I first came across Walker & Crown while browsing Instagram. Their bold, unapologetically 1980s-inspired designs immediately caught my attention. They were different from the countless vintage-inspired divers and field watches that seem to flood the microbrand scene today, and I found myself wanting to know more about the people behind them.
That curiosity led me to reach out to the founder, Jonny Walker. We had a great conversation about his journey into watches, what inspired him to launch Walker & Crown, and how a passion that started with a childhood Swatch eventually grew into an independent watch brand built together with his wife, Colette.
So, let me introduce you to Jonny and Colette—and the story behind Walker & Crown.
A Watch Collector First
Like many of us in this hobby, Jonny’s journey into watches didn’t begin with a luxury timepiece or an expensive collection. It began with a simple childhood memory.
At around seven years old, he received his first watch, a Swatch. It may have been just a child’s watch at the time, but it sparked a fascination that never really faded. That early curiosity slowly grew into a passion, and eventually into a lifelong obsession with horology.
“I’d say it started around age seven when I got my first watch, a Swatch, and I’ve had an interest ever since. The real passion came later, when I discovered automatic movements and heritage brands like Breitling, TAG Heuer and Rolex.”
Today, he has been collecting watches for around 25 years while balancing a full-time career as a technical business analyst for a digital bank. Away from watches, music is another lifelong passion, one that would eventually become a defining influence on Walker & Crown and the unmistakable identity of the Revival Series.
From Family Memory to the First Design
Every watch has a story. For Jonny, the story of Walker & Crown began with someone very close to him.
His grandfather shared the same fascination with watches and even built his own from spare parts. Among his collection was a beautiful vintage Boodles & Dunthorne, one that rarely left his wrist and became far more than just a timepiece. It became a lasting memory.
When Jonny’s grandfather passed away, the watch disappeared.
A few years later, as Jonny was preparing for his wedding, there was only one watch he wanted to wear: his grandfather’s Boodles & Dunthorne. But despite his hopes,
the watch was never found.
Rather than letting that memory fade, he chose to recreate it.
“Instead, I decided to design the watch from memory, just for my own collection.”
That idea became something much bigger later on.
Rather than creating luxury pieces aimed at collectors with deep pockets, Jonny wanted to build watches that were accessible, reliable, and meaningful.
“Watches don’t need to be expensive or from a well-known brand to have meaning to someone.”
Those original designs are still planned for the future. But for Walker & Crown’s debut collection, Jonny wanted to do something much bolder.
“For our first drop I wanted to make a splash in the market and do something that really stands out, hence the Revival Series.”
Building the Dream Together
One thing became very clear throughout our conversation and it’s one of the things I love most about this story: Walker & Crown isn’t just Jonny’s story; it’s Jonny and Colette’s.
The two of them met eleven years ago while working in finance, and today they still both have full-time careers. But when the working day ends, another job begins. Evenings and weekends are spent building Walker & Crown together, each bringing their own strengths to the table.
Jonny is the creative force behind the brand. Every watch, every detail, the packaging, artwork, and overall vision all come from his imagination.
Colette, meanwhile, is the one making sure that vision can become a successful business. She looks after the customer journey, marketing, social media, compliance, and countless behind-the-scenes tasks that most customers will never see but every independent brand depends on.
Listening to Jonny talk about the brand, it’s impossible not to notice how often he talks about “we” rather than “I”. Walker & Crown isn’t the dream of one person, it’s the result of two people backing each other, investing in each other, and hoping that one day the hours spent after work and the savings they’ve poured into the brand will turn into something lasting.
For me, that’s one of the things that makes independent brands so fascinating. Behind every watch is a human story, and Walker & Crown has a genuinely good one.
Building It Their Way
There are countless ways to launch a watch brand today. One of the most common routes is to design a watch, launch a Kickstarter campaign, and let the community help fund the journey. It makes sense, especially for a small independent brand, as it reduces the initial financial risk and helps validate the idea before going into full production.
But Jonny and Colette chose a different path.
They decided to go all in.
Now what does that mean?
Both of them still work full-time jobs in the finance industry, and rather than looking for investors or outside backing, they decided to put their own savings on the line to build Walker & Crown.
That decision wasn’t driven by pride, it was driven by trust.
