Next we meet Ed Margulies, a third-generation watchmaker and founder of Split Watches. Previously he led UK distribution for some of the world’s most prestigious watch brands, such as Hublot, Richard Mille and Audemars Piguet.
Split breaks away from the heritage and tradition that many watch brands hold onto. Instead, Split is for those who seek something more bold and expressive than the usual excess. It’s a modern timepiece, crafted with innovative materials, designed for the modern world.
We hear Ed’s fascinating personal journey of overcoming trauma and launching the Split brand as a catalyst to foster open dialogue around mental wellbeing.
MWM: How is business?
EM: Plenty of challenges that face us all but I guess that can makes life more interesting. We’re barely 3 months old and proud of what me and the small team at Split have achieved so far.
MWM: Where are your current business priorities?
EM: We will always be a predominantly e-commerce brand but I’d like to find a couple of interesting retail partners.
MWM: Tell us something we don’t know about Split watches
EM: Would have to be the connections we’ve made along the Split journey which is now happening with people around the world. Our clients are embracing our brand philosophy. They’re an incredibly kind group of individuals.
MWM: Which watch do you wear?
EM: It’s more a question of which colour Split I choose to wear.
EM: I sold a Paul Newman Daytona about 30 years ago. It was one of the finest examples of the watch id ever seen. Dial was original & impeccable and watch was in mint condition. However I’d only be able to buy it back at the price I sold it for! There are a few extra 000’s on the price tag now.
I try to find the right moments to also wear my vintage Longines 13ZN Sommatore. Bought it 30 years ago and hope it gives as much pleasure to my son as it does me.
MWM: Which watch would you like to own?
EM: I sold a Paul Newman Daytona about 30 years ago. It was one of the finest examples of the watch I’d ever seen. Dial was original & impeccable and the watch was in mint condition. However I’d only be able to buy it back at the price I sold it for! There are a few extra 000’s on the price tag now.
Would love to one day own a Roger Smith (above). He’s a true champion of independent British watchmakers.
MWM: What do you like best about the watch business?
EM: The ability to create so many different variations of a watch in such a small space. Creativity is very much alive.
Would also be the people I’ve met during my time in the industry including the likes of Walter Von Kanel, Jean Claude Biver and Gino Macaluso. The characters behind the watches fascinate me as much as the watches themselves.
MWM: What don’t you like about the watch business?
EM: That fact an Apple watch is now by far the biggest player in the game. I’d like to think a watch should have a movement inside. Checked every single dictionary definition but a watch is considered a watch only if it tells the time.
MWM: What is next on the horizon for you?
EM: A Split GMT which we’re hoping to launch in Spring 2026.
Ed Margulies is a Friend of MrWatchMaster