Reach the people who actually open the caseback.
The Balance Wheel is a parts shop and a working community for watchmakers, modders and serious collectors across the UK. If your product or service belongs on the bench or in the collection, this is a focused place to be seen.
A defined enthusiast audience
Every visitor is here for watches, movements, parts and tools — no broad-consumer waste.
A working community
Watchmakers and collectors asking real questions in the forums, alongside the wider shop traffic — a niche, engaged readership.
Context, not clutter
One advert per placement, always labelled, and never in the checkout. Members on a paid plan don’t see ads at all.
Where your advert can run
Fixed placements across the shop and the community. Supply creative at the size shown.
| Placement | Where | Size | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home — primary banner | storefront | 970 x 90 | Leaderboard on the home page, between the best-sellers row and the training feature. |
| Category grid — in-feed | storefront | 300 x 250 | Card placed inside the product grid on category pages (first page only). |
| Product page — sidebar | storefront | 300 x 250 | Sidebar unit on the product detail page, below the buy box. |
| Forum home — top card | forum | 728 x 120 | Card on the community index, below the welcome bar. |
| Topic list — in-feed | forum | 640 x 64 | Native row inside a forum topic list (first page only). |
| Topic — after first post | forum | 600 x 160 | Card shown after the opening post of a topic (first page only). |
| Forum sidebar | forum | 300 x 250 | Sidebar unit in the community right-hand rail. |
| Global footer strip | global | 970 x 90 | Slim strip above the newsletter sign-up on every page. Off by default. |
Rate card
Indicative monthly rates, ex VAT. Every booking is confirmed with a written quote and availability — placements are sold on a shared rotation and can sell out.
Community
Reach the forum audience — watchmakers, modders and collectors talking shop.
£75 / month
- Forum sidebar unit (300 × 250)
- Community home card (728 × 120)
- Shared rotation, monthly reporting
- One creative, swap once per month
Storefront
Sit alongside the catalogue where buyers are actively researching parts.
£150 / month
- Category in-feed card (300 × 250)
- Product page sidebar (300 × 250)
- Home page leaderboard rotation (970 × 90)
- Shared rotation, monthly reporting
- Up to two creatives
Full Network
Every placement across the shop and the community, with priority rotation.
£275 / month
- All storefront and community placements
- Priority weighting in every slot
- Home and footer leaderboards (970 × 90)
- Fortnightly performance summary
- Unlimited creative swaps
Newsletter feature
from £120 per send
A dedicated block in the Balance Wheel mailing-list send.
Sponsored guide
from £350
A clearly labelled article in the Balance Wheel journal, written with your team.
Quarterly booking
10% off
Pay for three months up front.
Annual booking
two months free
Twelve months for the price of ten.
We keep it relevant
We only run advertising that fits watchmaking, watch collecting and the wider horology trade, and we don’t run adverts for retailers or distributors selling the same product categories we stock. Everything is reviewed before it goes live, clearly labelled, and can be paused at any time.
Read the full advertising guidelinesA quick sense of what fits
Yes: movement and parts manufacturers, tool makers, watchmaking schools and courses, timing and pressure-test equipment, dial and case makers, insurers and valuers, watch fairs and collector events, workshop software, and watch photography or servicing services.
No: shops selling the same movements, parts, straps or tools we sell; anything outside the niche; and anything unlawful, misleading or off-brand. Full detail in the guidelines.