1979
IWC Da VinciWhen it debuted in 1970, the Da Vinci
watch was equipped with the first Swiss-
manufactured quartz movement and a
hexagonal case. The movements were so
expensive at the time that the Da Vinci was
made only in gold and platinum. The model
has since seen numerous iterations and while
arguably not as popular as the Portugieser
or the Big Pilot, it is an important part of IWC
Schaffhausen’s watchmaking legacy.
Piaget Polo SLast year, Piaget re-
introduced with much
fanfare the Polo watch,
its classic sports watch
from the 1970s, which
was then equipped with
a quartz movement and
made in solid gold. The
model was re-launched
as Polo S, this time made
in stainless steel and
positioned as Piaget’s
entry-level watch. While
today’s iteration bears
little resemblence to
the original, it still has
that chic, sporty appeal
collectors loved about the
retro classic.Omega
Seamaster
PloprofAcknowledged as
Omega’s ultimate
diver’s watch, the
Ploprof arrived in
1970 and soon
earned ocean
explorers’ seal
of approval for
its exceptional
water resistance.
The model has
been produced in
vibrant colours and
lightweight materials
this year, refreshing
its appearance.Patek Philippe NautilusPatek Philippe called on the brilliant Gérald Genta in
1976 to design its first sports watch. Genta created
a piece that defied the fashion for slender, gold-
crafted watches favoured at the time, delivering
a rather hefty timepiece in stainless steel. The
Nautilus has seen very few changes over the
ensuing four decades and remains one of the most
sought-after sports watches today.Vacheron
Constantin 1972Vacheron Constantin
designed a watch
with an asymmetrical
tonneau case in 1972
and named it after the
year it was made. The
innovative watch was
created to mark the
official presentation of
the coveted Prestige
de la France award to
Vacheron Constantin
in recognition of its
expertise in design
and craftsmanship.
Rightly, the 1972 line
endures to this day.2017
2016
1976
2016
1970
1972
2017
2017
1970
(^143)