction: the George Daniels Anniversary No. 00 in platinum
The star of this Spring's Phillips New York Watch Auction, the George Daniels Anniversary Platinum No.00 is not only incredibly rare but an ode to its creator – arguably the greatest watchmaker of the 20th century