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The
   Heritage

The world of watches has been very important to the Margulies family, spanning more than 80 years in the front line of Swiss watchmaking. This is just a snapshot of our company’s rich history. Marcus Margulies is more than just a retailer having been an important factor in many brands' histories.

We invite you to relive some of these key moments with our heritage calendar, and share in our passion for watches, so when purchasing from the Marcus boutique you are confident that you are with a family of experts who are ready to assist you.

  • Alexander Margulies, Marcus's father, arrives in Britain from Poland.

    1931

  • Alexander sets up business as a clock and watch salesman, creating the company ELCO Clocks & Watches LTD. He then started importing Swiss watches and selling them to the UK market.

    1932

  • By 1939 ELCO has become the largest distributor of clocks and watches in the UK.

    The company is established in London’s famous Hatton Garden.

    1939

  • Word War II begins and distribution of watches halts. Alexander Margulies turns his attention to helping the war effort.

    From 1939 until the end of the war in 1945 he set up factories in Wales and Aylesbury manufacturing cockpit instruments for the legendary Spitfire fighter planes, and components for anti-aircraft guns.

    1939 to 1945

  • Marcus, the eldest of three children, was born in Bletchley near Milton Keynes.

    1942

  • With the end of the war, and to help re-establish business across the UK, the British government introduced quotas for all distributors.

    As the largest distributor before the war, Alexander Margulies had the largest quota, and over the next 25 years carried on expanding the business.

    1945

  • In the early 1960’s, Russian mechanical watches were added to the line up that Alexander Margulies stocked. This became an important factor for the future.

    1960s

  • Our parent company name ‘Time Products’ was created in 1962 when the company went public on the stock exchange as Time Products PLC.

    1962

  • After working in Swiss watch factories as an apprentice, Marcus joins his father’s company.

    1963

  • In 1966 Alexander Margulies decides not only to distribute watches but also to create a brand. He takes the Russian made timepieces and rebrands them as Sekonda (meaning 'second' in Russian) and using the now famous advertising line of 'Beware of Expensive Imitations’.

    1966

  • During the 1960’s and early 1970’s the Sekonda brand grew and grew, moving its offices to a larger site in Leicester where it is still running the now International brand.

    1960s to 1970s

  • Time Products was able to help one of Marcus's favourite brands, Audemars Piguet, to grow world-wide by taking over its distribution in North America, Europe and Switzerland (the only non Swiss company ever to do so).

    Once the brand was big enough to take over distribution itself, Time Products handed it back to the family-run watch brand.

    1970s

  • Chairmanship was given to Marcus in 1977 on his father’s 75th birthday.

    1977

  • In the late 1970’s and up to the early 1980's the quartz crisis hit the watch world. Sekonda switched from producing mechanical watches in Russia to the new quartz battery models made in Asia, and concentrated on entry level value watches for the mass market.

    1970s

  • Distribution of luxury Swiss watch brands such as Longines, Blancpain, Breguet, Vacheron Constantin, Baume et Mercier, Piaget, Girard Perregaux and Tag Heuer continues over the years.

    Time Products has helped establish and grow these brands, which have now been bought out by luxury groups like LVMH, Swatch Group, Richemont and the Gucci Group.

    1980s

  • Franck Muller was added to the Time Products distribution for the UK. We hold an amazing collection including high complication pieces like the Evolution and Revolution Tourbillons.

    1990s

  • Alexander sadly passes away, leaving his son Marcus to carry on the Margulies legacy within the watch world.

    1991

  • The beginning of the new century saw the addition of Hublot to the distribution side of the business. Then owned by Jean-Claude Biver, this cemented an already strong friendship.

    2000

  • Marcus takes Time Products back to being a privately owned company. It is still owned by the Margulies family today as Time Products Ltd.

    2001

  • With his love of mechanical Swiss-made timepieces, especially the high complications, Marcus created his eponymous luxury watch boutique on London’s famous Bond Street in 2002. For the last decade it has become a home for the world's best in haute horology.

    The store prides itself on containing "The most important collection of watches in the World".

    2002

  • Over the next ten years Marcus becomes one of the largest and most famous names in the world of high-end watches. Brands including Hublot, Richard Mille and independents such as Urwerk, MB&F and Greubel Forsey are added.

    2002-2012

  • 2012 is celebrated in style, marking the 80th anniversary of Marcus's father moving to the UK, Marcus's own 70th birthday, and the 10th anniversary of the boutique.

    A special night is held at the store with family, friends and representatives from the Swiss brands Marcus has worked with past and present. There is a special exhibition of commemorative unique pieces seen all together for the first time.

    2012

  • 2017 see’s Marcus celebrate his 75th birthday, a significant milestone
    Which saw his father make him chairman of the company at the same age.
    To honour his legacy Marcus opens a townhouse in the heart of Mayfair.
    Where most would be looking to relax, Marcus continues to push the boundaries
    by offering the ultimate experience in Luxury retail.

    The Townhouse

  • "My preference has always been to follow your instinct and to base your final choice on knowledge and emotion. Emotion cannot work without knowledge and knowledge with out emotion. The combination of both is irresistible to an individualist.

    I have never been afraid to make mistakes. I have enjoyed every moment. The Townhouse is a vital part of that philosophy which has worked very well for me. I will carry this through to the future."

    Marcus Margulies

    Future

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