A fine timepiece is something that can become an heirloom piece that is passed down from generation to generation. The most iconic timepieces of all time are those that have a timeless aesthetic that endures regardless of the decade during which they were originally designed.
7) Breitling Navitimer
The Breitling Navitimer is the quintessential aviation timepiece. The watch’s iconic dial incorporates a standard chronograph in addition to slide rule functions which were used to help pilots make calculations when the classic watch debuted in 1952. The functional markers exude an air of utility that is elegantly executed, striking the perfect balance between beautiful form and essential function. The beveled bezel of the watch evokes the notion of precision craftsmanship which matches the flight cockpit aesthetic of the dial it frames. While the slide rule functions have since been rendered obsolete by modern technology, the classic design of the face is synonymous with aviation timepieces, giving this Breitling the distinction of being one of the most identifiable and enduring timepieces ever created. This is the quintessential Breitling and one of the hallmarks of the horological world.
6) Tag Heuer Monaco
Tag Heuer has a long and illustrious history in the world of sport and racing, but it was the 1969 release of the Monaco watch that made the Swiss watchmaker a truly household name for most Americans. Steve McQueen donned the Tag Heuer Monaco in the legendary racing film “Le Mans” and the watch’s link to auto racing and its iconic status were forever solidified. It’s hard to look at this Tag Heuer watch without imagining a steering wheel just out of focus in the background behind it and the roar of a well-tuned racing engine providing the soundtrack.
5) Cartier Tank
The Cartier Tank watch was not the first wrist watch, but it was the first wrist watch designed from conception specifically as a wrist watch. Previous efforts featured round cases with straps attached, clearly echoing their pocket watch origins. Leave it to the French to create a square watch case that fits seamlessly with the watch bracelet, creating a minimalist aesthetic that forever changed how wrist watches were designed. Cartier’s tank watch originated in 1917 and endures as a top seller for the luxury goods company due to the lasting style and prolific fashion influence of the design.
4) Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster debuted in 1957 with its simple recessed chronograph design and iconic tachometer bezel surround. The watch’s black dial and white markers denoted a sense of understated sporting elegance, fitting because the watch did not need a flashy design to stand out when it was masking one of the most durable and rugged mechanical watch movements ever created. After a series of rigorous tests simulating the duress that a watch would endure in outer-space, the Omega Speedmaster was deemed qualified for all manned space missions by NASA in 1965. When the Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon in 1969, the watch was universally accepted as a benchmark in sport watch durability and build quality. The Speedmaster is the horological equivalent of the Porsche 911 – the watch has been tweaked a bit over the decades, but the overall design integrity and distinctive features remain intact and the watch exudes a sporting image for the man of taste but is still reliable and built tough unlike some of its more complex competitors. Omega has also made numerous special editions of the Speedmaster over the years due to demand for all things “Speedy” from the watch’s dedicated fan base; it truly is the Porsche 911 of timepieces.
3) Rolex Submariner
The 1953 appearance of the Rolex Submariner was a landmark event in the history of wrist watches. The watch’s revolutionary Oyster case expanded the capability and raised the expectation of sport watches, while the visual style created and defined the very concept of what a sport watch should look like. The Oyster case eschewed the low-profile that characterized men’s wrist watches of the time and instead ushered in an era of sports watches with a masculine aesthetic and stout construction. The Rolex Submariner is THE ubiquitous diving watch and is a household name for even those whom are completely unaware of the horological significance of the timepiece.
2) Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso
The Jaeger LeCoultre Reverso originated in 1931, when the watch’s legendary design was conceived out of practicality. Seeking a watch that could be worn during polo matches without risking damage, the company set out to protect the watch’s glass from being shattered during play. The ingenious solution to this problem was to allow the watch face to swivel, or reverse, by sliding in its base. This utilitarian mechanism rooted in the aristocratic sport of polo appealed to the well-heeled and the elegant execution of the practical design displayed Jaeger LeCoultre’s sense for precision craftsmanship and aesthetic appeal. It should come as no surprise that this meticulously crafted watch that exudes old money refinement is the preferred timepiece of Don Draper.
1) Any Patek Philippe
Patek Philippe is the benchmark by which nearly every other timepiece is measured due to the watchmaker’s meticulous craftsmanship, stunning attention to detail and constant horological innovations. Patek Philippe built its name around developing complex complications that achieve a level of mechanical excellence that few can even imagine touching. These watches are the pinnacle of watchmaking excellence, achieving technical feats that challenge the limits of mechanical engineering, and they are never built to price-points. The standard of excellence that Patek Philippe is synonymous with is something that remains unrivaled in the watchmaking world and rivaled by only a few in other industries. The brand’s watches match the bespoke craftsmanship and luxury feel of Rolls Royce while meeting the technical and performance merits of Ferrari. No wonder many of Patek Philippe’s timepieces cost more than cars from either of those heralded automakers.
The contributor proudly takes care of his deceased grandfather’s Jaeger LeCoultre and his deceased father’s Omega Seamaster.
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