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.
To celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Burberry has designed an item the Queen herself is very partial to wearing in cooler weather – a hand-illustrated silk scarf
From the small Swiss village of La Côte-aux-Fées in the Jura mountains, Piaget has risen into one of the finest watch and jewellery brands on the planet. Ben Winstanley speaks to new CEO Benjamin Comar on his role and what’s next
What took us by surprise at Watches & Wonders 2022? From a world-first watch mechanism to a new look for an iconic model, this year's timepieces prove the continued innovation of the world's best watchmakers
Openworked (AKA skeleton) watches are something of a speciality for Audemars Piguet, so it’s no surprise the brand is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Oak with a very special release: the Jumbo Extra-Thin Openworked
Dating back to 1874, Louis XIII is the most prestigious cognac maker on Earth. Tasked with the next phase of its story is incoming global executive director Leonardo Ferracina. Ben Winstanley sits down with him to find out more
Over the past 20 years, brothers Nick and Giles English, founders of Bremont, have painstakingly rebuilt the foundations of the British watchmaking industry. Ben Winstanley hears their story
Meet Maro Itoje: the talismanic England forward who carries the weight of a nation on his broad shoulders. But there’s more to this supremely talented rugby player than meets the eye, as Ben Winstanley learns…
Gymkhana might be the best Indian restaurant in London. Head to Mayfair and enjoy the meal of your life
Phillips smashed its annual sales total in 2021, with more than $209.3 million worth of rare, unique and vintage timepieces sold in the past 12 months. We take a look at the ten most valuable watches sold by Phillips last year
This year, the Square Mile Watch Awards Industry Hero award goes to two legends of the watchmaking game who have brought back mechanical matchmaking to Britain, Nick and Giles English from Bremont Watches
The Costa del Sol’s Sotogrande estate has been synonymous with glamour and luxury for decades, but it’s never looked better, writes Ben Winstanley
From the mind of sushi master Endo Kazutoshi, Sumi is a Japanese restaurant located in Westbourne Grove that brings high-end sushi to a more relaxed and casual setting than many of its peers
Looking to invest in your first vintage timepiece? Phillips auction house has you covered. Here are our highlights from the prestigious Hong Kong Watch Auction XIII this November
Buying diamonds, whether for investment or pleasure, comes with a host of challenges. Ben Winstanley heads to 77 Diamonds to find an easier way
Welcome to Les Bordes: a private golf club in France’s Loire Valley that is one of the most exclusive in Europe. Ben Winstanley is granted a rare visit to golf heaven
The super-rare Rolex Deep Sea Special is being offered at The Geneva Watch Auction XIV in November, and we’re a little bit in love. Here’s everything you need to know about one of the most historically important tool watches in Rolex’s archives
How do you modernise a brand that was originally founded in 1845? That’s the question A Lange & Söhne CEO, Wilhelm Schmid, has pondered during his decade at Germany’s finest watchmaker. Ben Winstanley reports
Furlan Marri is on a mission to bring the great watch case designs of old to a brand-new audience – and, judging by its first timepiece, it’s going to succeed. Find out more about the most exciting affordable watch brand on the planet
Nico Rosberg – the Formula One champion who conquered Lewis Hamilton and retired at the top of his game – is one of sport’s great enigmas. He tells Ben Winstanley what it takes to beat the greatest racing driver of all-time
Independent watchmaker Philippe Dufour might not have the global prestige of the most famous brands on the planet but, trust us, you’re going to want to know all about the upcoming Phillips auction presenting four of his masterpieces