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Thread: Hadleigh and Royal - Reigate - experience?

  1. #1
    Master
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    Hadleigh and Royal - Reigate - experience?

    As in title. Seen a watch of theirs on the bay. Anyone used them or know of someone who has? :-)

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  2. #2
    Craftsman
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    I bought a BB Harrods from them through E-Bay. Got a good discount and the watch was delivered very quickly and very happy with the transaction. I would use them again.

  3. #3
    Master
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    Anybody else?

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  4. #4
    Craftsman
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    Their eBay shop is full of fake dials and bezels on Rolex watches. That and afterset cases on Rolex Cartier etc. No thanks

  5. #5
    Craftsman
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    Never used them but I used to live in Reigate.


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  6. #6
    Master
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    Their eBay store says that the company is actually "Hadleighs of Reigate Limited," which was formed in 2018.

    Their Facebook page says "One of the UK s leading watch dealers for many years," so perhaps someone has dealt with or come across James Hadleigh, its Director.
    Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 16th December 2020 at 15:15.

  7. #7
    Craftsman SteveM112's Avatar
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    My Daughter lives in Reigate and i have browsed the shop window many times..

    The shop appeared around 2018 i believe or maybe i just never noticed it before they always had a window full of mainly 4/5 digit references and a good supply of Women's pieces mainly Rolex with a few Cartier pieces..

    How long they have been trading No idea they could have been operating privately without a high street presence for years and like many others at the moment with the current Rolex hype/madness thought it a good time to open a shop.

    I have never traded with them although last year they did have a very nice keenly priced Black 5 digit GMT that took my eye but unfortunately was already sold when i went in the shop.

  8. #8
    Master
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    I've just seen a Rolex valuation that appears to be from Hadleigh & Royal and it bears striking similarities to ones from Ludgate Watches. Wasn't that Jamie Thorpe's business?

  9. #9
    These guys seem to have a lot of women’s Rolex. They slap aftermarket diamond bezels on a lot of them and then charge high prices. I enquired on a watch a year ago and found them condescending.


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  10. #10
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Stonewood View Post
    These guys seem to have a lot of women’s Rolex. They slap aftermarket diamond bezels on a lot of them and then charge high prices. I enquired on a watch a year ago and found them condescending.
    Why does that part of the country seem to have been blessed with such a mixed bag of watch dealers?

    I was encouraged by the following statements on the Facebook page and website :

    "One of the UK s leading watch dealers for many years"
    "Our family run business has and always will be based on three very basic qualities. Price, quality and service."
    "Over the years we have built an enviable reputation..."
    "Known worldwide as one of the UK’s leading watch and diamond specialists"
    "Hadley [sic] and Royal are one of the leading UK specialist in vintage watches"
    "Due to our years of both dealing and collecting watches..."

    Surprised that I had thus not heard of them before, I tried a few searches to see what I had missed. Strangely, I struggled to find anything to substantiate the above, but had to laugh when I noticed on Companies House records that the birth month and year for James Hadleigh appear to be the same as those of Jamie Thorpe! A most unfortunate coincidence, no doubt.

    Considering the long history of reputable dealing and collecting that Hadleigh / Hadley celebrates, surely someone here has come across him, the family or the Company?
    Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 18th December 2020 at 12:30.

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  12. #12
    Grand Master jwg663's Avatar
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    I'm so aged that I always associate the name 'James Hadleigh' with the TV series from the late sixties/early seventies starring Gerald Harper:

    ______

    ​Jim.

  13. #13
    Apprentice
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    An old post, but they seem to have been removed from eBay, after getting a few negative feedbacks in a row.

    Anyone know what has happen?
    As it seemed they were advertising watches below trade price.

  14. #14
    I remember them. They always had loads of women’s older Rolex watches with custom diamond bezels.


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  15. #15
    Master
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    I have just spent fifteen minutes consoling two customers with a watch bought from Hadleigh & Royal / Hadleighs of Reigate Limited.

    It was presented to us with fake dial, fake bracelet parts and fake box, but lots of paperwork, certificates etc.

    I have directed the clients to Trading Standards and noted some similarities to the work of watch conman Jamie Thorpe who is well known in that region, reported to have been banned from acting as a company director without special permission and whose birthday may curiously not be unlike that of Jamie Hadleigh, Director of H of R Ltd.

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    T353xxx

  16. #16
    Craftsman SteveM112's Avatar
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    Visted my Daughter in the area at the weekend and their shop on the high street is no longer trading she tells me it has been closed for several weeks....




    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    I have just spent fifteen minutes consoling two customers with a watch bought from Hadleigh & Royal / Hadleighs of Reigate Limited.

    It was presented to us with fake dial, fake bracelet parts and fake box, but lots of paperwork, certificates etc.

    I have directed the clients to Trading Standards and noted some similarities to the work of watch conman Jamie Thorpe who is well known in that region, reported to have been banned from acting as a company director without special permission and whose birthday may curiously not be unlike that of Jamie Hadleigh, Director of H of R Ltd.

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    T353xxx

  17. #17
    Journeyman
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    Used to be in Reigate regularly. Never seen in a watch in the window for a year at least.

  18. #18
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by SteveM112 View Post
    Visted my Daughter in the area at the weekend and their shop on the high street is no longer trading she tells me it has been closed for several weeks....
    Yes, and some of the 1-star reviews on Google give cause for concern.

    Many might raise an eyebrow if the principal/s reappeared in another business form, doing the same thing.

    Not connected with any of the above, did anyone do business with Aaron Plummer and / or the East Street Watch Company in Brighton ?