“I’ve ordered watches in the past and been left waiting months to actually get them, and I didn’t want that for our customers.”
By self-funding the project, they could manufacture the watches before selling them, inspect every piece properly, and only release them when they were genuinely happy with the result.
“Self-funding also means we’re in complete control. These watches only go out when we’re happy with them. Delays don’t impact customers, and any quality-control issues are caught before a single watch is sold.”
It’s a huge financial risk. While most people would understandably look for investors to spread that burden, Jonny and Colette chose to invest in themselves instead.
Walker & Crown isn’t simply a watch brand; it’s two people betting on their passion and hoping that one day it becomes more than something they build after work. Whether that dream becomes a flagship store or simply a respected independent brand, it’s hard not to admire the commitment it has taken to get this far.
The Imposter Syndrome
One answer stayed with me long after our conversation finished.
When I asked about the biggest challenge of starting Walker & Crown, I expected to hear about finding manufacturers, dealing with suppliers, or the countless technical hurdles that come with launching a watch brand.
Instead, he gave an answer that was far more human.
“Honestly, it’s been me.”
Behind every independent brand is a person wondering if they’ve made the right decision. Someone asking themselves whether anyone will understand their vision, whether all the time, effort, and money they’ve invested will amount to anything.
Jonny admitted that imposter syndrome crept in more than once.
“What if nobody buys my watches? What if this fails?”
I think many of us can relate to those questions. They aren’t unique to watchmaking, they’re the thoughts that come with taking any meaningful risk.
Once again, it was Colette who helped him see things differently.
“If it doesn’t work out, at least we tried to turn our passion into a career. But if it does take off, it could be an incredible journey for both of us.”
That answer says a lot about Walker & Crown. Before it’s a watch brand, it’s two people willing to step outside the comfort of stable careers, invest their own savings, and take a chance on something they believe in.
Whether the brand becomes a huge success or remains a small independent name, I already think they’ve achieved something worth admiring: they had the courage to try.
Living in the 1980s
Spend even a few minutes looking at the Revival Series and one thing becomes obvious: Jonny really loves the 1980s.
The collection isn’t inspired by one particular watch but by an entire era.
Calculator watches, digital Casios, Timex, Seiko, arcade games, synth music, bold colours and the explosion of technology all played a role.
“The Revival Series is a time capsule of the ’80s. I grew up during that era, and it was an amazing time to be a kid. The boom of technology, style and music all at once, that’s the influence behind this collection.”
That passion even extends beyond the watches themselves.
Every element of the presentation has been designed in-house, from the packaging to the artwork, including one of the collection’s most distinctive features: a cassette tape-inspired presentation case.
“Seeing everything I’d designed come to life—the watch, the cassette case, the artwork, the packaging—was an amazing moment.”
As someone who was also born in the 1980s, I found myself connecting with the Revival Series almost immediately. While I may have experienced the decade through the eyes of a child, I still remember the bold colours, the rapid rise of technology, cassette tapes, early video games, and the unmistakable optimism that seemed to define the era. The Revival Series doesn’t simply borrow design cues from the ’80s, it captures the feeling of growing up in that time. I think that’s why these watches resonated with me. They’re not just nostalgic for nostalgia’s sake; they celebrate an era that many of us still look back on with a smile.
Looking Ahead
Like any founder, Jonny dreams big.
One day he’d love to see Walker & Crown operating from its own flagship store, perhaps even producing an in-house movement.
For now, though, the goals are refreshingly grounded.
Sell the first 100 Laser Drift watches.
Sell the first 100 Clerks.
Then keep building.
After speaking with Jonny, one thing became very clear: Walker & Crown isn’t trying to become the next giant of the watch industry overnight. It’s a passion project built by two people who genuinely care about creating something different and willing to invest not only their savings, but also countless evenings, weekends, and years of hard work in the hope of turning a shared passion into something lasting.
The Revival Series is expected to launch around October, and that’s when the real journey begins. Designing great watches is one thing; getting them onto the wrists of enthusiasts is another. Judging by the passion, honesty, and commitment Jonny and Colette have poured into Walker & Crown, I’ll certainly be watching with interest to see where the brand goes next. I genuinely hope those first 100 Laser Drifts and 100 Clerks find their owners, because this is exactly the kind of independent story I’d love to see succeed.
Link to their website:
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