Letter From The Editor Welcome To HODINKEE Australia & New Zealand!

Down Under, we love watches.

Australia and New Zealand have long been home to some of the most passionate watch collectors in the world, and Aussies and Kiwis have never been more interested in watchmaking.

It wasn’t always this way. The tyranny of distance has often defined Australia’s relationship with the trends and cultures of the rest of the world. Back in the day, ‘Australian fashion’ was seen as something of a punchline, thanks to our isolation and out-of-sync seasons. Watch culture too, similarly a degree removed: whilst Australia has long been a wealthy country, home to those with the means to seriously collect watches, the lack of availability, along with a cultural disposition towards both understated displays of wealth and sporty practicality, meant that watch fanciers here haven’t always been in step with the rest of the world… Except for maybe with our mates across the ditch in NZ.

Of course, this is no longer true. Melbourne, for example, is one of the most design-conscious cities on the planet – and one only has to stroll up the ‘Paris end’ of Collins Street to find plenty of watch boutiques. As a born-and-bred Sydneysider, it amazes me how much of a watch town Sydney has become, with George, Pitt, Market and Castlereagh Streets home to an increasingly large roster of increasingly high-end watchmakers. That’s to say nothing of the exceptional array of vintage dealers and collectors that dot arcades and galleries across the land.

On that note: Australia is also a country that has long been culturally defined by the friendly rivalry between its two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne. That’s not lost on us at HODINKEE Australia & New Zealand: so we’ll be splitting our time and focus between these two great towns, to make sure both cities’ communities of enthusiasts are catered for. We’re already planning an exciting array of events in both Melbourne and Sydney (and beyond – here’s looking at you, Auckland), so watch this space.

The timing’s perfect for the launch of HODINKEE ANZ. Not only has watch culture well and truly become mainstream here – whether that’s thanks to Russell Crowe’s watch TikTok or Marc Newson’s impact on modern watch design – but Australia in particular is really starting to see the emergence of a proper local watchmaking scene: just take Reuben Schoots, the self-taught George Daniels method wunderkind from Canberra who’s caught the eyes of Kari Voutilainen; Nicholas Hacko, who isn’t just pioneering titanium guilloche techniques but also manufacturing parts for space programs on the side; or Bausele, which literally embeds a piece of Australia in every one of its watch’s crowns…

We’re so proud to be flying the HODINKEE flag Down Under. We’ve got a rare opportunity to create a new publication and community together, by watch lovers and for watch lovers. We’re here to bring stories, events and opportunities to life that really resonate with local readers, from Perth to Parramatta, Prahran to Paeroa and everywhere in between.

So, g’day! Welcome to HODINKEE Australia & New Zealand. We’ll be kicking things off with our coverage of Watches and Wonders 2026 in Geneva (we’re on the ground right now, so follow us at @hodinkeeaustralia on Instagram!) and we’ll be expanding our team of writers and contributors as the year goes on.

If you’re into watch culture here in Australia, you probably know me from my time as the Managing Editor of Time+Tide and Editor of DMARGE. There’ll be some other familiar names that will be joining the team, too, but I’m also looking forward to introducing you to more and emerging voices that, like you, just love watches.

I’m also very much looking forward to the imminent publishing of HODINKEE ANZ’s first-ever print edition, something I know my fellow enthusiasts have been waiting for, for a very long time.

2026 is set to be a big year for watches and watch culture. Join us for the ride.

Cheers,
Jamie