Farer

Who are Farer?

Farer is a British watch company, launched in 2015, that describes itself as “an independent British watch company” (Farer). It sells mainly direct to customers, has an appointment-only showroom near Ascot in Berkshire, and has its watches made in Switzerland. This page covers its history, how its watches are made, the collections and who controls it, then what to check when buying a pre-owned Farer in the UK.

The business trades through Farer Limited, a private company registered in England whose registered office is near Bracknell, Berkshire. Companies House lists its activity as retail sale of watches and jewellery. Wikipedia names its headquarters as London; Farer’s own pages say it designs its watches in London and invites customers to its showroom near Ascot.

The history of Farer

Farer’s history is short. The company was registered in 2014 and launched its first watches in 2015, moved from quartz to Swiss automatic movements in 2016, and has since added dive, GMT, chronograph, world-time and dress watches.

The founders. Wikipedia names four founders: Stuart Finlayson, Jono Holt, Ben Lewin and Paul Sweetenham. Holt, Lewin and Finlayson had run a branding and marketing agency in London; Sweetenham had been a watch buyer for a duty-free company and then worked in retail (Wikipedia, citing the Evening Standard and The Week). Oracle of Time, interviewing Sweetenham in 2024, reports that he set out to build a direct-to-consumer brand, and quotes him: “we’re design people coming to watches”.

The company and the launch. Farer Limited was incorporated on 18 November 2014, with Paul Sweetenham as director (Companies House). Farer gives its launch year as 2015 (Farer). Accounts of the first range differ: Wikipedia, citing the Evening Standard, says it was a line of nine quartz watches, while Oracle of Time says Farer began with two quartz models, the Bernato and the Carter GMT. Both may describe the same launch counted by colourway or by model.

Automatic watches. In September 2016 Farer launched three automatic watches named after British Royal Navy ships used by explorers, with crowns of bronze that patinate with age (Wikipedia, citing The Times). Oracle of Time names them as the Hopewell, Beagle and Endurance; Wikipedia, citing the Evening Standard, says they used the ETA 2824-2 movement.

New families. GMT watches and the Aqua Compressor dive watches followed in 2017 (Wikipedia, citing Esquire). In 2019 came two land-speed-record-themed quartz watches, named after Ainsdale and Pendine Sands, and then chronographs (Wikipedia). Farer’s cushion-cased watches are dated differently: Wikipedia, citing Esquire, describes 37 mm hand-wound cushion-cased watches in 2018, while Farer’s own collection page says its 38.5 mm cushion case was “first launched in 2022”. They may be different generations of the shape.

What is Farer known for?

Farer is known for colourful dials, watch names drawn from exploration and travel, and for selling directly rather than through a large retail network. It is also open about its Swiss suppliers.

Where the watches are made. In Farer’s words: “We design our watches meticulously in London before they are handmade, without compromise in Switzerland.” It says it uses Swiss manufacturing partners “to prototype and produce our watches” (Farer). Wikipedia, citing The Week in 2017, names the Swiss manufacturer as Roventa-Henex in Bienne (Biel). Farer’s site carries the line “British design x Swiss made” (Farer).

Movements. Farer uses movements from Swiss suppliers rather than its own. Oracle of Time reports that it started with quartz, moved to ETA automatics and now uses Sellita, and that Farer names its suppliers for movements, cases, dials, straps, hands and lume. Farer’s own FAQ refers owners to technicians “with experience with ETA or Sellita movements” (Farer). Our guide to in-house and outsourced movements explains what that means for a buyer.

Names. Watch names are usually themed on exploration or land-speed records (Wikipedia). The brand links the name Farer itself to travel, through words such as “wayfarer” and “seafarer” (Farer, GMT collection).

How it sells. Farer’s FAQ says: “All our watches are sold direct from the Farer store on FARER.COM” (Farer). Its retailers page, however, lists a small number of shops and online stores that stock its watches, including retailers in London and Glasgow (Farer, retailers). So most Farer watches are sold direct, but not all.

Which Farer collections are there?

Farer’s website groups its range into Three Hand, GMT, Aqua Compressor, Cushion Case, World Timer, Lissom, Integra, Field, Pilot, Racing Chronograph and Moonphase collections. Farer says it has “over 40 different models across more than a dozen collections” (Farer).

