Around the world, with a collection of exceptional timepieces.

When one’s profession requires them to travel the globe, a bevy of wristwatches are always welcome travel companions. This universal fact rings very true for today’s Curator’s Corner guest; Alessandro Caruso. A Vice-President of International for one of Quebec’s leading fashion companies, Alessandro is no stranger to the layover, spending a lot of time growing the brand’s presence in the Middle East and Asia. Throughout his life and vast career in international business, he has amassed a lovely collection of watches that range from divers to world timers and even a vintage pocket watch. We will pour over the collection of watches that he brought to show us during a quick lunch at his office opposite the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Tag Heuer Carrera Chronograph-CV2010.BA0794

This automatic Carrera chronograph example is a case study in rugged tool watch aesthetic. The 41mm steel case with aluminum bezel, adorned with a tachymeter scale, exemplify this watch’s vintage racing heritage. Powering this racer’s engine is the famous Carrera Caliber 16, which is an automatic base ETA 7750 movement found in many of Tag Heuer’s chronograph watches. Alessandro is an avid runner, having competed in the Montreal Beneva Marathon this past September. Clocking in a rapid race time, he knows the importance of having a watch capable of precision timing. Thus, this racing chronograph is a staple piece of his collection.

Seiko Prospex Diver “Turtle”-SRP777

Perhaps Alessandro’s most worn timepiece; the Seiko Prospex “Turtle”, is a true daily wearer. Most people who have never seen one in the metal would think that the 45mm case diameter would be much too large. However, this true diver’s watch wears very comfortably on most wrist sizes, fitting more like a 43mm watch in reality. With a matte black dial, day/date window, screw down crown offering 200 meters of water resistance, 4R36 workhorse Japanese movement, and shockingly bright lume, the SRP777 attains legendary status amongst enthusiasts.

Seiko Prospex Diver “Turtle” PADI-SRPA21

The latest addition to Alessandro’s collection, cementing his love for dive watches, is the Seiko PADI edition “Turtle” dive watch. With very similar specifications to the SRP777 featured above, this Seiko sports a special designation on the dial. PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) is a stamp of approval by the world renowned association dedicated to dive training. This particular model also sports a very legible “Pepsi” blue and red uni-directional bezel and a red outlined seconds hand.

Frederique Constant Worldtimer-FC-718MC4H6

The epitome of “class” when you are flying First Class, the Frederique Constant Worldtimer is a powerhouse travel watch. It sports Breguet style hands, silver guilloche dial, and a case size which comes in at 42mm. The real star power of this watch lies in the city times on the outer rim and GMT function, allowing the user to quickly track the time in any corner of the globe. Beating with a manufacture calibre FC-718 automatic movement that runs at 28,800 vph, this travel companion will never fail its wearer. It is truly a stunning example of class meets function, but also has deep sentimental value to Alessandro. When his son was born in 2014, he purchased this watch to commemorate this incredible moment.

Tissot Quickster Chronograph-Q662.762

Another racing inspired watch in Alessandro’s collection, this Tissot “Quickster” quartz powered chronograph evokes a strong vintage charm. The watch sports a 41mm steel case and a blue/white leather strap with racing center stripe. The most striking element of this watch is the rather fun use of the colour red for the sub dial hands. The design cues of this watch definitely look as if it could have been featured in the famous 1971 racing movie “Le Mans”. Now all Alessandro needs is a Porsche 917K to go along with it!

Longines Ultronic-Cal. 6312

Alessandro received the next watch in his collection from his Father, a very special Longines that was created during the infamous Quartz Crisis years in the watch industry. The Longines Ultronic model was fitted with an electronically controlled tuning fork powered ESA 9162 movement. Longines used these movements as the base for their Caliber 6312. The watch is equal parts dressy and sporty, with a mix between a cushion style and integrated case and clean dial execution.

Longines Pocket Watch – Ref. 4104294

Last, but certainly not least, Alessandro inherited this exquisite Longines pocket watch from his grandfather. After much research, it appears to be reference 4104294 from the swiss brand, with a dazzling silver sunray dial and electric blue hands. The dial sports the Longines text logo as well as the historic wings logo. A sub dial with seconds tracking completes this hand-wound vintage treasure. Adding to the family legacy of this timepiece, Alessandro chose to wear this pocket watch on his wedding, a fitting choice for a glamorous occasion.

Curator’s Conclusion

These seven timepieces form a curated collection of Alessandro’s watches, which showcase his love for collecting many different genres of watches. His passion for running shines through with his racing chronographs, and he has two examples of arguably one of the best known dive watches ever made. He has watches that sport multiple complications and ones that are rich in horological history. As his collection continues to grow, and his reach continues to expand across the globe, we hope he will return to share it with us.

-Mister Wrist(er)