A few years ago, I sat down and had a cup of tea in a London café with Adrian Aldred. Like myself, Adrian is obsessed with detail and form - although in his case, it was the horological avenue that had captured his heart. It was immediately obvious that our shared passion meant we were not only completely comfortable in each other’s company, but that we sparked something - that rare alchemy where conversation becomes inspiration.
Adrian is the founder of Convopiece - a name that speaks volumes. His world is one where conversation is the catalyst for creation, and where the finest independent watchmakers in the world bring his designs to life for discerning, often quietly obsessive, clients.
Let me tell you a bit more about this intriguing company.
Convopiece is not your typical watch brand. There’s no logo being flogged for the sake of status, no corporate glitz or borrowed heritage. What you find instead is something much rarer - a bespoke service where every detail is purposeful, and every watch is a reflection of the individual who commissions it.
At its core, Convopiece is a collaboration - between Adrian, the client, and a small circle of elite watchmakers from Switzerland, Germany, and beyond. These are ateliers with centuries of combined experience, crafting exquisite mechanical movements that rival anything from the big Swiss houses. But in Adrian’s hands, those movements become something else entirely - a canvas for unique design.
What strikes me most is Adrian’s eye. He sees watches as architecture - as sculpture - and treats every component accordingly. Whether it’s a sandblasted titanium case, a hand-enamelled dial, or a crown inspired by aviation instrumentation, nothing is generic. Each project is the result of deep dialogue, sketching, refining, sourcing, and then finally… making.
There’s something refreshing about that in a world where most things are off-the-shelf. This is slow creation. It’s human. It’s meticulous. And it speaks to the same values I hold when crafting a ring - that the object should carry deep meaning, not just value.
If you’re the kind of man who finds joy in well-oiled mechanisms, the satisfying click of a clasp, or the quiet complexity of something made just for you, I think you’ll find Adrian’s work as fascinating as I do.
You can explore his world here: Convopiece – Bespoke Watchmaking
Andrew
