The first wearable timepieces popped up in 16th century Germany and were called “clock-watches”. They weren’t reaaaaally functional tools of time-telling, though; they were very, very inaccurate. Like, “wrong half of the day” inaccurate. Clock-watches were more of a status symbol and were revered for their beautiful ornamentation, which allowed noble wearers to express their personality—and flash their cash! No one liked to flash their cash quite as much as the King of Bling, King Charles II of Great Britain. The infamous party-animal introduced the waist-coat to the English court, with it, pockets and the aptly named pocket-watch. Thanks Charlie! Enlightenment scientists fixed the accuracy problems of ol Charlie’s watches, and a new audience of military men and sailors turned to the pocket-watch as a tool. These men, unsurprisingly, found it kind of...inconvenient to have to dig around in their pockets for a pocket-watch while mounted on a horse, or being shot at, or sailing away from a murderous white whale—totally understandable. They started putting pocket-watches on a strap on their wrists, creating the first wrist-watches. After WWI, the wrist-watch spread to the general public, ushering in a new era of elegance and convenience in jewelry.
Today’s timepieces are beautiful, like the Stuarts’ pocket-watches, but also functional, like the military’s tough-as-nails wrist-watches. To ensure the best of both worlds, we at Deutsch recommend turning to a trusted watchmaker like Cartier, Tudor, or Luminox. Each brand is known for their excellent craftsmanship, history of innovation, and distinct timepiece personalities. Tie yourself to history and find your match among history’s most iconic watches for both men and women.
Cartier: Kings and Queens
King Edward VII of Great Britain famously referred to Cartier as “the jeweller of kings, and the king of jewellers.” The royal family looooove Cartier, not just for design, but for innovative technology too. Owning a Cartier timepiece is more than simply owning a luxurious or sophisticated piece of jewelry—it’s like owning a piece of history.
In 1904, Louis Cartier’s pal Alberto Santos-Dumont, a Brazilian pioneer aviator, complained to him about using a pocket-watch while flying, as the air pressure often broke the timepiece. Not to mention, getting distracted by trying to find which pocket you stored your watch in while flying an experimental craft isn’t exactly safe. The watch Cartier designed for his friend, the Santos-Dumont, is still made today, and is available in this classic gold and steel model. This Cartier Chronograph Watch features the iconic square face, the bold roman numeral hour markers, the sword-shaped hands, and the impeccable craftsmanship that are all hallmarks of a Cartier watch.
It is often said that the 1917 debut of the Tank watch, called the most iconic watch on the planet, single-handedly popularised the wrist-watch. The Tank recalls the wrist-watch’s history as a military tool, and was designed with the shape of WWI tanks in mind. Since its debut over 100 years ago, this Cartier watch has remained the pinnacle of classic timepieces, never going out of style. She’s what you might call a timeless timepiece. Princess Diana famously wore both metal and leather banded variations of the Tank Cartier watch, but for the everyday chic look, we recommend the women’s Tank Louis Cartier Watch, in warm brown leather and 18k yellow gold.
Tudor: This Rose Has No Thorns!
Tudor was founded on behalf of Hans Wilsdorf in 1926 with the intention of delivering quality watches at affordable prices. Tudor watches have since become an award-winning favorite for sports-watch and dress-watch enthusiasts alike.
The Black Bay GMT 41mm Steel Tudor watch Fun and creative, but not over-the-top, this Tudor watch has been seen on the wrists of celebrities like John Mayer, and adds a pop of colour and personality to any outfit. Plus, thanks to Oyster technology, it’s waterproof to 200 metres!
The Clair de Rose 30mm Steel Tudor watch for women features an opaline dial with 8 diamonds for subtle sparkle. Inspired by vintage timepieces, the Clair de Rose invokes the elegance and tranquility of Clair de Lune. Classic, graceful, and feminine, this Tudor watch presents a sophisticated take on the timepieces of a bygone era. If you consider yourself a bit of a debonair Debussy, this is the watch for you!
Luminox: Come into the Light!
Founded in California in 1989, Luminox provides Swiss-made watches with tritium inserts, which allow for long term luminescence. Known for providing watches to the US Navy Seals, the Luminox watches’ approach returns watchmaking to its military roots.
The Luminox Leatherback SEA Turtle 39 mm Outdoor Watch is a stand-out among timepieces due to its stark white colouring. Featuring a brilliant white dial and white silicone strap, this Luminox watch serves a practical function as a water resistant outdoor wrist-watch that maintains readability even in the dark. However, the minimalist design and striking color also makes this Luminox watch a unique accessory! Kanye West’s approach to color-blocking has brought monochromatic looks to the forefront of fashion, and an all-white ensemble would be perfectly completed by this bold timepiece.
Photo by Louis Mornaud on Unsplash