The collections table on this page gives a line on each family. A few points help when you read listings:

• Series numbers. Several collections have been redesigned and carry a series number, such as Three Hand Series III and Pilot Series II (Farer). The series tells you which generation the watch is.
• Model names. Farer gives individual watches their own names, such as the Hopewell or the Stanhope II, and the same name can appear in more than one version. Check the model name, the series and the case size together.
• Quartz and mechanical. Farer’s range has included quartz watches as well as automatic and hand-wound ones (Wikipedia). The listing should say which; our mechanical versus quartz guide explains the difference.
• Water resistance varies. Farer uses ratings from 50 m to 300 m across the range, and says 50 m is suitable only for splashes and light swimming (Farer). Our guide to water resistance explains the ratings.
• Limited releases. Farer sells some models in small batches or limited editions (Oracle of Time). Check the edition details against the papers.

Who owns Farer?

Farer is privately owned. At Companies House, three people have been registered as persons with significant control of Farer Limited since 6 April 2016: Paul Sweetenham, Jono Holt and Ben Lewin, each with more than 25% but not more than 50% of the shares and votes.

Paul Sweetenham is the company’s only current director, appointed on 18 November 2014 (Companies House). The register shows only holders above 25%, so it is not a full list of shareholders; Stuart Finlayson, named by Wikipedia as a founder, does not appear on it. Its registered controllers are individuals rather than a parent company. Farer is not listed on a stock exchange; it files accounts at Companies House.

Buying a pre-owned Farer in the UK: what to check

Check that you have the warranty card and the original purchase documents, because Farer’s five-year movement guarantee passes to a new owner only with proof of ownership. Then check how much of the guarantee is left, who has serviced the watch, and run a stolen-watch check.

1. Papers and the full set. Farer’s guarantee is transferable “as long as the new owner can provide proof of ownership, such as the original purchase documents and warranty card” (Farer). Ask the seller for both. Our guide to what “full set” means explains what each item proves.

2. The guarantee. Farer offers a 60-month (five-year) guarantee on its watch movements, starting on the date Farer dispatched the watch. It does not cover the case, glass, crown or strap, accidental damage, magnetisation, or damage from repairs by anyone other than Farer or its approved repair partners (Farer). Ask the seller for the original order or dispatch date. See watch warranties explained.

3. Servicing. Farer recommends a service every four years. It says owners can use a technician experienced with ETA or Sellita movements, but that “servicing and repair by a third party will invalidate your warranty” (Farer). Ask who has opened the watch, and for the paperwork.

4. Returns. Farer’s 30-day no-quibble refund applies to watches bought from Farer (Farer). A second-hand purchase has whatever terms the seller offers, plus your legal rights if the seller is a business; our guide to consumer rights when buying a watch online explains those.

5. Stolen-watch check. Check the serial number against a stolen-watch register before you pay. Our stolen-watch check guide lists the UK registers.

6. Who you buy from. Because Farer sells mostly direct, a pre-owned Farer will usually come from a private seller or a marketplace. Our guide to buying from a private seller or a dealer sets out the protection each gives.

For the full process from setting a budget to collecting the watch, see the guide to buying a luxury watch. If you are comparing British brands, our page on Bremont covers another one.

Frequently asked questions

Is Farer a British company?

Yes. Farer Limited is registered in England (no. 09316365), and Farer describes itself as “an independent British watch company” (Companies House; Farer).

Who founded Farer?

Stuart Finlayson, Jono Holt, Ben Lewin and Paul Sweetenham, according to Wikipedia. Farer launched its first watches in 2015.

Where are Farer watches made?

Farer says: “We design our watches meticulously in London before they are handmade, without compromise in Switzerland” (Farer). Wikipedia names the Swiss manufacturer as Roventa-Henex in Bienne.

Does Farer make its own movements?

No. Farer uses Swiss movements from suppliers such as ETA and Sellita (Oracle of Time; Farer).

Who owns Farer?

It is privately owned. Paul Sweetenham, Jono Holt and Ben Lewin are each registered at Companies House as holding more than 25% but not more than 50% of Farer Limited.

How long is the Farer guarantee?

60 months (five years) on the movement, from the date Farer dispatched the watch (Farer).

Is the Farer guarantee transferable?

Yes, if the new owner can show proof of ownership, such as the original purchase documents and warranty card (Farer).

How often should a Farer be serviced?

Farer recommends every four years. Servicing by a third party invalidates the guarantee (Farer).

Can I see Farer watches in person?

Yes, at Farer’s appointment-only showroom near Ascot, Berkshire, and at the retailers listed on its website (Farer).

This page is general information. Watch60 is independent and has no commercial relationship with Farer.

We check the facts on this page against the sources listed, and it is correct to the best of our knowledge as of October 2026. Brands change their warranty, servicing and sales terms, so confirm them with the brand or the seller before you buy.