Living in the 70s must have been quite a ride for anyone who had the privilege to experience that era. It was the era of bell bottoms. It was the era that gave us The Rumble in the Bronx, and most importantly, it was the era that gave us some of the most iconic timepieces you can ever find anywhere else on earth. 1970s Men’s Fashion incited some interesting pieces.
It was the golden age of wristwatches, and getting timepieces with the 70s watch movements for sale right now is like looking for a unicorn. They are rare and extremely expensive. The following are some iconic watches that defined the 70s.
Chopard Happy Diamonds
Chopard Happy Diamonds is a heavily encrusted watch that was created in 1976 for men. It was designed with a cushion-like case with a black dial to make the diamonds inside stand out. Created by Chopard, a Swiss luxury watchmaker, the watch will set you back about $33,500. In 2016, to celebrate 40 years, a new version of Chopard Happy Diamonds was released encrusted with even more diamonds than the original version.
Corum Feather Watch
The Corum Feather Watch was released in 1970, and it features an exquisite engraved rectangular case that is draped in yellow gold. In 2015, the company behind the Corum Feather Watch released a tribute version that sported a 39mm round face with dials that resembled blue jay feathers. The original 1970 watch retails for about $6,500, and it is rare to be found with most of the surviving pieces in private hands.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak
Audemars Piguet is a big brand name in the watch world, and the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is a magnificent relic from the 70s era that was introduced as a sports watch in 1972. Built inside a stainless steel case and integrated with a beautiful bracelet for a strap, the watch enjoyed a lot of success in the years following its launch. The Audemars Piguet Royal Oak will set you back a hefty sum of $56,000.
IWC Da Vinci
The IWC Da Vinci debuted in 1970 amid a lot of fanfare from the watch loving community at the time. Equipped with a Swiss watch quartz movement inside a hexagonal case, the IWC Da Vinci was among the most expensive watches at the time. Most of its movements were made using platinum and gold. This watch is highly revered at the IWC Schaffhausen, where it is considered to be among their most iconic creations to date. the watch costs about $40,000.
Piaget Polo S
The Piaget Polo S was a sports watch that was released in 1970 and came equipped with a quartz movement that was made in solid gold. The watch was a big hit with sportsmen and women back in the day; it was hard to miss big celebrity names walking around without it on their wrists. In 2016, Piaget re-introduced a modern version of the watch that was made using stainless steel instead of gold. It bears very little resemblance to the original one and costs about $12,500.
Omega Seamaster Ploprof
Another 1970 icon that was proudly hyped to be the best diving watch ever made, a distinction it continues to hold to this day, as per many critics. The watch won the approval of seafarers and the navy alike thanks to its exceptional water resistance levels that might have been an unattainable feat for watches in that era. There is a 2017 version of the Omega Seamaster Ploprof that is made out of pure stainless steel from the casing all the way to the strap.
Patek Philippe Nautilus
The Patek brand of watches are among the most expensive in the world, and the Patek Philippe Nautilus is no exception. When it came out in 1976, the watch was the first sports watch ever made by Patek Philippe, and the role of designing was handed to Gerald Genta. The watch has undergone several transformations over the years, but it still retains much of its original properties. The latest version was unveiled in 2016, and there are practically no differences in appearance with the original one. The watch retails at $70,000.
Vacheron Constantin 1972
If elegance had a name and a face, that would be Vacheron Constantin 1972. Aptly named after the year it was first introduced, the watch is everything you can expect in a luxury watch worth its salt. It has an asymmetrical tonneau case that is shaped like a rhombus and encrusted with diamonds all around. It was created to commemorate the official awarding of the Prestige de la France prize to Vacheron Constantin for his contribution to the watchmaking world. The watch costs $40,000.
Hermès Arceau
Hermès Arceau was created in 1978 by Henry d’Origny, the artistic director of Hermès. At first glance, the watch looks plain and simple, but a closer look reveals all the little marvels that are tucked into it. It has stylish fonts for its numerical values, textured dial, and very unique and asymmetrical lugs. The original timepiece featured a leather strap and a circular case, much the same as the latest option that was released in 2017.
Conclusion
As much as their functions are to keep time, some watches are simply timeless. They transcend eras due to the ingenuity and the intricate beauty of their designs. All the watches mentioned above will continue to outlive everything else that comes after them as their memory is carried forward from one generation to another. The 70s was an industrious era, and we can thank the people behind these designs for creating these immortal pieces of art.