Fashion is a Cycle: A Review of Retro-style Watches in 2020

Whether it is because the pandemic lockdown has given the watchmaking industry time for introspection or not, we can all observe that retro designs have emerged one after another this year, and the trend is growing stronger. From the perspective of fashion phenomenon, vintage watches have become a unique trend, and millennials together with their belief in a sustainable world are a major driving force behind this trend. Whether they are simply inspired by historical watches or strictly replicate classic models 1:1, vintage watches all remind us that "without the past, there would be no future".

Audemars Piguet [Re]master01 New Museum Limited Edition Chronograph (Reference: 26595SR.OO.A032VE.01)

       Between the 1930s and 1950s, Audemars Piguet only produced 307 chronographs. [Re]master01 is a brand-new interpretation of one of them: the prototype Ref. 1533 was born in 1943 and is now exhibited in the newly opened Le Brassus Museum of the brand. This [Re]master01 new museum chronograph is only limited to 500 pieces.

Blancpain Fifty Fathoms "Desert Color" Bathyscaphe Day Date Limited Edition Watch (Reference: 5052 1146 E52A)

       This limited edition of 500 pieces of Fifty Fathoms "Desert Color" Bathyscaphe Day Date watch is inspired by a Blancpain diving watch from the 1970s. The gradient tone on the dial evokes associations with the desert landscape of Death Valley in the United States, where Ernst H. Brooks II, a pioneer of underwater photography who made outstanding contributions to the Fifty Fathoms special issue project, completed an amazing diving operation in 1962.

Breitling AVI Ref. 765 1953 Re-Edition (Reference: AB0920131B1X1)

       Breitling travels through time and space back to 1953, when the legendary AVI Ref. 765 chronograph was launched. Evolving from airborne instruments produced by Breitling's "Huit Aviation" department in the 1930s and 1940s, the AVI Ref. 765 chronograph was renamed Co-Pilot in 1965. Now, after being meticulously reissued, it has been reborn.

Bulgari Aluminium Watch (Reference: 103382)

       In the 1990s, passengers taking Alitalia's Boeing 747 jumbo jet could not fail to notice the huge Bulgari Aluminium watch pattern sprayed on the fuselage. This watch, made of two unconventional materials, aluminium and rubber, was particularly eye-catching. More than 20 years later, the sporty and luxurious Bulgari Aluminium watch has once again become the ideal choice for social elites.

Cartier Tank Asymétrique Watch

       The Cartier Tank watch made its debut in 1917, which was quite a rebellion against the mainstream of round watches at that time. In 1936, Cartier went a step further and launched the Tank Asymétrique watch, where everything on the dial is tilted 30 degrees to the right, and the original rectangular case has become a rhombus. This reissue continues the legend of this truly distinctive watch.

Girard-Perregaux Vintage 1945 Collection Infinity Watch (Reference: 25882-11-631-BB6B)

       From the exquisitely curved rectangular case to the enduring太妃 [toffee-shaped] hands, the Vintage 1945 fully showcases the charm of Art Deco. Girard-Perregaux endows this Infinity watch with timeless elegance through its charming bright black onyx dial.

Glashütte Original Alfred Helwig Tourbillon 1920 - Limited Edition (Reference: 1-54-01-01-01-01)

       This year, Glashütte Original celebrates the 100th anniversary of the flying tourbillon designed by master watchmaker Alfred Helwig. The classic design of this commemorative timepiece is inspired by the historical watch created by Helwig and his students at the German School of Watchmaking Glashütte. Just like the prototype, the tourbillon is placed on the case back, adding a touch of low-key elegance.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Ultra Thin Couteau Watch (Reference: 1152520)

       Jaeger-LeCoultre launched the Master Ultra Thin Couteau watch to pay tribute to the upcoming 2021 film The King's Man, which takes us back 100 years to trace the origin of secret agents. The Master Ultra Thin Couteau watch also draws inspiration from history, especially the famous "Couteau" pocket watch made in 1907 (couteau means "knife" in French), demonstrating Jaeger-LeCoultre's profound attainments in the field of ultra-thin movements.

Montblanc Heritage Manufacture Pulsmeter Chronograph (Reference: 126095)

       Montblanc draws inspiration from the legendary Minerva historical watches that were popular in the 1940s and 1950s, especially the chronographs used by doctors to measure patients' pulses, and launched the new Heritage Manufacture Pulsmeter Chronograph. The new watch features a rose gold case matched with a tobacco brown dial, fully exuding a retro vibe.

Panerai Radiomir Venti 20th Anniversary Special Edition (Reference: PAM02020)

       Loyal connoisseurs and enthusiasts of Panerai can be proud, because they are the source of inspiration for the new Radiomir Venti 20th Anniversary Special Edition. The name Radiomir Venti (which means "twenty" in Italian) is designed to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Paneristi.com community. Limited to 1,020 pieces, this watch reinterprets in a contemporary language the more expressive Radiomir watches launched in the second half of the 1930s.

Patek Philippe Ref. 5370P-011 Split-Seconds Chronograph

       In 2015, Patek Philippe launched the split-seconds chronograph Ref. 5370, which is equipped with the self-developed CHR 29-535 PS movement with a traditional structure and has obtained six patents. The new watch features a platinum case paired with a blue grand feu enamel dial and white gold hour markers, making it an outstanding example of classic watchmaking in the pre-digital era.

TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary Carrera Silver Limited Edition (Reference: CBK221B.FC6479)

       To celebrate the 160th anniversary of the brand's founding, TAG Heuer launched a number of Carrera collection timepieces, and the first work that kicked off the anniversary year is the 160th Anniversary Carrera Silver Limited Edition. This watch is a reinterpretation of the famous 1964 model, which is commonly known as "2447S" and features a silver single-color dial with three silver sub-dials. The TAG Heuer 160th Anniversary Carrera Silver Limited Edition has a more retro appearance, is equipped with the very modern Heuer 02 movement, and is limited to 1,860 pieces.

Vacheron Constantin FIFTYSIX® Automatic Watch (Reference: 4600E/000R-B576)

       The FIFTYSIX® collection was launched in 2018, and in Vacheron Constantin's words, it is "a bold blend of the unique styles of different eras". Its partially retro and partially modern appearance style is rooted in the iconic model of 1956. The new watch features a pink gold case paired with an ink-brown dial and a calfskin strap, exuding full retro charm.

Zenith El Primero A3818 Revival "COVER GIRL" Watch (Reference: 03.A3818.400/51.M3818)

       The A3818 watch was launched in 1971. It was named "Cover Girl" by collectors because it appeared on the cover of a book introducing the development history of Zenith. Only issued for a short period in limited quantity, this watch is one of the most sought-after El Primero models. This year, the El Primero A3818 Revival "COVER GIRL" watch faithfully reproduces the design of the 1971 prototype and makes a glorious return as a limited edition of 100 pieces.