Turn Back The Clock: 1980s-Inspired Watches Are Trending
By
6 days ago
The 80s are ticking back into fashion
We often take comfort in retrospection, viewing the past with a halcyon, rose-tinted glow, which explains why trends have a habit of coming full circle. This sense of nostalgia is evident in watchmaking, with maisons constantly mining their archives to resurrect forgotten hits of yesteryear. It was only a matter of time before the era of gargantuan shoulder pads, neon shell suits and the yuppie returned to the spotlight.
‘There’s a real draw to the era’s bold expression and unapologetic confidence, fuelled by pop culture,’ says Jack Stephens, watch expert at pre-owned specialist Watchfinder & Co. ‘The 1980s was a period where brands – spurred on by the quartz crisis and industry competition – continued to push boundaries. We saw the rise of bold, geometric designs and the popularity of two-tone watches.’ From Bulgari to Omega, here’s our edit of the best 1980s-vibe watches.
The Edit: 1980s-Inspired Watches
Omega
Moonshine gold Constellation, £42,500
Although it first graced wrists in the 1950s, the OMEGA Constellation was revamped in the 1980s. A contemporary tribute to Eighties excess, this patented fade-resistant 18-karat gold alloy edition features a genuine meteorite dial treated with a Moonshine gold PVD coating.
Bulgari
Bulgari Bulgari, £15,500
That 1980s sense of excess – driven by Wall Street Gekko types running riot on the trading floor – gave rise to the mania for labels and logos. The Bulgari Bulgari, with its letter-stamped bezel, defines that bravura.
Piaget
White Gold And Yellow Gold Polo 179, £POA
Tipping a brim to the 1980s taste for mixing precious metals, Piaget has just released a limited bitone gold version of its Polo 179.
Hublot
Classic Fusion, £7,300
Hublot was established in the 1980s and its Classic Fusion – with its clean lines and patented precious metal blends – embodies the era’s sense of bold confidence and offers a distinct point of difference.
TAG Heuer
Formula 1 Solargraph, £1,650
At the sportier end of the spectrum, TAG Heuer – long known for its ties to motoring – has pushed the ignition on its 1980s F1 collection and recently dropped its latest models in bold, pop-art hues. This time around, they have Solargraph technology, with their movements powered by light.
Seiko
Digital Quartz, £480
The 1980s was when digital watches first came to the fore and it was Japanese behemoth Seiko that led the charge with its sought-after Rotocall, favoured by NASA astronauts. Its newest iterations in stainless steel with a red bezel stay true to the original, but come with better battery life.
Richard Mille
RM-07, £POA
Perhaps the most colourful, athletic collection of the genre, Richard Mille’s is a series of candy-coloured ceramic models that pay tribute to the vivid 1980s Memphis Design movement.
Breitling
Chronomat B01 42, £9,200
Also flying the dual-tone flag with its new 18-karat red gold and steel Chronomat, Breitling first developed this model in 1984 for the Italian Air Force.
Rado
Anatom Automatic, £4,200
Rado recently reworked its 1983 Anatom, which was immortalised on canvas by Andy Warhol. The newest iterations feature striking ombré dials in highlighter hues and bi-tone designs in plasma high-tech ceramic.
Cartier
Pasha de Cartier, £POA
While better known for its tanks – with the curved-case Santos Galbée being a cult 1980s classic – Cartier recently released a new skeletonised Pasha de Cartier, a model with a soft, circular case and numerals which, on its introduction in 1985, broke away from the signature quadrilateral cases of the maison.
