My Journey Part 13: The WatchIt! Haul.
Breaking Down the 3 New Additions I picked up at Watchit!
As I mentioned in my main WatchIt! review, I arrived at the show floor with a clear mission: get hands-on with, and hopefully purchase, two specific watches. I had spent hours admiring them online, crossing my fingers that they would look just as good in the flesh (or the steel) as they did on a digital screen.
Not only did they meet my expectations, but picking them up in person meant I could take advantage of some great show discounts, which beautifully sweetened the deal.
The biggest twist of the day, however, was that I walked away with a third piece—from a brand I’ve admired for a while, but a model I never expected to fall for so heavily in person.
The best part? All three of these watches fill a distinct gap in my collection. They are unique and varied enough that nothing feels like a reckless impulse buy, and all three are guaranteed to get regular wrist time. To me, this trio represents exactly what makes independent horology so thrilling: unique design, passionate creators, and incredible value for money.
Here is what came home with me.
New Arrival #1: Pompeak Gentleman’s Classic – Racing Green
The Vibe: A stunning, sophisticated open-heart watch that will be absolutely perfect for office days or more formal occasions.
Why I Bought It: Anyone who follows my socials knows I have been absolutely obsessed with this watch for a long time. I’ve wanted to add an open-heart piece to my watch box for a while, and this looked like the perfect contender. I admit I was a little apprehensive that it might not live up to the hype in person, but it was just as spectacular as I’d hoped. The hardest part was actually sticking to my original choice of the Racing Green Guilloche dial, because their blue dial and white panda dial variations were equally stunning. Pompeak was the very first stand I visited, and the team was incredibly accommodating, ensuring I was completely happy with the piece and even letting me select my own model number.
Key Specs at a Glance:
- Case Size: 40mm
- Movement: Miyota 82S5 Automatic
- Dial/Aesthetic: Racing Green Guilloche dial with an open-heart aperture.
New Arrival #2: Maystone Prosperity – Red Kite GMT
The Vibe: A fantastic, rich red-dialled GMT that doubles as the perfect, versatile daily wearer.
Why I Bought It: I am a huge sucker for a colourful dial, and a red dial has been on my wishlist for a while. That said, I also look for diversity—pieces that can transition seamlessly between different environments. The Maystone Prosperity ticked every single box. It’s an incredibly classy watch that wouldn’t look out of place in a board room, but it’s robust enough for a family day out or global travel (it is a GMT, after all!). This was the second watch I’d been tracking online, and seeing it in the flesh only confirmed it was a must-have to fill that red-dial slot in my collection.
Key Specs at a Glance:
- Case Size: 38mm
- Movement: Seiko NH34 GMT Automatic
- Dial/Aesthetic: Rich red dial with contrasting white details and a striking yellow GMT hand.
New Arrival #3: The “Unexpected” Third Pick – Golby Coastal – Pink, Black & White Edition
The Vibe: An eye-catching piece packed with the ultimate summer aesthetic.
Why I Bought It: Why I Bought It: I’ve been a massive fan of Golby Watches ever since I stumbled across their original Aquareef—a piece I loved but hesitated on, and I’ve regretted not buying it ever since! I walked up to their stand with a glimmer of hope that they might have an Aquareef with them. They didn’t, but I had a brilliant chat with the owner, Craig, who explained why that model hadn’t reappeared (and why future iterations would be different).
During our conversation, something else caught my eye from across the table: a piece with a wicked neon pink and white bezel contrasted against a deep black wave dial. The Coastal. Craig let me know that this exact piece was available, and it happened to be the very last one—number 26 of 26 in this specific edition.
Having already bought my planned two watches, I tried to stay disciplined. I took another lap around the room to think it over, but the gravity pulled me right back to the Golby stand. In the hand, the watch was simply stunning, and the more I looked, the more I loved it. I wasn’t going to risk missing out on a Golby a second time, and the added story of it being the final one of the batch made it the perfect closing purchase of the day. (I made a swift exit immediately after paying so no more watches could tempt me!)
Key Specs at a Glance:
- Case Size: 36mm (with a 37.4mm bezel)
- Movement: Premium Miyota 90S5 Automatic (No-Date)
- Dial/Aesthetic: Black oil-pressed wave pattern dial, wrapped in a bold pink and white sapphire countdown bezel.
Final Thoughts & What’s Next
Being able to handle these watches, try them on the wrist, and chat directly with the minds behind them was a refreshing reminder of why physical watch fairs are so important. It is a completely different experience from just blindly clicking “Add to Cart” online and praying the watch looks good when the courier arrives.
Overall, I am absolutely thrilled with these three new acquisitions. Each one brings something entirely different to my watch box, and each stands out in its own distinct way. They are currently being put through their paces, so keep an eye out for full, dedicated, deep-dive reviews on each of these in the coming weeks!
Over to You: Which of these three would you have walked away with? Have you ever gone to a watch show with a strict budget and completely blown past it? Let me know in the comments below!
