I don’t know if the lockdown caused the watch industry to free up time for introspection. No matter what the answer is, we can observe that retro designs have emerged one after another this year, and they are becoming more and more intense. From a fashion perspective, retro gents watches have become a unique fashion, and millennials and their belief in a sustainable world are a major driving force for this trend. Whether it is simply inspired by historical watches, or strictly 1:1 replicas of classic models, retro watches remind us that “without the past, there is no future.”
Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 new museum limited edition chronograph (model: 26595SR.OO.A032VE.01)
Between the 1930s and 1950s, Audemars Piguet only produced 307 chronographs. [Re]master01 is a new interpretation of one of them: the Ref. 1533 prototype watch was born in 1943 and is now on display in the brand’s newly opened Museum of Brasus.
Blancpain Fifty Fathoms “Desert Color” Deep Submersible Day of the Week and Date Display Limited Watch (Model: 5052 1146 E52A)
This Fifty Fathoms “desert color” submersible day-of-week display watch is limited to 500 pieces, inspired by a Blancpain diving watch from the 1970s. The gradient on the dial is reminiscent of the desert landscape of Death Valley in the United States. In 1962, the pioneer of underwater photography Ernst H. Brooks II, who made outstanding contributions to the Fifty Fathoms Special Issue, completed an amazing diving operation there.
Breitling AVI 765 model 1953 replica (model: AB0920131B1X1)
Breitling traveled through time and space and returned to 1953 when the legendary AVI Ref.765 chronograph was released. The AVI Ref.765 chronograph evolved from the airborne instruments produced by Breitling’s “Huit Aviation” department from the 1930s to the 1940s. It was renamed Co-Pilot in 1965. Now it has been meticulously reproduced and reborn.
Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Series Infinity Watch (Model: 25882-11-631-BB6B)
From the exquisitely curved rectangular case to the enduring toffee hands, Vintage 1945 shows the charm of Art Deco. Girard-Perregaux’s bright black and charming onyx dial gives this Infinity watch a timeless elegance.
Glashütte Original Alfred Hewig 1920 Tourbillon Watch-Limited Edition (Model: 1-54-01-01-01-01)
This year, Glashütte Original celebrates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the flying tourbillon designed by watchmaker Alfred Hewig. The classic design of this commemorative timepiece is based on Hewig and his school in Glashütte, Germany. The historical watch created by the students is inspiration. Like the prototype watch, the tourbillon is placed on the back of the watch, adding a low-key elegance.
Patek Philippe Ref. 5370P-011 split second chronograph
In 2015, Patek Philippe launched the first split-second split-second chronograph Ref. 5370, which is equipped with a traditional CHR 29-535 PS main movement and obtained six patents. With a platinum case with a blue Grand Feu enamel dial and white gold hour markers, the new watch is an excellent example of classic watchmaking in the pre-digital age.
TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary Carrera Series Watch Silver Limited Edition (Model: CBK221B.FC6479)
To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the brand’s founding, TAG Heuer launched a number of Calella series timepieces, and the first piece that opened the celebration year was the 160th anniversary Carrera series watch silver limited edition. This watch is a reinterpretation of the famous 1964 watch. The classic watch is usually called “2447S”, with a silver monochromatic dial and three silver subdials. TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary Carrera Series Watch Silver Limited Edition has a very retro look and has a very modern Heuer 02 movement.
Zenith El Primero A3818 replica “COVER GIRL” watch (model: 03.A3818.400/51.M3818)
The A3818 watch came out in 1971 and was called the “cover girl” by collectors because it appeared on the cover of a book that introduced the history of Zenith. This nice watches is only available in limited quantities for a short period of time. It is one of the most popular and sought after El Primero models. This year, the El Primero A3818 replica “COVER GIRL” watch faithfully reproduces the design of the 1971 prototype watch and returns in the form of a limited edition .