  19. #19
    Grand Master Raffe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    Yes, and some of the 1-star reviews on Google give cause for concern.

    Many might raise an eyebrow if the principal/s reappeared in another business form, doing the same thing.

    Not connected with any of the above, did anyone do business with Aaron Plummer and / or the East Street Watch Company in Brighton ?
    LOLZ.
    Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.

  20. #20
    Master
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    Another interesting new watch company that appears to have sprung up in this location doing very similar business : Nobles of Brighton

    Some very familiar things about it.

    Anyone had watch dealings with this Company, or its 23 year old sole Director Paulina Julia Kowalczyk ? With a forum of this size and the claims made on the website, someone here must have, surely?

    It's remarkable how watch businesses seem to keep opening up in that corner of the world. You'd think any new one might have spotted how many others have appeared and quickly disappeared, and wonder what was going on !

    It's nice to see they've picked up lots of positive reviews on Google so quickly. It's funny, but one can't help but notice among the enthusiasts one Aaron Plummer ( of the East Street Watch Co, above ? Who'd have Thorpe it ! ) and one Klaudia Kowalczyk. Perhaps she got super service because of the name coincidence!

    Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 30th November 2022 at 13:15.

  21. #21
    Grand Master Raffe's Avatar
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    I got very excited for a moment when I discovered the "Rolex under £2,500" link on their homepage, but unfortunately they seem to be out of this particular offer at the minute.

    Will check again daily.


    https://noblesofbrighton.co.uk/produ...ex-under-2500/
    Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.

  22. #22
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by Raffe View Post
    I got very excited for a moment when I discovered the "Rolex under £2,500" link on their homepage....
    Did you notice how the website appears to be "inspired" by the old Hadleigh & Royal one ?

    Wonder what Jamie Hadleigh is doing now. Remember him, the chap who seemed to share the same birthday as Jamie Thorpe?

    Ah, yes, Jamie Thorpe....Ludgate Watches etc : https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1603...rolex-watches/
    Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 30th November 2022 at 13:27.

  23. #23
    Grand Master Raffe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    Did you notice how the website appears to be "inspired" by the old Hadleigh & Royal one ?
    There was this something something....
    Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.

  24. #24
    Master
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    Now this is rare :

    https://noblesofbrighton.co.uk/produ...r-214270-39mm/

    It appears to have a Rolex warranty card from Ernest Jones / Leslie Davis and a Rolex warranty card from TIME CITY (HONG KONG) Limited. Wow !

    It's from 2015....er, or is that 2007 ? The 214270 was introduced in 2010 !

    EXPLORER at the top of the dial......kapow! EXPLORER at the bottom of the dial.

    Luminous Arabics......blam! Black-out Arabics. This watch is magic !
    Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 30th November 2022 at 14:17.

  25. #25
    Grand Master
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    Lolz it has ALL the cards you could ever dream of.

  26. #26
    Master
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    Who'd have guessed it ?

    Looks as if NOBLES OF BRIGHTON LTD Company number 14264099 was dissolved in September.

    There will be some who expect another fresh watch business to be open in the region already / open soon. Wearing coloured surgical gloves in all photos seem to be a thing around there.

    Remarkable how some areas of the country see watch businesses with bold claims and apparently huge stocks of watches appear overnight and disappear after a short while of trading, only for another to appear.

  27. #27
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    Who'd have guessed it ?

    Looks as if NOBLES OF BRIGHTON LTD Company number 14264099 was dissolved in September.

    There will be some who expect another fresh watch business to be open in the region already / open soon. Wearing coloured surgical gloves in all photos seem to be a thing around there.

    Remarkable how some areas of the country see watch businesses with bold claims and apparently huge stocks of watches appear overnight and disappear after a short while of trading, only for another to appear.
    NOBLES OF BRIGHTON LTD may have been dissolved, but NOBLES BRIGHTON LTD (Company number 14852161) was incorporate in May 2023, and appear to be selling on Chrono24 with the same fetching hand wear. Is that a coincidence do you think?

  28. #28
    Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by stelmo01 View Post
    NOBLES OF BRIGHTON LTD may have been dissolved, but NOBLES BRIGHTON LTD (Company number 14852161) was incorporate in May 2023, and appear to be selling on Chrono24 with the same fetching hand wear. Is that a coincidence do you think?
    How queer !

    Trading from the same physical address ?

    I can't find details of that second company either on Gov.UK or companycheck, to which I subscribe. Where did you find those details ? I'd like to see if any familiar directors, extended family or acquaintances of a certain chap are involved, etc.

  29. #29
    Grand Master Raffe's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    How queer !

    Trading from the same physical address ?

    I can't find details of that second company either on Gov.UK or companycheck, to which I subscribe. Where did you find those details ? I'd like to see if any familiar directors, extended family or acquaintances of a certain chap are involved, etc.
    It's here, and meet their 23 year old director Paulina KOWALCZYK, who may or may not be identical with Paulina Julia KOWALCZYK, who served as director of NOBLES OF BRIGHTON LTD. Funny how those directors always have a different middle name, so that the person search doesn't resolve.
    Someone who lies about the little things will lie about the big things too.

  30. #30
    Craftsman
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    Quote Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton View Post
    How queer !

    Trading from the same physical address ?

    I can't find details of that second company either on Gov.UK or companycheck, to which I subscribe. Where did you find those details ? I'd like to see if any familiar directors, extended family or acquaintances of a certain chap are involved, etc.
    Well the gloves appear to be the same, as does the registered address and sole Director.

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