The 1960s and 1970s were characterised by a surge in creativity for watchmakers, who experimented with avant-garde designs at a time when the quartz crisis threatened the industry.
‘There were the aesthetics of new forms, new displays, new technologies and everything in between,’ says Mitch Greenblatt, co-author of Retro Watches: The Modern Collectors Guide. ‘Many were likely prototypical and never produced in large numbers, hence the extreme rarity and relative obscurity.’
Elgin Golf Ball.
The new book, co-authored by Josh Sims, looks at the rare and unusual watches that defined three decades of watch design, when both new and more established watch brands played with rewriting traditional design codes.
‘Watches and their shapes were at their most adventurous during the 1960s and 1970s – mirroring the mid-century and the space-age with implied aerodynamics, intentional asymmetry, restrained minimalism and new technologies. A chronograph from this era often looked as cool as the cars they were intended to ride in,’ adds Greenblatt. ‘A rare new technology like LED (light emitting diodes) were inside stainless steel or solid gold casing and likely cost more than a Rolex of the era.’
Derby Swissonic.
Greenblatt and Sims celebrate everything from the more unusual design tweaks to the mechanical Swiss digital watches which spearheaded a new time-telling movement in the book. ‘I think if these watches are united in any way, design-wise, it’s in the willingness of the designers behind them to experiment,’ says Sims. ‘Comparatively, watch design today is so much safer – possibly because that’s what’s dictated by the dynamics of a market in which there are fewer brands than there were in the pre-quartz era.’
Movado Zenith with wooden dial.
INFORMATION
Retro Watches: The Modern Collector’s Guide, published by Thames & Hudson
-
Marylebone restaurant Nina turns up the volume on Italian diningAt Nina, don’t expect a view of the Amalfi Coast. Do expect pasta, leopard print and industrial chic
-
Tour the wonderful homes of ‘Casa Mexicana’, an ode to residential architecture in Mexico‘Casa Mexicana’ is a new book celebrating the country’s residential architecture, highlighting its influence across the world
-
Jonathan Anderson is heading to Dior MenAfter months of speculation, it has been confirmed this morning that Jonathan Anderson, who left Loewe earlier this year, is the successor to Kim Jones at Dior Men
-
Vacheron Constantin unveils the Historiques 222 to mark 45 years since the model’s launchVacheron Constantin restates its place in the pantheon of ‘sports chic’ watches
-
This Timex retro quartz watch is straight from the 1970sThe Q Timex 1972 Reissue watch stays faithful to the design codes of the original
-
Classic meets cool in Nomos Glashütte’s platinum grey watch designTwo new Tangente Neomatik watches draw on Nomos Glashütte’s clean German design codes
-
Girard-Perregaux goes back to the future with rethought Casquette watchGirard-Perregaux pays tribute to its original 1970s watch with the new and updated Casquette 2.0
-
G-Shock marks 40 years of youth culture with limited-edition watchG-Shock and the Museum of Youth Culture look to the archives for the new GW-M5610MOYC-1ER watch
-
Ten watch brands mark Mr Porter’s anniversary with special editionsTen watch brands, including Cartier, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Vacheron Constantin and Bell & Ross, are celebrating Mr Porter’s tenth anniversary in style
-
Atelier Oï’s Louis Erard watch is inspired by a minimalist sundialAtelier Oï has rethought the Louis Erard Le Régulateur watch with a minimalist dial, engraved as if with rays of light
-
Nomos Autobahn watch is rethought by designer Werner AisslingerThree new models make up the Nomos Autobahn Director’s Cut Limited Edition watch series, in motoring-inspired hues
