Meet the Judges | Square Mile Watch Awards 2018

A respected member of the watch press, Arthur Touchot wrote his first articles for the International Herald Tribune and the FT. In 2016, he joined Hodinkee, the world’s leading online watch publication, as Senior European Editor. His analysis of the auction market earned him praise within the vintage watch community, which led to a move to Phillips in Association with Bacs & Russo, in Geneva. Since joining the auction house, he has overseen the watch department’s digital expansion, resulting last year in record-breaking growth of online participation during auctions. You can follow Arthur on Instagram @arthur_touchot.

Over the past 15 years, Aurelie has worked for the Swatch Group, Omega and Audemars Piguet, where she developed strategies to new product lines. A graduate of ITECH Engineering School in Lyon, she has worked in France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. Since joining Faberge in 2013 as Timepiece Director, Aurelie has enjoyed remarkable success, achieving numerous coveted industry awards for her innovation, ingenuity and creativity, including two Grand Prix d’Horologerie de Geneve awards and Eve’s Watch ‘Woman of the Year’ award. 

Silas is the founder of A Collected Man, one of the leading online platforms for lovers of rare watches. Offering only a highly-curated selection of pieces, the website specialises in independent watchmaking, as well as exceptional examples of modern and vintage horology. Having sold some of the rarest watches in the world, the site seeks to blend e-commerce, with interesting content and beautiful photography, to make every collector, feel at home.

Sabine joined Christie’s Geneva in 1995 with a keen interest in watches. She regularly travels all over Europe maintaining excellent contacts with renowned collectors and appraising and evaluating timepieces of all periods. Sabine has contributed to a series of highly successful auctions including the Rolex Daytona “Lesson One” and the Patek Philippe 175 sales, both in Geneva. In 2017 she took over the role of department head responsible primarily for the Geneva biannual Rare Watches auctions while also contributing to our international sales in Dubai, Hong Kong and New York.

With 25 years of experience within the watch and jewellery sector, watches have been both a career and a passion for Adrian. In 2011, he swapped retail for the world of watch auctions. In 2017 he set up as in independent specialist providing watch expertise across the auction, insurance and asset-lending industries, also consulting privately for clients wishing to buy or sell watches. He writes on watches for Square Mile as well as other online and print publications. He is the writer and co-presenter of the ‘Fake Franken & Custom Watch’ course at the Birmingham Assay Office.

Beth Hannaway began her career in the Harrods Fashion Buying team in 2011 and was appointed Divisional Merchandise Manager for Fine Jewellery in 2014. Following the successful management of large-scale CAPEX projects including 2016’s transformation and expansion of the Fine Jewellery Room, redeveloped to offer enhanced boutique concepts and multi-brand areas, Fine Watches was added to Beth’s remit. In 2017, Beth oversaw the complete redevelopment of the Harrods’ Fine Watch Room, positioning Harrods as a global leader in horology, creating a world-class destination with the finest and most exclusive edit of brands. Under Beth’s supervision, Harrods has seen record breaking growth in Fine Jewellery and Fine Watches alike.

Jonathan has more than 25 years' experience working with watches both as an auctioneer and as a watch manufacturer. As Bonhams Global Head of Watches, Jonathan has been responsible for the sale of one of the world's largest private single-owner collections of watches, with the 2,000-strong Collection of a European Nobleman. He has led the watch department to record breaking sales, and is one of the few auctioneers who is also an accomplished watchmaker. From 2006–2011 Jonathan was the managing director of a boutique company making luxury watches in La Chaux de Fonds, the centre of the watch-making region of Switzerland.

Mark is a founding member of the Square Up Group and has worked on Square Mile since its launch in 2005. He oversees the editorial department at Square Up Media, and spends most of his time editing both Square Mile and Hedge magazines. He’s written about watches for more than a decade – and can often be found showing off his latest wrist candy on Instagram at @MGHedley. Sadly for him, most of the watches are just press loans.

Before Ben even stepped foot in the Square Mile offices three years ago, he was sent off to the Baselworld Watch Fair for his first assignment; it proved quite the baptism of fire. He came out the other side dazed and hungover, but with a newfound admiration for horology – an interest which he has since cultivated into expertise. As Square Mile’s head watch writer, he is on the front line (back to those watch exhibitions…) of the latest industry news and releases. He curates the magazine’s much-respected watch photoshoots and is always on hand to advise his banker friends on how to find value among the hefty price tags of haute horology.