5 Classic Watches Reinvented

Remember when grandma gave you that old watch of hers as a keepsake and you tossed it aside thinking it looked too dated? Well, think again. Watchmakers are increasingly looking into their archives and revisiting designs from the past, then breathing fresh life into them with minor aesthetic changes. Some are even packaged as re-releases, like the Omega Trilogy boxset that was presented in line with the 60th anniversary of three of its most iconic timekeepers. Here’s a roundup of five recent reinvented classics that caught our eye.

Omega

Commemorating the 60th anniversary of three of its most iconic watches — the Seamaster 300, Railmaster and Speedmaster —the brand presents its Trilogy boxset, which contains reissues of these 1957 models. Limited to 557 units, encased within is a Seamaster 300 Limited Edition Master Chronometer which retains the original Naïad sign on its crown; a Railmaster Limited Edition Master Chronometer that carries the same aesthetic as its predecessor save for slightly deeper Superluminova-filled indexes that afford stronger luminescence; and a Speedmaster whose dial uses the same typeface as the first edition. The watches are also sold separately, each available in 3,557 pieces only.

IWC Schaffhausen

Restyled with a model from the 1980s as inspiration, its new Da Vinci collection of wristwatches from presents a classic round case and swivelling lugs, with Arabic numerals etched on silver-plated dials. Headlining the new line-up of pieces is the ladies Da Vinci Automatic Moon Phase 36, which offers a gold and blue moon phase indicator at the 12’o clock position. Pictured is a stainless steel variant with 54 white diamonds set on its bezel. An 18k red gold edition sans diamonds is also available.

Longines

To celebrate its Flagship collection’s 60th anniversary, the manufacture debuts its Flagship Heritage – 60th Anniversary 1957-2017, an elegant gent’s piece that borrows the aesthetic codes of classic watchmaking. Equipped with the L609 calibre, these commemorative tickers come with a small seconds indicator at six o’clock. They are available in steel (1957 pieces, after the range’s year of launch) and yellow or rose gold (limited to 60 units each).

Breguet

Inspired by the first wristwatch created by founder Abraham-Louis Breguet for Caroline Murat back in 1810, the new Breguet Reine de Naples Princesse 8965 displays a pure white mother-of-pearl dial etched with engine-turned graphic lines within its 18k rose gold case. Adding to its noblesse are 83 brilliant-cut diamonds (weighing about 1.53ct) set on the bezel and lugs. The watch comes with either an alligator strap or rose gold bracelet set with 104 brilliant-cut diamonds (approximately 0.63ct).

Tiffany & Co.

Drawing inspiration from a chatelaine watch made by Henry Blank and Company for Tiffany & Co.back in the 1920s, the latest pieces from the Tiffany Cocktail collection sport feminine oval faces witch guilloche dials and elegant Roman numerals. Further accentuating the elegant curves of the timepiece are sparkling round brilliant diamonds set on its case.