Art deco style in perfection: Girard Perregaux Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moonphase

Sensual forms, exclusive abundance: In the early 20th century, the Art Deco style dominated art and architecture. A prime example of the stepped forms, aerodynamic curves and clear symmetry of the style is New York’s Chrysler Building. Girard Perregaux provides a second ideal with the Vintage 1945 XXL Large Date Moonphase (Ref. 25882-11-121-BB6B), whose rectangular case is most striking for its strong curvature.

Together with its sapphire crystal, the moderately sized retro wristwatch is curved in a way that ensures a perfect fit to the wearer’s wrist. A look at the dial reveals several highlights: In addition to the ornate typography of the Arabic numerals, we are particularly touched by the moon phase, which could not be more in keeping with the vintage romanticism of the luxury watch. Dauphine hands, small seconds and railroad minute track complete the noble look. The curved Art Deco classic is powered by the in-house automatic movement GP03300, the decoration of which is revealed through a glass back and, like all the details of the watch, testifies to absolute top class.

Elegant journey back in time to the 30s: MIDO Multifort Powerwind Limited Edition

In 1934, in the midst of the Art Deco heyday, MIDO launched its legendary Multifort collection, which remained the company’s absolute best-seller until 1950, combining four features that were revolutionary at the time: Water resistance, shock resistance, magnetic protection and an automatic winding mechanism. Today, the wristwatch is pure retro and returns to the spotlight with the MIDO Multifort Powerwind Limited Edition (Ref. M040.407.16.060.00): limited to 1,954 pieces, the beauty seduces its beholder with the midnight blue sunburst of its domed dial and displays maximum attention to detail despite its affordable price range. Applied indices and diamond-cut hands in rose gold color bring life to the retro wristwatch, whose automatic ETA 2836-2 movement has a coveted COSC certificate. At the same time, the 40-millimeter case impresses with a stylish mix of polished and brushed stainless steel. The only point of criticism: the white Day-Date complication, which is useful, but brings a break in the symmetry and midnight blue elegance of the wristwatch.

Homage to a diving icon: Oris Divers Sixty-Five

Vintage or retro? With the Oris Divers Sixty-Five, the independent manufacturer from Hölstein addresses both target groups and presents a spectacular variety of models. The 100-meter water-resistant timepiece is based on a legendary diver’s watch from 1965, with which Oris successfully entered the maritime segment. One of our clear favorites is the bicolor version in stainless steel and bronze (Ref. 01 733 7707 4355-07 8 20 17): It’s not just the rarity of the copper-tin alloy and its strong patina that set the watch apart from the crowd, but also the two-tone aesthetic, which brings a sympathetic touch of the eighties to the wrist. Paired with the blue of the dial and its clear curvature, the result is an expressive overall image with an impressive character. Technically, the retro wristwatch has no weaknesses: While the Sellita-based 733 automatic movement guarantees reliable propulsion, the relatively compact diameter of 40 millimeters is reminiscent of the slim dimensions that characterized distinguished men’s watches in the mid-20th century.

Purist elegance of the sixties: Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date

Socially, the sixties were a time of upheaval and went down in history as an upbeat, free-thinking decade. Horology was distinguished by timeless classics with beautiful lines during the heyday of the Beatles and miniskirts, as demonstrated by the Glashütte Original Sixties Panorama Date (Ref. 2-39-47-06-02-04). The aesthetic journey through time begins on the domed dial, where slightly curved hands and striking numerals, completely unconventional in the Sixties style, capture our gaze. The eye is captured by the panoramic date: inspired by the famous clock in Dresden’s Semper Opera House, it is a trademark of the luxury manufacturer and blends seamlessly into the overall picture. We also can’t get enough of the stainless steel case of the retro wristwatch and its seductive simplicity. An automatic manufacture movement with swan-neck fine adjustment and the finest finish provides propulsion. It doesn’t have to stay with the dark blue shown here: The Sixties dial is known for exotic colors like fiery orange (Ref. 2-39-47-09-02-04), which definitely deserve a closer look.

