Image credit: “IWC”

A Trip Down Memory-Lane, Courtesy Of IWC & Bulova.

We are kicking off this week with a brand new segment here on Mister Wrist(er), where we will take our readers on a journey through any noteworthy watch releases out in the “horolog-isphere“. It has truly been an exciting February for the hungry watch enthusiast! We saw incredible announcements coming from the brands IWC and Bulova. The theme this month seems to really be revisiting one’s past history, as each brand came out swinging with a revival from their back catalogs.

We will start by hopping in the cockpit of the powerhouse German watchmaking brand IWC, whose innovations in pilot’s watches, and horology in general, harken back to 1868. For this new release, the brand wants its devotees to revisit the 1990’s specifically. The new tribute to the 3705 pilot’s watch is based on a model that was unveiled in 1994, which was IWC’s first black ceramic pilot’s watch. The updated version clearly takes its design cues straight from its predecessor, albeit with many modern updates to the dial. We still see a chronograph with triple sub-dials, but now we get a bolder design, buffed up hour numerals and a slight re-position of the brand logo and date window, which jets this piece directly into the new century. This watch is really stunning, it is the definition of tough, rugged design with an air of sophistication at the same time. The brand is famous for pulling off this aesthetic, where each of their pieces feel at home on the wrist during a supersonic flyby, or nestled under a dinner jacket sleeve. (See below for a side-by side comparison courtesy of Hodinkee).

Image credit: “Hodinkee”

Next, rising up from the depths of the past, we have a revival of Bulova’s famed dive watch “Oceanographer” family, with a twist of orange. The “Devil Diver”, as it is more commonly known due to its 666 ft of water resistance, comes in a variety of modern dial/strap options which all harken back to almost 50 years ago when it made a splash on the scene. We have had the privilege here on Mister Wrist(er) of seeing the striking green dial/steel bracelet combination in the metal, while window shopping in downtown Montreal. This new iteration, with luminescent orange dial and rugged rubber strap really brings a tour de force to the lineup for Bulova. The brand has such an extensive array of pieces, that it becomes often overwhelming to browse their display cases. They are really hitting home-runs with their Archive series however, with each piece having the ability to stand out from the rest of the shuffle. If we had to add one more piece to the Mister Wrist(er) collection from Bulova, it would definitely be this stunning example of history, modernized. Plus you won’t be able to miss it, even from 666 ft below!

Image credit: “Bulova”

-Mister Wrist(er)