The Best Watches Of All Time
1. Cartier Santos
In 1904, at the request of the Franco-Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos, Cartier developed one of the first ever wristwatches known to mankind – the Cartier Santos. Prior to this point, Santos had difficulties checking the time mid-flight since it was difficult to pull out his pocket watch whilst keeping control of the steering wheel. The Cartier Santos quickly solved this problem and ultimately revolutionised the world of watchmaking. However, it is not only the history of the Santos that still captures the hearts of watch aficionados today, it is the classic and elegant design of the timepiece that makes it so alluring. Today, the Cartier Santos collection is divided into the Santos-Dumont and Santos 100 lines, both of which charm with an elegant appeal and tell a tale of a pioneering history.
2. Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso
Debuted in 1931, the watch was manufactured specifically for Britain’s elite polo playing society and featured a watchcase that could swivel around in order to protect the watch glass from cracks caused by sheer force. The art deco styling of the timepiece was immediately met with approval and the design of the timepiece still highly appeals to watch collectors today. Its angular case and bold blue hands distinguish the Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, which is powered by an in-house, rectangularly shaped movement.
3. IWC Pilot’s Watch
The first Special pilot’s watch was introduced by IWC in 1936, and the timepieces deriving from the collection have continuously impressed ever since. Stemming from the Special Pilot’s Watch, for example, is the legendary Mark 11 – a watch that was manufactured for the Royal Air Force. The timepiece features a stainless steel waterproof case as well as a soft inner iron cage that protects the movement from magnetic fields. The timepiece is considered to be one of the finest military watches ever produced and has come to be an impressive collector's item today. The successors of the Mark 11, such as the exemplary Big-Pilot, carry on the name and the philosophies of the impressive pilot’s watch.
4. Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar Chronograph
The first perpetual calendar chronograph was the Ref. 1518 by Patek Philippe, which was introduced in 1941 and measured 35-millimeters in diameter. Not only was the timepiece able to keep track of the date without any required adjustment for 200 years at a time, it was also able to measure small increments of time, thus taking the watch loving community by storm. Over time, Patek Philippe modified the timepiece, eventually evolving into the reference 2499 and so on. Today, the Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar still causes a sensation and is probably one of the most highly sought out pieces by watch collectors. The current perpetual calendar (Ref. 5270G) from the brand comes equipped with an in-house designed and manufactured movement that features a complex split-seconds chronograph.
Simple, strong, and precise, the Rolex Datejust was introduced in 1945 and was distinguished by its handy date indication on the dial of the watch. Initially, the date displayed on the very first models would begin to change hours before midnight. However, in 1955, thanks to intermediate gears and a spring mechanism, the date was easily able to jump at the stroke of midnight – a feature that was considered a revolution in the watchmaking industry. A long known trademark of the Rolex Datejust, the Cyclops lens, was not actually introduced until 9 years following the presentation of the watch. Since then, the overall design of the watch has remained nearly unchanged. Adorned on the wrists of countless influential individuals, such as Winston Churchill or Dwight D. Eisenhower, the timepiece remains a symbol of strong and elegant character.
Comments
Post a Comment
Do Leave Your Comments Here !