Return of the legendary cocktail watch: Hamilton American Classic Lady Hamilton Vintage Quartz

First manufactured by Tiffany & Co. at the beginning of the 20th century, the cocktail watch celebrated a glamorous breakthrough in high society and provided the lady of class with exactly what she wanted: an ornate, luxurious arm decoration that at first glance looks like a bracelet and incidentally has a small dial for reading the time from time to time. Noble ladies did not obviously look at her wrist back then.

Today, the glamorous cocktail watch celebrates its comeback with the Hamilton American Classic Lady Hamilton Vintage Quartz (Ref. H31271113). Eye-catcher number one is the chain bracelet, on which there is a tiny stainless steel case measuring 15×19 millimeters with royal decoration. The overall look of the wristwatch is retro and antique at the same time, making the Lady Hamilton a special jewel in today’s watch world. Women who want to elegantly stand out from the crowd in 2023 are in the right place. By the way, if you want a more exotic case at the next cocktail party, gold-plated, black and even purple alternatives are available.

Classic lines, state-of-the-art technology: Grand Seiko Heritage

Contrasting with the playful Lady Hamilton, the Grand Seiko Retro watches of the Heritage collection are well-balanced and simple in design, transporting the 60s style of the Japanese high-end brand into the 21st century and combining it with state-of-the-art technology. Known for its fabulous Zaratsu polish and unrivaled attention to detail, the Grand Seiko Heritage can be ordered with three drives: Quartz for starters, Automatic for traditionalists and the famous Spring Drive System for those who want to experience Grand Seiko Retro watches at their most mechanically impressive. Our insider tip in the large collection: the reference SBGA439. Against the night sky with a dark blue background, the diamond-cut hands and hour-markers come into their own perfectly. The 40-millimeter luxury wristwatch, which is water-resistant to 100 meters, is powered by the automatic caliber 9R65.

Der Beitrag 2023 is the wristwatch retro erschien zuerst auf Uhrinstinkt Magazine.

They make the headlines, sometimes demand considerable waiting times, and are the talk of the town among enthusiasts: hype watches. The celebrities of the horological universe do not enjoy their popularity by chance, but have many highlights to offer, from historical significance to impressive technology. We show you the top 10 luxury models that have triggered watch hype in recent years and decades.

Rolex Datejust

Oyster case, cyclops loupe, fluted bezel: since its introduction in 1945, the Rolex Datejust has been regarded not only as the definition of a classic Rolex, but also of a timelessly elegant wristwatch in general. Since the turn of the millennium, watch hype surrounding the Datejust has been on a steady rise – the functional all-rounder is the dream watch of many enthusiasts and new designs are regularly added. Especially the new models from 2021 with palm tree or fluted patterns on the dial are currently highly trendy.

Omega Speedmaster

Moonwatch with unrivaled fame: Since the Omega Speedmaster accompanied the Apollo 11 mission in 1969, it has been one of the greatest legends in the watch world and regularly triggers watch hype when new editions of the icon are launched. 2021 was a big year for the Speedmaster, in which it was comprehensively modernized technically but left largely unchanged visually. Tachymeter scale, domed glass and white hands on a black background – the appearance of the Professional Moonwatch has an almost mythical status in the watch world. The compact Speedmaster 38 and the imposing ceramic editions of the “Dark Side of the Moon” also triggered hype in their respective classes.

Breitling Chronomat

Comeback in style: When Breitling brings back the Chronomat in 2020, the sporty pilot’s watch bristles with striking details. While the easy-grip rouleaux bracelet and the four horsemen on the bezel have been adopted from its historic ancestors, the renowned B01 chronograph movement is a new addition to the powerful collection. If you want to take the retro charm to the extreme, order a bicolor model in stainless steel and 18-karat rose gold. Also affected by the watch hype is the Super Chronomat, which brings 44 instead of 42 millimeters of diameter to the wrist and even has a four-year calendar if desired.

