As soon as we started using our phones to tell the time, many people thought the wristwatch was dead. But having been around for more than 500 years, such a flash-in-the-pan innovation isn’t going to get rid of it that easily.
Granted, we may have to get used to the idea that our wrists may no longer only be reserved for the measurement of time and date but shared with other functions such as playing music and displaying email notifications. But that doesn’t mean we’ve seen the last of traditional, mechanical timepieces.
In fact, even in spite of the recent rise of smartwatches, the market of classic and vintage watches is hotter than ever before. And this is likely no coincidence; more and more people are seeking out what modern technological creations are simply failing to provide — things like history, nostalgia, and quality craftsmanship.
Smartwatches may take their place, but it’s clear they’ll never be able to replace the rich market of horological masterpieces. Building on those mentioned above, here are three of the most significant reasons why:
A Piece of History
You don’t wear a vintage watch to feel like you’re a part of the future, or even necessary to keep you punctual in the present. You wear a vintage watch to connect with the past and an innovation that has stood the test of time — enduring several wars and surviving technological revolutions.
Whether it is a trench watch that evolved from pocket watches for soldiers in World War I, or an iconic Submariner developed for deep sea diving, vintage watches capture prominent moments in history and allow you to carry them with you wherever you go. Not until at least a few more centuries pass will you be able to say the same for smartwatches.
Unrivalled Craftsmanship
Classic mechanical wristwatches stand in stark contrast the assembly-line produced smartwatches of the modern day. Whereas it can take master watchmakers years to create the interior movements of a watch, it can take less than an hour for a factory to churn out thousands of smartwatches.
With all this time, skill, and dedication come unrivalled quality that even cutting-edge machines of the 21st century cannot reproduce. And as many vintage watches are individually handcrafted, no two are entirely the same — making picking up a vintage mechanical watch such as a Breitling or Omega like owning a one of a kind piece of art.
World-leading Design
A vintage watch may not track your workout and notify you of the weather, but it will turn heads like no other piece of wristwear can.
Why is this so? Well, the best vintage watches marry design and function in complete harmony. When you only have a few inches to work with and in many cases, such as in military and aviation watches, its proper working is a question of life or death, no expense or micrometre can be spared.
There’s no shortage of vintage watches that flaunt exceptional design, but a favourite of many is the Rolex chronograph, such as the outstanding Split-Seconds 4113. With its huge face and tanned strap, the 4113 wears like a modern watch, while also coming with the history and prominence of being an industry benchmark for it’s particular complications.
