Quality and Legacy. These are the two most potent essences that bring a journey from a regular watch into the world's most iconic signature watch. Although a brand can be in the industry for a long time, being a well-known "iconic" model takes a long journey.
What makes a watch "iconic"?
Generally, a watch described as "iconic" should be of high quality, with durability or an innovative feature being just two possibilities—their legacy. A watch's brand is often defined by its impact on the watchmaking industry and its lasting impression in the world of watches.
Knowing what types of watches to buy and collect can be challenging for those just starting as watch collectors (*Trust me, I've been there, too.. :D .. ). But for, experienced collectors mostly prefer stashing timepieces from one specific brand.
10 of the most iconic watches of all time
1)Rolex submariner
The Rolex Submariner is the first watch that comes to mind when most people think of a luxury sports watch. Ask 10 people randomly about a watch brand, and 9 out of 10 people will answer ROLEX. This fact alone has made the Submariner the most popular luxury dive watch for decades.
The first Rolex Submariner was released in 1953, and the model is still manufactured today. The Submariner was never meant to be a luxury product but rather a sports watch that anyone could enjoy. It attained the status of being a "damn good watch" later in the 1980s when Rolex began to be the most desirable watch brand. The longevity of this model has allowed it to build its reputation as a high-quality timepiece and become intertwined with many significant events in history.
2) Omega Speedmaster
The Omega Speedmaster Chronograph was introduced in 1957. It was one of the first watches to include a chronograph function. In 1969, the Speedmaster became the first watch worn on the moon. Since then, it has been popular with watch enthusiasts, who appreciate its precision timing and robust design.
Omega's Speedmaster is one of the most popular watches among chronograph fans. Whether you fancy a vintage manually wound Speedmaster 3570.50 or a modern co-axial automatic, you'll own a piece of horological history! The watch has evolved slowly and maintains its value very well.
3) Jaeger Le-Coulture Reverso
In 1931, the Reverso was introduced. It was the first watch created by Jaeger and LeCoultre. The watch was instantly popular among members of Britain's societies of elites who wore it while playing polo in colonial (India). The rectangular case was originally flipped to reveal a solid metal back to protect itself from harm.
The proportioned timepiece's art deco and princely mannerisms made it a popular choice among elites, especially in Europe. In 1933, LeCoultre began producing its movements and continued making the Reverso until World War II halted production. The watch was reintroduced in the 1980s when it became popular again. Today it is prevalent among men who appreciate its classic styling and its timeless, art deco, and handsome appearance.
4) Tag Heuer Monaco
The Heuer Monaco was launched in 1969 and named for the famous Monaco GP Formula One. It features a square case and an automatic movement, Calibre 11. The Tag Heuer Monaco was a resounding success, partly because the innovative Calibre 11 movement matched its unique style. The Calibre 11 is now as iconic as the watch itself. Steve McQueen wore the watch in the 1971 film Le Mans, and vintage and limited edition Monacos are incredibly desirable.
5) Cartier Tank
"I don't wear a Tank to tell the time. In fact, I never wind it. I wear a Tank because it's the watch to wear."
- Andy Warhol.
Many celebrities, including Andy Warhol, have worn Cartier's Tank watch. The watch was designed by Louis Cartier in 1917 and took its name from the Renault FT-17, a tank used in World War I.
The Cartier Tank watch was first given as a gift to General John Pershing in 1918 after he led the United States troops to victory in World War I. By 1920, the company sold this watch to the public through retail stores. However, it took some time for this popular watch to gain recognition in American households. Cartier's Tank series has been the brand's mainstay since its inception. With its thin rectangular case, polished bezel and bold Roman numerals on the dial, this watch is instantly noticeable to anyone who owns it.
6) Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
It was first introduced in the Bazelworld in 1972, back in the 70s, when the Swiss watch industry was experiencing a crisis. Audemars Piguet decided to create a unique sports watch made of steel. A material that was never used for watchmaking. Living through their ethos:
"To break the rules, you must first master them"
- Audemars Piguet.
The Royal Oak became successful and is still revered for its octagonal bezel and divulged screws. Its design influenced many other iconic watches from succeeding generations.
7) Seiko Astron
On December 25, 1969, Seiko launched the world's first quartz watch. This changed the industry and forced manufacturers of mechanical timepieces to innovate. But the innovation doesn't stop there. Seiko has developed a solar-powered quartz movement that doesn't require charging or winding. A network of GPS satellites adjusts the time at your specific location at the touch of a button.
8) Breitling Navitimer
Breitling's Navitimer is a legendary watch known for its reliability. The Navitimer watch is known to be the successor of a 1942 Breitling watch, which featured a slide rule bezel. The Navitimer gained its name as a timepiece created specifically for aviators, partly thanks to its association with the United States Air Force. It was originally designed for pilots in the aviation industry, but nowadays, many people wear it, including actor John Travolta, who also happens to be the brand ambassador of Breitling.
In addition to being an automatic chronograph movement with a column-wheel mechanism and chronometer certification, it also has manual winding capabilities.
9) Longines Lindbergh
Longines' Hour Angle watch was a landmark in navigation watches. It was designed by Charles A. Lindbergh, who used the navigation system of Philip Van Horn Weems (US Navy officer) to build upon his design. The watch had a rotating disc that allowed its wearer to synchronise the second's hand with a radio GMT signal, after which Lindbergh developed the Hour Angle watch.
Although this timepiece may seem too technical to work, it is a combination of several different elements. The Hour Angle hand indicates the hour angle above the horizon. The sextant enables one to measure the elevation angle of celestial bodies above the horizon for both navigation and surveying purposes. And finally, the nautical almanac calculates longitude and latitude for determining geographical positions.
10) Casio G-Shock
Casio engineer didn't discover the need for a G-Shock watch by chance. After dropping and breaking his father's pocket watch, in 1982, an engineer named Kikuo Ibe was working on a design for a durable watch that could withstand 10 metres of fall and have 10 years of battery life. His team created 200 prototypes but still couldn't figure out how to meet the criteria. One day at a playground, Ibe noticed that rubber balls bounce well because their centres don't suffer much impact when they land.
In 1983, Casio launched the G-Shock DW-5000C. To achieve a triple ten standard (10 bars of shock-resistance), it had 10 layers protecting the quartz timekeeping module, including a urethane rubber bumper, a stainless steel case and a hardened mineral glass watch crystal. This watch was tested by turning it into a hockey puck and found to resist impacts from any angle. Today, its design heredity can be seen in all G-Shock models.