Taking a stroll down the past, present, and future eras of wristwatches.

(Pictured above) Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph Extreme Sport

Brands today are veering away from the traditional and constantly redefining watch design. This timepiece sees bolder colours, openwork dials, and interesting uses of materials such as titanium, ceramic, and rose gold. Couple that with complications associated with speed, and it is easy to see where modern design is headed.

Bell & Ross Br 03 Cyber Ceramic

Some watches do not just look futuristic, they embody it. This BR 03 Cyber Ceramic screams cyberpunk, even for usual Bell & Ross standards. Aptly enough, its design is inspired by stealth aircraft, and its ceramic case provides ample resistance to daily rough handling.

Cartier Santos De Cartier Dual Time

There are many beginnings that mark the advent of wristwatches — the move from pocket watches to wristwatches, the use of watches in combat, the first watch designed for the Queen of Naples — but one iconic moment in 1904 marks the birth of the first men’s wristwatch, which gave way to the many other iterations of the Santos models by Cartier.

Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Chronograph

The Reverso stands as one of the more recognisable models ever, and for good reason. This watch bridges the elements of dress wear and sports, and is ingenious in design — especially during its inception in 1931, where its reversible case was made to withstand the rigours of a polo match. Today, one gets a myriad of complications, dials, and finishings on various versions of the Reverso.

Omega De Ville Prestige

There is no decade as glamorous as the 1960s, and few watch models have etched themselves into the stylish sensibilities of this era, especially in the dress watch category. But while the De Ville aesthetic is synonymous with the Swinging Sixties, that does not mean one cannot work it into today’s wardrobes.

Tissot PR516 Chronograph Quartz

The late 1960s was also a time of racing watches, which the Tissot PR516 was a part of. Its namesake comes from the term “particularly resistant”, with the original model being free of complications. It was only later that the chronograph model was released. Featured here is the quartz version, which is a good way to segue into the quartz era — a time that deeply affected the watch industry.

Blancpain X Swatch Scuba Fifty Fathoms

Swatch was founded in 1983 while the industry was feeling the tremors of the quartz revolution. It cemented itself as an affordable and stylish brand — tenets that it still champions today. This has given way to the spirit of collaborations — such as with this Fifty Fathoms — and collaborations are another mainstay of modern times.

Photography Chintoo

Styling Liew Hui Ying

Grooming & Hair Eranthe Loo

Model Zarith

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