In his new book 100 Iconic Watches, Gisbert L. Brunner celebrates watches made timeless by their design, engineering, heritage, and celebrity or royal ties—including the first luxury steel wristwatch, Audemars Piguet’s Royal Oak; the watch that landed on the moon, the Omega Speedmaster; and the Jaeger-LeCoultre that Queen Elizabeth II wore at her coronation.
“Some [watches] sink into oblivion before the year is out, others enjoy decades of success,” watch expert Brunner writes in the foreword to his book (out Nov. 12 from teNeues). “Watches, like all other accessories, are influenced by trends and the spirit of the times…. Bought today, barely ‘in’ tomorrow, and ‘out’ the day after.
“Yet the princely sums often demanded call for longer-term companionship. Such a promise is kept by classic models that have held their own on the market for years or even decades. This species includes the Cartier Santos, Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso, and Audemars Piguet Royal Oak to name but a few.
“By definition,” continues Brunner, “classics are ‘exemplary products of the highest order, the products of outstanding literary, artistic, or scientific achievement by creative minds whose qualities radiate sophisticated genius.’”
(Photos courtesy of teNeues)
Follow me on Instagram: @anniedavidsonwatson
Follow JCK on Instagram: @jckmagazineFollow JCK on Twitter: @jckmagazine
Follow JCK on Facebook: @jckmagazine
