Made to be worn, built to be kept

Ahead of London Watch Week City Edition, Ednah, founder of Horological Atelier, talks moon phases, Swiss modules and why a watch’s story is worth protecting. Ask Ednah what moves her and the answer comes quickly. “Time,” she says. “Time is a constant. It was here yesterday, it’s here today and it will be here tomorrow. We’re just living in its movement, and we try to capture it with beautiful designs and vibrant colours.” Humans have kept time since the sundial, and the mechanical watch has outlived generations of wearers. As a collector, she fell for vintage cocktail watches: small, jewel-like pieces with mechanical movements. “They look like jewellery, but they work,” she says. “And for someone with a small wrist, they actually fit.” Beautiful, but made to be used “I love beautiful things, but I also love practical things,” she says. “I believe in beautiful things you use every day. There’s nothing wrong with a display cabinet, but if you’re spending money on something, y