Audemars Piguet Royal Oak

Eight corners, tapisserie dial, and hype matched only by Patek Philippe’s Nautilus in the high-end class: The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak has been playing in its own league for over 40 years. Immediate euphoria may not have spread when the world’s first luxury-class stainless steel watch was unveiled in 1972, but just a few years later, the Royal Oak was enjoying international fame. Ask enthusiasts about their absolute dream watch in the five-figure price range, and the name of the handcrafted work of art comes up more often than any other. With its large offshore variants, prestigious complications and numerous designs, the watch hype surrounding the Royal Oak will continue in the future.

Rolex Submariner

Supply and demand regulate the price: no watch model demonstrates the most important law of free markets more obviously than the Rolex Submariner. The world’s most famous diving watch transfers the timeless simplicity of the Datejust to the Diver format, causes a sensation with legendary color combinations such as “Pepsi” or “Hulk,” and demands years of waiting time from its owners. Those who don’t want to wait pay hefty surcharges at retailers. We are curious to see whether the biggest hype of the last decade will ever reach its end.

TAG Heuer Carrera

Hype watches with racing DNA: For many enthusiasts, the TAG Heuer Carrera is the flagship of the Swiss luxury brand and offers everything the horological heart desires, from the timeless sports watch to the technical gem with tourbillon and manufacture movement. In particular, the models with in-house automatic caliber HEUER 02 are a great success, which is due to 80 hours of power reserve and comprehensive skeletonization as well as the enhanced image that the manufacturer experiences due to its independent drives. In the summer of 2022, the hype watches will be expanded to include the Red Dial Limited Edition, which brings fiery temperament to the racing collection.

Nomos Tangente

When the young NOMOS Glashütte brand presented its first collections in 1992, one model in particular stood out: the Tangente. Despite all the additions to the product portfolio that the manufacturer has made over the past 30 years, it is still considered the epitome of the purist Bauhaus style for which Nomos is appreciated by all age groups. Clean lines, blued hands, and five numerals with unmistakable typography characterize the look of this all-rounder, while the manufacture Alpha movement ensures superior power. In the meantime, the NOMOS Tangente has grown into a proud family that includes neomatik editions and compact ladies’ watches with a diameter of 33 millimeters in addition to the classic hand-wound models.

Breitling Navitimer 8

The Breitling Navitimer undergoes a true revolution in 2018, when the iconic pilot’s watch collection is expanded in a striking way. This is because the Breitling Navitimer 8 does not feature a slide rule bezel, which has been the most striking visual detail of the pilot’s watch since its first introduction in 1952. The sporty, clean look of the newcomer appears in five variants, ranging from the noble Unitime with world time complication to the Navitimer 8 B01 with superior manufacture power. Later, the watch hype continues under the Aviator 8 designation, which remains part of the Breitling model family to this day and celebrates legendary aircraft such as the Curtiss Warhawk, P-51 Mustang or F4U Corsair with special editions.

Grand Seiko Heritage Collection

Perfect craftsmanship and technical super performance: Anyone who loves luxurious timepieces is either fascinated by Grand Seiko or at least pays their well-deserved respect to the Japanese high-end brand. Especially the Heritage Collection with legendary models like the SBGA211 “Snowflake” or the SBGJ201 “Mt. Iwate” is gaining increasing recognition on the German market, coupled with the uniqueness of its spring-drive system and the special shine of its Zaratsu polish. Quartz precision with mechanical winding – Grand Seiko’s decades-old drive system arouses the curiosity of both experienced and new enthusiasts, and meets good value for money in the face of sophisticated craftsmanship.

Tissot T-Classic PRX

If the case and bracelet form a unit, special watch shapes are guaranteed. Especially in the 1970s, the eye-catching tonneau cases broke with prevailing design ideas and transported icons like the Tissot PRX to the wrist. Since the modern form of the classic exists, there has been a real run on the affordable design piece. Quartz and automatic versions are available, all equipped with a whopping 100 meters of water resistance. The option to order an 18-karat gold bezel on the retro icon also marks a highlight of the price segment. We are big fans of the automatic variants, whose 80-hour power reserve provides an additional reason for the watch hype surrounding the Tissot PRX.

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