Watches And Fashion Of The 2023 Henley Royal Regatta

Surely Wes Anderson has a hand in directing the scene that is the Henley Royal Regatta, a spectacle held each year in Henley-on-Thames, an hour and a world away from the modern headaches of London. Since 1839, rowing clubs from across the world have descended upon the Henley Royal Regatta each year to dress up in their brightest rowing blazers and most colorful dresses, mill about the banks of the River Thames between white picket fences of increasingly exclusive "enclosures" with their draconian dress codes for ladies and gentlemen, and even engage in a rowing competition.

Henley Royal Regatta watches and fashion

Henley-on-Thames

The spectators span generations. At the Regatta, you're just as likely to see a strapping young rower donning his rowing stripes as you are a dapper old chap who presumably last rowed on the Thames before motor-powered boats were even an option. It's all so quintessentially British: steeped in tradition and sport, but also in the subtleties of status. More than once, a Brit explained to me that the Henley Royal Regatta sat in the middle of the summer social calendar, somewhere between the Royal Ascot horse races and Wimbledon, and before everyone bugs off to the south of Europe for their summer holiday. Of course, all these rowing blazers and their associated clubs have their own hierarchy and in-jokes too, most of which I've thankfully forgotten (except for the poor Great Marlow School, which for some reason caught more than a few good-natured barbs on this cloudy summer day).

Bremont became the first official timekeeper of the Henley Royal Regatta in 2017. It's a partnership that just makes sense, given that Bremont's impressive new manufacturing facility, the Wing, is just up the road from the site of the Regatta. This year, the competition featured 419 teams from 17 different countries, all competing in a series of knockout competitions on the one-mile, 550-yard course.

Surrounding the races on the banks of the Thames is where the watches can be spotted. The Stewards' Enclosure is the main runway, complete with its strictly enforced dress code. Straw hats are encouraged for all. While Bremont hosted us, I captured some of the sights and watches of the Henley Royal Regatta.

A Rowing Blazers Seiko 5, right at home with a rowing blazer.

During the six-day competition, there are elegant picnics complete with Fortnum & Mason baskets in the car park between all the Rolls-Royce and Mercedes automobiles, afternoon tea with towers of scones and coronation chicken, and rowdy parties with live music that last well into the night in the beer gardens lining the River Thames. There are more than a few stories of attendees toppling into the River, a little legless from having properly sipped English sparkling wine since the bars' opening at 11 a.m. each morning.

Fitting to spot a young British rower wearing a Christopher Ward.

Watching the knockout rowing competitions from the bright chairs of the Stewards' Enclosure.

After racing (or after you've been knocked out), it's time to throw on your jacket and grab a cup of Pimm's or an ale with your mates.

Matching two-tone Datejusts.

Our captain, wearing a Bremont Solo. By the way, Hodinkee's got a history at the Henley Royal Regatta too – back in 2013, we sponsored a boat club that won the Britannia Challenge Cup. On that team was rower Jack Carlson, who'd go on to found his fashion company Rowing Blazers after writing a book inspired by his rowing experiences.

Another rower wearing a Seiko – pairs well with Pimm's.

A couple that's been nailing the dress code for years.

Pink OP, worn as loose as the inhibitions on the banks of the Thames during the Regatta Week.

This security guard might've been the coolest guy in Henley; a lady tried to steal a Moet-branded pillow and make an escape on a boat – he was having none of it.

Watching a men's eight knockout race.

A ladies' rowing team, watching the competition after completing their race for the day.

A slightly more relaxed way to watch the races.

Two-tone Tudor Date-Day on a young rower.

Oren Hartov’s vintage cal. 89.

JJ’s tiny Nautilus.

The crowds in the Stewards' Enclosure.

Trying to find a better view among the crowd.

Bremont CEO Davide Cerrato's wife wore a vintage Rolex Oyster, similar to the one Mercedes Gleitze once had.

Bremont CEO Cerrato and his wife.

Cerrato's Longitude.

And another Seiko diver on a rower.

An older spectator wearing the Omega Seamaster 300M 007 Edition.

Two sides of the Regatta: a rower wearing a Citizen Eco-Drive...

...and a spectator wearing a Hublot with diamonds in the bezel.

A well-stacked ladies' Datejust.

Seagull Chronograph – I spotted this watch because the guy wearing it was showing his friends how he could use his chronograph to time rowing races.

Ronda’s vintage Timex made in Great Britain in the '60s.

Zoe Abelson’s white gold Day-Date.

Recent Oxford grad (and watch photographer) Owen wearing his Rowing Blazers Seiko 5.

He pointed out that the colors of his Seiko 5 match those of the Leander Rowing Club (the yellow tags with the pink hippo on them).

Speaking of Leander, here's two-time Olympic rowing gold medalist Alex Gregory wearing his Leander Club jacket.

Paired with a Bremont Supermarine. Leander is perhaps the poshest of the rowing clubs in Henley-on-Thames.

Gregory's two Olympic golds.

cartier santos galbee sihh limited edition

I wore a Santos, a common choice among many ladies of the Regatta...

...like this lady.

The Upper Thames Rowing Club sits just off the course of the Henley Royal Regatta. No dress code here, just pancakes and smoothies.

A Rolex Datejust with a beautiful salmon dial.

Matching the Casio with the dress. And notice how most of the photos are taken with a drink in hand?

Colors of the Regatta.

A Cartier Tank Must – the gentleman wearing this told me he inherited it from his sister after she died and now she haunts it, "just to [expletive] with me." As much as I wanted to, I didn't have time for a follow-up.