How cool is it to have a classic James Bond-style classic on
your wrist? The oldest watch brands behind them constantly review their own
archives to restore their longest-lasting and most successful models to a
renewed splendor.
Retro encompasses everything , also in luxury in general. It
recognizes the great legacy that they have left from Christian Dior to Rolex.
There is a lot of sentimentality in it, of recovering times in which no mobile
phone gave you the time. Before, high-end watches were not pieces of art or a
marker of status as now, they were instruments that placed you in time, that
allowed you to guide yourself throughout the day.
This revival has been in fashion for a long time, but while
there was the occasional collector's release years ago, now reissues are a
mainstay in manufacturers' collections.
Most brands center their reissues in the 1950s and 1960s ,
although the 1970s were also rich in bold and memorable designs. Good design is
timeless , as demonstrated by these five vintage watches launched in 2021 with
an eye toward the 20th century. Are these.
The oldest watch brands are constantly digging through their
own archives to bring their longest-lived and most successful models back to
new splendor.
Retro is all-encompassing, also in luxury in general. It
recognizes the great legacy left behind from Christian Dior to Rolex. There is
a lot of sentimentality in it, to recover times when no mobile gave you the
time. Before, high-end watches were not pieces of art or a status marker as
they are now, they were instruments that placed you in time, that allowed you
to drive you through the day.
This revival has been in vogue for a long time, but while
years ago there was the occasional collector's release, now reissues are a
mainstay in manufacturers' collections.
Most brands focus their reissues on the 1950s and 1960s,
although the 1970s were also rich in memorable and daring designs. Good design
is timeless, as these five vintage watches launched in 2021 with an eye on the
20th century prove. They are these.
Montblanc 1858 Split Second Chronograph
This fraction of a second chronograph from the Montblanc
1858 line is new, but it carries the whole history of the 1920s and 1930s of
Minerva , the Swiss watchmaker Richemont, owner of Montblanc, acquired in 2006.
It is made of lime gold , a new alloy of 18-carat gold,
silver and iron that gives it a pale yellowish color. With a 44 mm case, this
is a limited edition of 18 units that sports large cathedral-style hands with
luminescent material (such as the Arabic numerals) and the original Montblanc
logo. A manually wound movement brings it to life, the MB M16.31. Its price? €
50,300.
This split-seconds chronograph from the Montblanc 1858 line
is new, but carries all the history of the 1920s and 1930s of Minerva, the
Swiss watch workshop that Richemont, Montblanc's owner, bought in 2006.
It is made in lime gold, a new alloy of 18-karat gold,
silver and iron that gives it a pale yellowish color. With a 44 mm case, this
is a limited edition of 18 units that sports large cathedral-type hands with
luminescent material (like that of the Arabic numerals) and the original
Montblanc logo. It gives life to a manual winding movement, the MB M16.31. Its
price? 50.300 €.
Zenith Chronomaster Revival A385
The A3853 was one of the first three Zenith watches to
incorporate the manufacture's famous El Primero caliber in 1969 , a
high-frequency automatic chronograph. With a 37mm barrel-style steel case and a
weathered brown smoked dial, this new model reproduces the original.
The only differences are the domed sapphire crystal (instead
of acrylic glass) and the transparent back (instead of the closed solid steel
caseback), which allows the El Primero 400 movement to be seen.
The A3853 was one of the first three Zenith watches to
incorporate the manufacture's famous El Primero caliber, an automatic high-frequency
chronograph, in 1969. With a 37 mm tonneau-type steel case and a brown degraded
and smoked dial, this new model reproduces the original.
The only differences are the domed sapphire crystal (instead
of an acrylic crystal) and the transparent back (instead of the closed solid
steel caseback), which allows a view of the El Primero 400 movement.
Tissot Heritage Visodate Powermatic 80
Recovering the charm of vintage , the Swiss Tissot has
replicated an original model of the firm from the 50s , with its original
heritage logo , 42 mm case and date at 3 o'clock. Of course, in this case the
Powermatic 80.121 movement has been added , with an 80-hour power reserve and
Nivachrom spiral, which increases the precision of the watch because it is more
resistant to electromagnetic fields.
Restoring the charm of vintage, the Swiss Tissot has
reproduced a model of the original signature of the 50's, with its
heritageoriginal logo, 42 mm case and date at 3 o'clock. Of course, in this
case it has added the Powermatic 80.121 movement, with a power reserve of 80
hours and Nivachrom hairspring, which increases the accuracy of the watch
because it is more resistant to electromagnetic fields.
Top Time God of Breitling
It was the first novelty that Breitling discovered in 2021,
a limited edition model of 1,500 pieces that is based on the Top Time that
Willy Breitling devised in the early 1960s, grandson of the founder of the
house and president of the same between 1932 and 1979. It was the chronograph
that James Bond, played by Sean Connery, wore in the 1965 film Operation
Thunder .
Featuring square to round chronograph counters and an orange
ray-shaped chronograph hand , the silver dial features yellow accents such as
the rectangular hour and minute hands, which are fitted with luminescent
material. It measures 42 mm and houses an automatic caliber with chronometer
certificate by the COSC (Swiss Official Control of Chronometers), the highest
authority in terms of horological precision.
It was the first innovation that Breitling discovered in
2021, a limited edition model to 1,500 copies that is based on the Top Time
that devised in the early 60s Willy Breitling, grandson of the founder of the
house and president of the same between 1932 and 1979. It was the chronograph
that James Bond, played by Sean Connery, wore in the 1965 film Operation
Thunder.
Featuring square to round chronograph counters and an orange
chronograph hand in the shape of a lightning bolt, there are yellow details on
the silver dial, such as the rectangular hour and minute hands, which feature
luminescent material. It measures 42 mm and houses an automatic caliber with
chronometer certification by the COSC (Swiss Official Chronometer Testing
Institute), the highest instance in terms of watchmaking precision.
Longines DolceVita
DolceVita is the family that Longines launched in 1997 to
interpret the classic taste of the 20s and 30s , when the Art Deco style that
had emerged in Europe and its defined geometric shapes was on the rise. A
century has passed and the charm of this style has not died. It is revived by
models like this one from 2021, automatic with a rectangular case (27.70 x
43.80 mm) in steel and with rounded shapes. The sector by sector is also
typical of Art Deco.
DolceVita is the family that Longines launched in 1997 to
express the classic taste of the 20s and 30s, when the art deco style that had
emerged in Europe and its defined geometric shapes was booming. A century has
passed and the charm of this style has not died. It is revived by models such
as this 2021 automatic with a rectangular case (27.70 x 43.80 mm) in steel and
rounded shapes. The dial by sectors is also typical of art deco.