Jura Watches' owner collapsed with £28.5M turnover — reborn by Watchfinder founders

CW Sellors was founded in 1979 in Derbyshire and grew to become one of the UK's best-known multi-brand watch and jewellery retailers, operating through two distinct channels: Jura Watches, the UK's leading pre-owned watch e-commerce platform, and W. Hamond, a chain of high street watch and jewellery stores. Together they generated £28.5 million in annual turnover.

The company entered administration on 15 January 2026, with joint administrators Lee Causer and Ben Peterson of BDO appointed. The collapse was blamed on rising overheads, declining demand for high-end watches and jewellery, and wider market challenges in the luxury sector. Suppliers reported not being paid for months, and the company had stopped responding to communications. Four stores closed immediately and 36 of the ~190 staff were made redundant on the day.

In March 2026, the core trading business was acquired out of administration by a newly formed ownership group combining external investment with the company's existing leadership team. The rescue was led by Stuart Hennell — co-founder of Watchfinder, the UK's largest pre-owned watch specialist, acquired by Richemont in 2018 — and Antony Lindsay, former CEO of a luxury retail group. The business continued trading under its original brands but with new ownership.