Classic watches retain their appeal over time. Some have been around for centuries. In our fast-paced lives, these streamlined beauties bring constancy and reassurance. Like these nine watches in this list.
The world evolves every year, and there are always new trends and styles each year. Sometimes what is considered unique could be a revival of what is in the past. Inspired by the World War, retro, and art deco, it is what makes a timeless timepiece. Inspiration, memories, and signature concepts were some of the essences found in this list.
Cartier Tank Americaine
Tank watches are a popular accessory for watch collectors. The Tank Américaine, introduced in 1989, has an elongated rectangular case that curves at the corners and gives it a distinctive look.
The watch was inspired by the Renault tanks used during World War I, followed the design tenets of the curved, ergonomic silhouette of Louis Cartier's iconic Tank Cintrée of 1921 but featured rounded case sides and lugs as well as a restyled railroad minute track with rounded ends.
Hamilton Intra-matic 68 Auto Chrono
In 2017, Hamilton announced the release of a new automatic chronograph, the Intra-Matic 68. It's a throwback to the vintage chronographs produced by the maker in the 1960s, specifically the Chrono-Matic, that are well established today.
Back in 1968, Hamilton released Chronograph A and Chronograph B.
One where the former had a black face with white subsidiary dials
The latter had a white face with black subsidiary dials.
Both watches were powered by the Valjoux 7730 at launch, but later they switched to the Valjoux 7734. Hamilton eventually released the Chrono-Matic with a left-hand crown; it is safe to say that the new Intra-Matic 68 is aesthetically a combination of all three of these watches.
The new release comes in a 42mm steel case with primary pump-style pushers for the chronograph. The dial is a reverse panda dial with a black base and white subsidiary dials, and if those things don't bother you, it presents good value and is a lovely tribute to some historic chronographs.
Jaeger-LeCoulture Master Control Date
Master Control Date presents time in a new light. This beautiful watch reveals its functions with perfect legibility:
Details of the minute track.
Hours and hour-markers with their assertive-bold silhouette.
The date appears in a tone-on-tone aperture situated at 3 o'clock.
Beneath the sapphire crystal case-back, onlookers can admire Jaeger-LeCoultre Calibre 899 movement designed, produced and assembled at the Manufacture. The centre of the dial and minute track mimics the colour of the calfskin strap, which is finished in the same shade. These innovations help this watch to have a 70-hour power reserve. It's limited to 800 pieces, so it will surely be popular.
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Longines Heritage Military
Vintage and classic-inspired watches have been popular for a long time. Longines has mastered the art of making vintage-inspired timepieces. The brand's Heritage collection is full of great watches that link to Longines' estimable past. Longines expands its heritage collection with a new watch inspired by a 1940s model dedicated to Britain's Royal Air Force.
Longines' latest heritage model, the Longines Heritage Military, comes with a curved and fully polished bezel and box-form sapphire crystal. The watch houses an automatic movement (the L888.2) inside yet stands out among Longines' contemporary offerings as it does not bear the "automatic" label on its dial but instead carries the tribute of watchmaking as it was done in the 1940s.
Omega Seamaster Railmaster
Today, many people are buying steel-modelled sports watches. And for good reason. Nearly all day-to-day watches can take a bit of a beating. And honestly, there are plenty of very solid options available. In 2017, Omega released a three-watch box set commemorating the 60th anniversary of its most iconic models. Each watch was inspired after a 1957 reference:
The Seamaster 300 CK2913
The Railmaster CK2914
The Speedmaster CK2915
The set contained all three watches as well as some extras such as an engraved wooden box. Each was sold individually and part of this limited run of 557 pieces only.
The Railmaster had been out of production for many years and was reintroduced in 2012 with a new size, dials and various strap options. The Trilogy 1957 model has a 38mm wide steel case, Omega's signature lyre lugs and an almost perfectly replicated "tropical" dial in greyish-brown/black with broad arrow hour and minute hands, a needle-like seconds hand and beige "Super-Lumi Nova" on the hands and indices.
Oris Divers Sixty-Five
The Oris Divers Sixty-Five stands out as one of the most famous watch collections of recent years, a retro re-edition that exceeded all expectations. The Oris Divers Sixty-Five's most polarising feature is its vintage "charm." In hand, this watch feels like a vintage, timeless timepiece.
Inside the solid case-back is Oris's calibre 733 automatic movement, with a red winding rotor that has become Oris's signature feature. This base movement is found in many watches from other brands.
The Divers-Sixty watch from Oris is a well-made timepiece that should last you a lifetime. The premium-grade Swiss Sellita SW-300 movement could have been used, this would have raised the price point of the watch. You can expect the watch to keep good time and function reliably if it is serviced regularly by a competent watchmaker. Replacement parts are readily available, so you don't have to worry about your watch dying prematurely.
Tag Heuer Autavia Automatic
In 1933, Heuer introduced the Autavia stopwatch. The name would continue in its catalogue for decades to come. The Autavia was used as a single timer, or it could be paired with the Hervue 8-day clock on a back plate. The TAG Heuer Autavia, the first of the company’s “Big Three” references and predating Monaco and Carrera, is the ultimate tool for adventurers everywhere. It has been trusted for decades and has always been at the cutting edge of its era through its readability and watertight compressor case.
Since 1962, there have been over 85 Autavia models in a variety of colours and shapes. In the 1960s and 1970s, Autavias were black and white (or white and black). The modern C-shaped case was introduced in the 1970s, along with bursts of colour such as yellow and orange (these were particularly popular during that decade). "Red" was first used as an accent on compressor cases in the late 1960s, but it dominated the 1970s; it evoked a strong theme of motor racing.
In 2022, to honour the collection's 60-year legacy, TAG Heuer released a tribute to the intoxicating freedom of the open road. The new Autavia watches will feature updated codes from the original watch and bold, contemporary looks.
Tudor Heritage Chronograph
Though other sports-oriented brands, including Rolex's sister company Tudor, had been making sports watches for years by the time Tudor entered the market, it was slow to get into the game. Sports watches were already a big part of its collection by the 1960s, with Submariners playing the superstar role and later followed by exploration watches.
Tudor started producing chronographs in 1970. These early chronographs were designed accordingly to the slightly psychedelic feel of that decade. The earliest Tudor chronographs were;
The 70xx series
The 71xx series
Both series are excellent sources of inspiration for the watch now known as the Tudor Heritage Chronograph.
The Tudor Heritage Chronograph Blue 7033B is based on the same visual and technical architecture as the Grey and Black versions, sharing case, movement and bracelet with a 12-hour scale. However, its dial is different: with a light grey central part and orange accents, it revived the bright and catchy blue colour scheme. The dial of the 7033 evolved into the dial of the 7169. The newer version featured a rectangular marker dial with a different sub-dial track. Tudor has brought back the vintage flair of the 1970s without making a watch that feels outdated.
Zenith El Primero 38mm
The Zenith El Primero Chronomaster (38mm) is the company's most popular signature reproduction of a classic chronograph that has been admired for over 50 years. Zenith's El Primero watch collection is a direct descendant of the classic A386 watch, although it does not precisely replicate the original design.
The A386 is the most iconic model in the El Primero trilogy of watches introduced in 1969. This series was created by Zenith to feature its newly developed and innovative movement (El Primero calibre) and was regarded as one of the earliest automatic chronograph movements. As mentioned, the brand has a watch in its portfolio that can be seen as a tribute to this vintage model: the Zenith El Primero Chronomaster (38mm).
