gweilgi
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No-one has mentioned Cartier
and surely they deserve honourable mention? The Santos is one of the very first specific wristwatch designs and, as it is still manufactured today, the oldest surviving design family. Also the Tank: a classic design of extreme longevity that has pretty much defined elegant timekeeping for the lady of the house.
I'd also nominate Timex: horologically of very little interest and not particularly well made, but these watches (especially in their manifestation as cartoon character watches) have been the very first mechanical watch for whole generations of kids, defining habits and tastes and interest.
Alex
Essential defining watches
Hi All, What are the watches that every watch tragic should have experienced? Watches that define the various classes of horology and become a yardstick by which other (often newer) offerings may be assessed. They don’t necessarily have to be watches that...
May I nominate...
the Zenith El Primero ref. A 386? Not only an example of the first automatic chronograph, but also in this particular reference a design which is attractive, distinctive and widely recongnized....
my nomination
casio gshock swatch seiko diver ap royal oak pp calatrava rolex daytona/explorer (I & II) IWC Portuguese Panerai base rad and luminor jlc reverso I'm sure there are more......interesting question J
Not the first watch that came to mind, but ...
... you are right. Very significant for the Swiss watch industry. Andrew...
?
I don't doubt what you say, but can you articulate exactly how and why such significance is attached to this Swatch piece? I must say...I really haven't followed this development that much and am curious about why one would say that. Thanks DB Darien
I donot have photos here at the office, but here are....
.... my candidates (some are in my collection, others aren not): Omega Speedmaster (specifically pre-moon) Patek 96 with AM caliber Seiko Quartz Astron (the first) AP Royal Oak 5402ST (the first RO with cal. 2121) VC Historique Chrono Lange 1 Seiko Spring...
My pretty long list
Rolex GMT -for creating a new "genre" Lange 1 - return of German watch making Lange datograph - for superlative finishing in a movement, that is relatively affordable or achievable in one's lifetime Casio G shock - for being the quartz watch that everyone...
Hi Andrew, I think those 2 have similar DNA's
I would recommend a daytona. Also a simple calatrava from PP Also something from ALS and Breguet Julian
Sorry to inject here
How so do they have similar DNA? One is a chrono and a space watch, and the other is a divers watch with no complications, excoet for date in some versions. Just enquiring, not meant to be offensive in ANY way. Best, Horo
Taxonomic rank
I am also interested in Julian's line of thinking, but it may well depend on the level you consider them in the tononomic ranking. As a Family of watches, they are both Sports watches, at a Genus level the Rolex is a diver and the Omega a chronograph (tha...
Let me try and clarify myself
I am not saying they are similar but what I am trying to say is that they have a similar background. Towhit- the subbie ref 5513 and speedmaster ( or very similar to the daytona) . I think that both are iconic watches but if you are looking for the essenc...
Thanks Julian for the clarification
Now I understand. The Daytona is an iconic watch, which stood the test of time very well. That's is a reflection of correct market strategy and an evergreen design, and it's longevity brings about to it cult status, in fact, I just another one to kickstar...
Do not forget...
Hi all, I think Omega has an icon concerning contemporary watches - the central tourbillon! In the vintage sector Omega has set a milestone with the simple 30 mm caliber which made the wristwatch a success! It was simple and reliable and broke records at ...
My pleasure - thanks Andreas! [nt]
. This message has been edited by mac_omega on 2011-01-06 05:18:42
Hi Andrew, I basically have the same approach...
and it really helps that I don't have a lot of cash to play around with as the choosing becomes really more refined. 1) Speedmaster Professional - it's the regular production moonwatch for me... for EVERYTHING chronograph. i understand that there are a to...
OysterTankReverso....
I'd look to, The watches that really were path-breaking and timeless classics, which have left lasting impressions on the market. The first watches in a Rolex oyster case. Patek's Calatrava Ref 96. JLC's Reverso. Cartier's Tank. GP's triple bridge. Movado...
SuperbPost
This has to be one of the better posts in a really long time on HM. Thanks Andrew, Rishad
Not sure ...
Not sure I should take that as a complement, Rishad. But I like to think there's something for everyone on HoMe. Pleased you're enjoying this thread. Me too! A
OfCourseThatsACompliment
I really loved the post, and hearing what these special timers were in other peoples opinion. Rishad
A great topic
I would nominate: Omega Speedmaster Rolex Submariner JLC Reverso Patek Calatrava AP Royal Oak Lange 1 Swatch Seiko Diver Casio GShock I could go on (and on and on), but hopefully that covers most bases. No independents though, and no FPJ, no Panerai, no B...
