BURLINGTON LIFE
David Duggan is one of the UK’s best-known watch dealers, with a world-class reputation for selling pre-owned Rolex and Patek Philippe watches. In 2016, he was the UK’s first pre-owned watch retailer to be awarded Tudor “Authorised Dealer” status. A lover of fine wine and dining as well as timepieces, Revolution caught up with him recently at his private office in London’s Burlington Arcade.
Duggan’s interest in watches began when he started working for his brother – a prominent coin dealer – in 1976. Together they would travel all over the UK buying rare and unusual coins, pocket watches and Albert chains. “We did this for around seven years,” says Duggan. “And I do wish we’d advertised for wristwatches, too, at that time – just imagine what might have surfaced! My favourite items to deal with were the pocket watches and it was these beautifully made timepieces that really whetted my appetite.”
In 1983, the coin trade slowed“It was such an exciting time of learning and discovery for me,” he reminisces. “I was based up in Lancashire at the time and would travel a lot to the various markets and fairs. The Charnock Richards fair each Sunday was good, as was the monthly session at the Bull Ring in Birmingham. My favourite, though, was Portobello market on a Saturday. I was travelling down to London three times a week, but Saturday was special as I would meet up with other dealers and collectors who would travel from all over Europe to trade watches and stories and enjoy a coffee.
