It’s hard to overstate the role vintage watches have played in the rise of watch enthusiasm over the last few years. Watch brands continue to tap into their archives as they reimagine yesterday’s hits with today’s modern technology. That combination of classic design with robust engineering is one of the reasons retro-inspired watches continue to be so popular, and today we take a look at five examples of vintage-inspired watches done right. As always, we encourage you to join our rewards program to earn points and save with every purchase. The Windup Watch Shop team is also available to schedule a consultation with you and answer any questions you have.
Nivada Grenchen x Worn & Wound Chronomaster Valjoux 72 V2
The Nivada Grenchen x Worn & Wound Chronomaster Valjoux 72 V2 is among the most carefully considered vintage-inspired watches on this list. When we set out to partner with Nivada Grenchen on this latest chronograph powered by the legendary Valjoux 72 movement, we knew it had to live up to its reputation as a beautiful and functional timepiece. It features a deep teal bezel and a sand dial with a “racing” layout. Tasteful touches of color add contrast and intrigue to the dial, while the caseback yields an incredible view of the watch’s namesake movement. Restored by Nivada Grenchen, the beating heart of this Chronomaster is none other than the inimitable Valjoux 72, a column-wheel three-register caliber. This watch is limited to 15 pieces, so inquire for availability and purchase details.
Bulova Parking Meter
One of the joys of vintage watches is discovering the sheer variety of design quirks as styles shifted throughout the 20th century. One such distinct example is the so-called Bulova Parking Meter, which originated in 1973. Thanks to the unique framing of its subdials, the chronograph was soon nicknamed the “Parking Meter”. Bulova celebrates and reissues this cult favorite in a limited run of 5,000 with a modern Miyota 0S21 movement, enabling the watch to retain its “bullhead” pushers while making it more accessible to today’s buyers.
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical
A rare example of a watch that has escaped the surly bonds of watch nerds to infiltrate the mainstream, the Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical is as tried and true as it gets. With its roots in the First and Second World Wars, the Khaki Field is in many ways the definitive field watch. Today’s version remains wearable at 38mm and is powered by a good old fashioned manually wound movement, the Hamilton H-50. Part of the watch’s enduring appeal is its ability to pair well with a variety of straps, and it remains an ideal watch for just about any occasion.
Oris Big Crown Calibre 473
Oris has been quietly manufacturing the Big Crown Pointer Date, or BCPD for short, for nearly 90 years, but rest assured they have not ceased to innovate. The Big Crown Calibre 473 is a particular triumph for the brand as it combines beautiful aesthetics with formidable engineering under the hood. At 38mm, this version of the BCPD is perfectly sized for a variety of wrists and is matched with a soft blue dial, small seconds display, and bright red date pointer. Powering the watch is Oris’ venerable Calibre 473. A clean-sheet design that took over four years of R&D, the manually-wound movement offers 120 hours of power reserve and incredible 10-year service intervals.
Timex x Worn & Wound WW75 V2
Timex has been on a roll as of late, releasing watches that combine vintage-inspired cases and aesthetics with fun colors and designs. The encore to a highly successful first run of WW75 watches, the Timex x Worn & Wound WW75 V2 takes the 1970s style cushion case and adds texture and color in a way that keeps it both easy to wear and easy on the eyes. It remains a compact 37mm wide and 43mm lug-to-lug and is powered by a wonderfully anachronistic manually wound movement. Choose from blue and pink flavors, each limited to 500 pieces, and live out your retro fantasies without breaking the bank.
