For more than 140 years, this small watch shop has been an icon on Calle de la Sal, next to Plaza Mayor, in the heart of Madrid. Each generation has tried to maintain the character and quality of this historic establishment. Here we show you some glimpses of the history of Antigua Relojería.

It was the last quarter of the 19th century, with the Bourbon monarchy recently restored and Pérez Galdós fictionalizing life in a Madrid shaken by social movements, when Don Inocencio López founded Antigua Relojería, first on Calle de las Fuentes and, very shortly after, on Calle de la Sal.

In those years, wall clocks, table clocks, hall clocks, alarm clocks and pocket watches were sold, since it was not until the First World War when the first wristwatches appeared. And yes, even in those years it was called Antigua Relojería despite being new.

In 1906, on the occasion of the wedding of Alfonso XIII, a publication was published to serve as a guide to the great event for both the people of Madrid and the foreigners who flooded Madrid in those days. It featured an advertisement for Antigua Relojería offering small watches for 6 pesetas and repairs with a guarantee.

After the civil war, with the premises badly affected by the conflict, Don Inocencio decided that, after 60 years behind the counter, it was time to rest and he spoke about his situation with his friend Genaro García, from Enciso in La Rioja and representative of Omega in Spain at that time.

With imports from Switzerland stopped, Genaro saw a good option to follow his passion for watchmaking from the other side of the counter and took over Antigua Relojería.

Genaro took over a business that was already quite well-known, but he quickly understood the importance of continuing to grow by making it known to a wider public.

Although until then it was not unusual to find advertisements for Antigua Relojería in the newspapers of the time, from the 40s onwards it became more and more common, often associated with brands such as Omega or Longines or in more elaborate campaigns such as the Certina and Antigua Relojería cartoons that appeared every week on ABC.

In the 50s, he began a project on Radio Intercontinental that Don Genaro was especially proud of, the series “La portera y los vecinos” (The porter and the neighbours), a costumbrist space that brought the family together in the afternoons around the radio.

Don Genaro was accompanied for many years on his journey by Gabriel, a watchmaker so charismatic that many clients still remember him. Later, others joined the Antigua Relojería family, such as Romeo and Ignacio.

In those years, the new generation was already beginning to join the watchmaking business, first Ernesto and, years later, Ángel Manuel learned the trade while finishing their studies.

Ernesto and Ángel Manuel (Genaro's sons) continued the watchmaking legacy by bringing the watchmaking world to television programmes and opening their catalogue to companies of all kinds, without forgetting their ordinary customers.

This generation also had magnificent collaborators such as José Antonio, Joaquín or the brothers Mario and Carlos, sons of Romeo and heirs to his expertise with watches.

In 1980 Antigua Relojería celebrated its first 100 years in style. A couple of decades later, the Madrid City Council recognised the Centenary Madrid shops with plaques designed by Mingote that represent the passing of the years, placed on the ground in front of the establishments. Antigua Relojería proudly displays its own, which dozens of tourists photograph every day.

In the 90s, the third generation began to join, Ignacio (son of Ernesto) became part of the Antigua Relojería family, later joined by Reyes (daughter of Ángel Manuel) and Javier (son of Ernesto) completing what is now the third generation.

At the beginning of the new century, a new watchmaker joined the family, the Relojero de la calle de la Sal, our automaton designed by Antonio Mingote that greets passers-by from the façade.

With the well-deserved retirement of the previous generation, Ignacio, Reyes and Javier were joined by excellent collaborators, Máximo, Antonio, Fernando and, later, Guti and Jesús, who continue to take care of the watches that arrive at the store on a daily basis.

It is lucky to find such good watchmakers when there are fewer and fewer of them.

Even though it is a traditional establishment, Antigua Relojería could not stay behind and not join the evolution of the trade. Our online store serves our customers who cannot come to our premises. It is taken care of by Diana, the last member of the family to join Antigua Relojería.