A pre-owned watch business has recorded its highest sales rise in 12 years after appearing at a top industry exhibition.

Maidstone-based Watchfinder saw its turnover increase to £2.3m in November, a rise of 71% year on year, following the SalonQP exhibition.

The firm was the official ticket partner of the fine watch event held at the Saatchi Gallery in Chelsea.

Holding the largest collection of pre-owned watches in the UK, the company’s bosses felt they were able to dispel some preconceptions about buying second-hand time pieces.

The firm’s website is visited by four million people a year.

Watchfinder brand director Lloyd Amsdon said: “Engaging with SalonQP’s visitors over three days was a fantastic opportunity to promote the company.

“We were also able to gain significant insight into the buying habits of our customers to find out what we do well, and – most importantly for a company in a period of significant growth and expansion – what we need to improve on.”

SalonQP founder and director James Gurney said: “To learn that Watchfinder had its single best week of trading thanks to SalonQP is both highly pleasing and is a very direct proof of the impact SalonQP can have.”

Founded in 2002, Watchfinder is also home to a 4,000sqft service centre, which services, repairs and refurbishes 570 watches a month.