Our History
A Brand Reborn
Prestex is a name with a proud place in British watchmaking history. Its origins can be traced back to 1869, when Neil Duckworth's family business, Prestons of Bolton, was founded. By the 1920s, watches bearing the Prestex name were being produced for customers around the world, establishing a reputation for quality, reliability and timeless design.
For Neil Duckworth, the revival of Prestex is deeply personal. Best known for introducing TAG Heuer to the UK in the 1980s, Neil has spent decades building some of the world's most respected watch brands. Today, he has brought Prestex back to life, combining its rich heritage with contemporary British design and modern Swiss craftsmanship for a new generation of watch enthusiasts.
This version is more accurate following the rebrand, removes "Duckworth Prestex" throughout, and strengthens the heritage message by leading with 1869 rather than "almost 100 years."
Pictured above; Frank Duckworth, Watchmaker, founder of Prestex and Cellist
Founding of Prestons & the Birth of Prestex
Neil Duckworth's family business, Prestons of Bolton, was founded in 1869. By the 1920s, the company was producing its own watches under the Prestex name, earning a reputation for quality and exporting timepieces to customers around the world.
Over the following decades, Prestex became known for producing beautifully crafted chronographs, pocket watches and elegant dress watches. This rich heritage continues to inspire every modern Prestex collection, combining timeless British design with contemporary Swiss craftsmanship.
Expansion into Swiss Watchmaking
When Neil's father, Gordon Duckworth, took over the family business in 1948, Prestons continued to grow, becoming an authorised retailer for many of Switzerland's most prestigious watchmakers, including Omega, Rolex and Heuer. As the business expanded, the original Prestex collection was gradually retired, marking the end of an important chapter in the family's watchmaking history.
In 1982, Neil's older brother, Andrew Duckworth, assumed responsibility for the family business, allowing Neil to pursue his own path within the watch industry. That journey would see him play a pivotal role in introducing TAG Heuer to the UK and building relationships with some of the world's most respected watch brands, experience that would eventually lead to the revival of Prestex for a new generation of enthusiasts.
Neil's father Gordon Duckworth, visionary (left) and Andrew Duckworth, pillar of the community (right)
Neil Duckworth (right) pictured with World F1 Champion Alain Prost in 1987, driver at Mclaren with Ayrton Senna and sponsored by TAG Heuer. Neil was responsible for bringing Tag Heuer to the UK in 1982 where he remained as UK managing director until 2001.
A Long Held Dream Becomes Reality
After a successful career working with some of the world’s leading watch brands, Neil Duckworth remained determined to revive the family watch name that had disappeared during the 1960s. That long held ambition eventually became a reality with the return of Prestex.
Today, Prestex creates practical, distinctive and beautifully engineered watches designed for everyday life. Each timepiece is developed to offer lasting quality, reliable performance and individual character, continuing the same principles that shaped the original family watch business.
Designed in England, modern Prestex collections draw inspiration from the historic watches that came before them, reinterpreting classic details through contemporary design and Swiss craftsmanship.
Prestex is not affiliated with, endorsed by or otherwise associated with Prestons or the Prestons Group.