Omega’s new Speedmaster is the latest to earn money in Vintage Vogue

It can’t be avoided The past casts a shadow over something so classic as the watch industry, whose existence today could be considered obsolete, and in which many of the most important historic designs have never been. really disappeared. Take for example Patek Phillipe’s Nautilus, a watch that’s so hot right now that steel versions retailing for £26,870 ($36,512) are trading for more than $100,000, whose designs are mostly unchanged since 1974; Calatrava wristwatch from the same brand dating from 1932.

On the other hand, a booming vintage market, the rise of academia and awareness in the online community, and a passion for nostalgia continue to spawn new versions of everything from console games to consoles. Classics and similar systems to vintage cars are recreated down to the final riveted engine, creating an increasingly richer landscape for brands looting the archives. As the following retro models attest.

Omega Speedmaster 321 Canopus Gold

Most people know the Speedmaster as the watch that went to the moon with NASA astronauts, but it has begun life as a sports car racing wristwatch since 1957. This version goes back to the original 1957 model, albeit in its ultra-luxury form: Flat case Canopus gold (Omega’s special bright white gold alloy) rather than steel, and the dial is cut from black onyx.

But in this case, the classic game is really the movement (the “mechanical engine” that powers the watch) within it. Three years ago, Omega brought back its (extremely limited) production of the manual-winding movement it last produced in 1969, Caliber 321, in a special workshop in its high-tech factory. to assemble by hand in the classic way.

Caliber 321 powered the Speedmasters worn by Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and early 1970s (including during the moon landing), and holds a special place in sentiment. of enthusiasts and collectors. This is only the third modern watch to own it: classic on the outside, even more so on the inside, but at an eye-catching modern price of $81,000. One glimmer of hope is that if we believe in betting, we’ll bet Omega at some stage release a more affordable steel version of this product.

Zenith Chronomaster Original

Unlike Omega’s Caliber 321, Zenith’s historic chronograph movement, El Primero, never stops production: Introduced in 1969, it was the first self-winding chronograph (a watch with a chronograph function). ) and has been a mainstay in Zenith’s watchmaking ever since. It was also used by Rolex in the 1990s. Today’s El Primero is a thoroughly modern movement, but Zenith has played on its classic roots with a range of vintage-inspired models.

Launching in 2021, the Chronomaster Original throws everything back to glory for the first El Primero watch of 1969, called the A386. Specifically, the handset and typography are lovingly recreated, while the historically accurate 38 mm diameter is yet another current trend, which is the trend of watches. smaller (modern Zenith’s El Primeros tend to be at 40 to 42 mm). While this is certainly a watch that pleases purists, the fact is that Zenith has repeated this in a few versions, including a female-oriented, non-vintage style. clear with a mother-of-pearl and diamond dial, representing the distance it saw in the original design. Sometimes the oldest is really the best.

Swatch Bioceramic 1984 Reloaded

The original Swatch watch appeared in 1983, and it was a glimmer of blue: cheap, plastic and disposable, but also part of a strictly analog design, and Swiss innovation. Swiss for Japanese digital watches then flooded the market.