Watch manufacturers have been riding the wave of vintage-inspired designs and heritage collections for decades. Celebrating the best of the past as a tribute to their durability and classic designs, watchmakers reinvent and relaunch newer versions in keeping with the times. But one thing remains, the timelessness of style.
From celebrating 100 years of timekeeping heritage to bringing back timepieces that once upon a time made it to the spotlight (see TAG Monaco in Le Mans), here are some luxury watches that are taking cues from masterpieces of the past.
ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL DAY-DATE 40
Making its debut in 1956, the Rolex Day-Date was the first watch to display the date and day of the week spelt out in full in a window on the dial itself. The dial bears the same distinct style of Rolex timepieces that have gained their place of precedence due to being designed and manufactured in-house, largely by hand, to ensure perfection. Rolex watched are made for influential people.
Reference number: 228235
Rs5,348,600
Available at Chatham Luxury Watches
The 1858 collection is inspired by the heritage of Minerva, one of Switzerland’s most revered timekeeping specialists. Taking design cues from its 1930s predecessor, this collection is given a new, contemporary vintage expression. This watch comes with a fluted crown and large white luminescent Arabic numerals that are reminiscent of early days.
Reference number: 115073
Rs560,000
Available at Turret
RAYMOND WEIL FREELANCER CHRONOGRAPH AUTOMATIC
The Titanium-cased Raymond Weil Freelancer Automatic Chronograph featuring Swiss Mechanical Automatic (Self-Winding) recharges itself using the movements of your wrist and has a power reserve of 46 hours. The Freelancer collection is known for its unique design mix of sporty and modest.
Reference number: 7745-TI-05659
Rs463,105
Available at Turret
BAUME AND MERCIER CLASSIMA EXECUTIVES STEEL XL
This self-winding, automatic watch features a 42mm stainless steel case surrounding a silver dial on a brown crocodile strap with a stainless steel deployant buckle. Functions include hours, minutes, small-seconds, date and chronograph.
Reference number: M0A08692
Rs499,500
Available at Turret
Holding a special place in history, the Autavia line was initially launched under Jack Heuer’s leadership in 1962, with a number of variations produced over 1962-1985 leading to its cult status in the watch collecting community. Vintage Autavia models have skyrocketed in price over the last years, leading TAG to re-launch a new version in 2016. ‘Autavia’ is a combination of ‘automotive’ and ‘aviation’.
Reference number: CBE2110.BA0687
Rs750,000
Available at Colombo Jewellery Stores
OMEGA SPEED MASTER ‘57 CHRONOGRAPH 38.6MM (THE 1957 TRILOGY)
Released as a 60th anniversary tribute in 1957, this Speedmaster is based on the original “Broad Arrow”, the first Speedmaster and first chronograph watch in the world with its tachymeter on the bezel as opposed to printed on the dial. The 2017 model perfectly matches each feature of the original.
Reference number: 311.10.39.30.01.001
Rs1,110,000
Available at Chatham Luxury Watches
MONTBLANC TIME WALKER CHRONOGRAPH UTC
This year, Montblanc is revamping its TimeWalker collection and released the TimeWalker Chronograph UTC as a part of the reimagined collection. The black dial on the new chronograph is laid out like an old car dashboard with two vertically aligned subsidiary dials for the chronograph, and a bright red seconds hand with a Minerva- inspired arrowhead tip.
Referece number: 116102
Rs982,800
Available at Turret
HUBLOT CLASSIC FUSION ULTRA THIN
This ultra-thin watch combines subtle design elements and high-quality materials to create the most classical timepiece in the Hublot collection. This hand-wound watch is definitely for those who value fine watch-making tradition. From the outset to this timepiece, Hublot has embodied design and innovation that differs markedly from the established watchmaking order.
Reference number: 515.NX.2210.LR
Rs1,898,000
Available at Colombo Jewellery Stores
Cartier’s Tank watch collection, designed in 1917 to be unisex and gender neutral, is turning 100 this year. Louis Cartier’s inspiration for the design of the now-iconic Tank collection was a military tank, a symbol of safety and power. The Tank Solo honours the unique aesthetic that lies behind the collection’s success, while reworking the model with a number of variations.
Reference number: WSTA0028
Rs428,000
Available at Chatham Luxury Watches
JAEGER-LE COULTRE REVERSO CLASSIC LARGE DUOFACE
The Reverso Classic Large Duoface is known for its two dials and two timezones driven by a single automatic movement. On the front, the dial displays the Reverso’s emblematic features like Arabic numerals, “railtrack” minute circle and day/night indicator; and on the back, the reference time is shown on a black dial with hour markers arranged in the shape of the sun’s rays.
Reference number: 3838420
Rs2,029,000
Available at Chatham Luxury Watches
IWC BIG PILOT’S HERITAGE WATCH 48
Compared to the original on which it’s based, the Big Pilot’s Heritage Watch 48 makes concessions to its design, style, comfort and functionality in keeping with the times. The weight of the 48-millimetre case was kept down to 120 grams primarily using lightweight titanium. The chapter ring, Arabic numerals and propeller-like hands are all beige, as on the original model.
Reference number: IW510301
Rs2,323,000
Available at Chatham Luxury Watches
Since its debut in 1969 with the (then non-TAG) Heuer Monaco 1133B, the Monaco has enjoyed countless iterations from re-editions to tribute pieces. Only one from among a handful of square-dialed watches have managed to catch on—and this is certainly one. The new TAG Heuer Monaco allows Heuer Monaco fans to get a taste of owning the original, with very minor differences.
Reference number: CAW211P.FC6356
Rs825,000
Available at Colombo Jewellery Stores