A simple Panerai
like a 111 or a 112 or a 0. I think everyone should have owned one before chipping in on the big watches vs. small watches debate, I know it has been an eye-opener for me. Other than that, fully second the Speedy and the Sub No Date (a watch that I still ...
The essence of a watch - vintage Omegas!
Hi Andrew, I do not know a clearer, simpler and yet more beautiful approach to display the time. Like the Calatrava or the JLC Geophysic/Geomatic (which are far more expesive for the average customer!) I treasure their essential qualities. Kind regards, a...
Interesting......
I would also start with Rolex GMT..... a timeless watch.... I would then say the Royal Oak and followed by the Nautilus... Two watches that are also timeless is design and desire.... I would end with a PP chrono that speaks by itself.... Cheers
Only two . . .
. . . "essentials" for me - the Speedmaster and the Submariner. [photo from Google images] They're the only watches I can think of that have simultaneously withstood the test of time, with fifty-odd years of production and no end in sight, and consistentl...
I would say the cal 861 was more a development . . .
. . . of the cal 321 than an entirely different movement. It's a debatable point, and certainly there's a demarcation between the cal 321 and all the succeeding movements.
I would say…
Speed/Sea Master and the Submariner/Sea Dweller… Would also like to add the Reverso: And the Memovox: The AP Royal Oak and PP Calatrava also pop in to mind as classics that one day should be experienced… Best Blomman...
Journe Octa, Lange 1 and Datograph, Panerai
with obvious nods to Sea/Speedmaster almost every sport Rolex ever made... and of course AP RO and ROO.
Hi mate, I humbly disagree with the Reverso being a essential defining watch
As much as I love the Reverso, and it's well established iconic status, and longevity in design and concept....it has not inspired watch making or watch genre in any way. It remains...reverso, and it hasn't evolved, nor have other brands or watchmakers in...
I get your point…
And I think you are right. But, when the Reverso was borne there ware several brands that made them. And more recently some versions of the Reverso have been spotted… (Web pics, sorry don't know who to credit) I agree that it might not be the most &...
Ahh dear Andrew you already put both of them :0)
So I'll add few more that were important for me to sink deep into abyss of horological madness ... my Magnificent seven Panerai Logo AP RO JLC Reverso PP Calatrava and last but not least JLC Atmos Cheers Damjan
Sir, I must point out the Atmos is not a watch, but
those big glass-encased thingies! And no doubt unmatched in the horological world. BTW if you have tons of cash, the Paris JLC has both variations of the Mark Newsom Atmos, the Marquetry Klindt Atmos, the homage to the original, etc. All numbered 7...
Obviously
but I was so crazed by Andrew's beautiful writting that I just couldn't go by a) " watch tragic should have experienced" b) "that define the various classes of horology" c) " understanding of their design and significance" so I put 1 clock among 6 watches...
Gentlemen, my submissions
I suggest the Chronoswiss Regulateur - the first modern regulator that opened the door for many others to go down the quirky dial path. Also for the unashamed use of existing materials and movements without pretense that it was their own work. The Bulova ...
My List
Hi Here's my list and yes its JLC centric but so are my preferences, in no particular order Reverso Memovox Futurematic Seiko 5 Rolex Submariner Vulcain cricket Patek Calatrava Swatch Fifty Fathoms Omega Speedmaster Bulova Accutron And finally something d...
Movement
Interesting inclusion of the 2892, and I have to agree with you regarding its significance. We need a separate thread on significant movements! Interestingly, many of the watches that posters have mentioned also have iconic and significant movements insid...
I submit one...
The Opus V: For me it defined a lot of trends: original time display, innovative design, size... Fr.Xavier...
No-one has mentioned Cartier
and surely they deserve honourable mention? The Santos is one of the very first specific wristwatch designs and, as it is still manufactured today, the oldest surviving design family. Also the Tank: a classic design of extreme longevity that has pretty mu...
Totally share your point of view.
The mother of all concept watches, in my opinion. And one of the first, if not the first, to use silicon for the escapement, in silence, while others communicated a lot on this new material ... Later. Best, Nicolas.
The one's that I most relate with are...........
1) The Rolex Submariner - This is the watch that I am reminded of, when the word diving is ever mentioned. 2) The original Heaur Carrea. 3) Rolex Day Date on a president bracelet - I believe that this watch was the first one that the day of the week was s...
Only one mention of fifty fathoms and Cartier
in general. I am partial to the fifty fathoms because I recently acquired one. Am I correct that the fifty fathoms is considered the first modern dive watch with a rotating bezel, etc. I would think Cartier would be on the list due to being involved in ma...
Correct on the FF...
It has been written that it was the first " modern " diving watch, born in 1953.... With the Rolex Submariner. Hard to tell which of the FF or the Sub came first, though. Best, Nicolas.