Watches are BACK.
According to an article published by NPR this week, watches are making a comeback. And if NPR says its true- its gotta be true.
Im curious though, how can watches make a comeback when they never really left to begin with? I guess whatever way you want to phrase it, the point is the same. The style spotlight has returned to wristwatches. In a world where the cell phone was considered to be the decided replacement for any need to tell time on our wrist, evidence is cropping up to defend the need for watches. Proof to support that a watch is something bigger than just a time-telling device or a flashy accessory comparable to any old bracelet.
The watch is an icon in the realm of style and sophistication- A subtle, tasteful and important indication of personal style, status and class.
In honor of the NPR article and the LAUNCH of eRelyx’s website this week, we’d like to highlight some of history’s most notable watches:
JFK and Jackie O were fans of Cartier- The iconic first lady is still most often associated with the Cartier Tank and her husband was often photographed wearing a custom engraved 18K Gold and Leather band Cartier she gave him for their 4th wedding anniversary. Following in Jackie’s footsteps, Michelle Obama most recently posed for her official White House Portrait wearing her own Cartier Tank Watch.
In 1969 Man landed on the Moon. On Buzz Aldrin’s wrist? An Omega Speedmaster. Just a year later, Omega & NASA made another historic pairing during the Apollo 13 mission. An Omega Speedmaster properly timed the firing of missiles that enabled astronauts to abort ship and return safely into the Earth’s atmosphere.
Adventurers are notable watch-wearers: The Terminator’s watch of choice? Audemars Piguet. Rambo? Panerai. And what about the original action/adventurer Indiana Jones? Breitling, of course. As for Bond? James Bond? The original- Sean Connery- was a Rolex man. More recently Bond has traded the Submariner for an Omega Speedmaster. Off the screen, a Rolex watch kept time for Sir Edmund Hillary as he led the first successful trek to the peak of Mt. Everest in 1953.
If fast cars & watches seems to be an obvious association. This is thanks to Steve McQueen’s 1971 racing film Le Mans which put the Tag Heuer Monaco on the map. In the mid 70′s Tag is named the official time keeper for Formula One racing.
On the fashion front, the understated elegance of a Cartier tank watch has been favored by classic style icons Grace Kelly, Jackie O, Angelina Jolie and Princess Diana. More recently however, there has been a surge of Women wearing Men’s Watches. The mastermind behind the trend transition? Stylist Rachel Zoe whose “boho-chic” look became the “it” trend beginning in 2007, taking over Hollywood and dominating the fashion landscape. Zoe’s watch, a gold Rolex Datejust Pearlmaster, became the watch that inspired a million copycats.
So there you have it- a glimpse into the important role the wristwatch has played through out the realm of fashion, society, entertainment, sport, politics and in key events through out history. A watch is so much more than just a luxury item, an accessory by which to read time- its a true investment.
To read the full NPR article “Its Time: The Wristwatch Makes a Comeback” – click here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=131163403
The pictured watches are similar to or the exact models of the watches mentioned. All pictured watches are currently available for purchase on our website.
Visit us at www.erelyx.com, we are now live and open for business!
