Quality Time
Groovy times: 10 new-generation timepieces that are all about the 1970s
Curb your nostalgia with these vintage-inspired timepieces from luxury watchmakers
Much like the 1970s, the all-to-familiar protests around racial injustice and women’s rights, global political mayhem, populism, fractured societies and gender politics are once again at the fore. Even if the past wasn’t really a better place, add the nostalgia for an era pre-internet as we nurse our Zoom-fatigue and we will no doubt see even more interest in the nature-lead fashion and décor styles of that era. ∼
And, when it comes to choosing your timepieces it should be about longevity — and not fleeting fashion or trend — but we can expect to see more vintage-inspired watches on the market such as Seiko’s Prospex 1970 Diver’s Modern Re-Interpretation with its distinctive asymmetrical shape and powered by the Caliber 6R35. In 2020, Tudor also celebrated the 50th anniversary of its very first chronograph and the grey/black Heritage Chronograph with period orange accents certainly hits the mark.
There are numerous new watches offered in a rainbow of uplifting, healing colours with dominant hues and calming pastels. Pantone also announced its colours for 2021 recently with “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating” yellow being proclaimed as “practical and rock solid but at the same time warming and optimistic ... a union of strength and positivity”.
Rolex has made some standout appearances in movies over the decades, most notably in those early Bond thrillers. But what’s a decade without a thrilling scandal? A Submariner “Red” was worn by Robert Redford in the 1976 film All the President’s Men, which was about the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of US President Richard Nixon.
But the new-generation Oyster Perpetual 41 and 36 are also attention-grabbers with their joyous array of colourful lacquer dials, which include coral, turquoise, candy pink and yellow reminiscent of the Rolex Day-Date “Stella” collection of the 70s and 80s. For an extra dash of orange, there’s the stainless steel Doxa SUB 300 COSC with its “Doxa Professional Orange” dial inspired by the original SUB 300.