What does “watch culture” look like? In an age when everything has a timepiece attached to it, there’s an argument to be made that timepieces aren’t really necessary anymore, per se. But removing the necessity of watches has transformed them in the modern age — from purely functional objects into art. They’re a kind of romanticism in dials and springs, where the extreme functionality of the watch becomes glorious in itself.
As a canny lover of the hyper-functionality of modern watches, you’ve got to be interested in adding to your collection of horological art. Today, we’re going to be looking at a few timepieces from our friends at Long Jewelers.
1. Oris Aquis Titan Chronograph Collection
There’s a popular, if maybe a bit oversimplified, idea that Swiss designers prefer to work in small details, favoring the beauty of the little touch over big, bold statements. exemplify the idea of finding beauty in the details. This Oris Aquis Titan Chronograph 01 674 7655 7253-07 4 26 34TEB, offered by Long Jewelers, possesses an intricate collection of complications built into the piece, including: a central 60-second hand, chronograph, date, small second hand, all built into a 46 mm case. Such a dedication to inner perfection reflects a commitment to a culture of artistic precision that puts Swiss watches, and Oris watches in particular, beyond merely timepieces. Find more Oris chronographs in different collections on the Long Jewelers website.
2. Raymond Weil Maestro Collection
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Raymond Weil is a Switzerland-based designer too. Beyond the artistic beauty that modern timepieces derive from their mechanical perfection, they also exist to carry a social language: Timepieces like the Raymond Weil Maestro 2238-STC-00659 are “performance enhancing”, and the stark beauty of them says to viewers that the time of the men who wear them is valuable. There’s a reason that this particular collection is called “Maestro”, which means “master” in Italian: Without saying a single word, the effortless cool of this watch’s stainless steel case and leather band is a symbolic way of conveying alpha male respectability.
3. Raymond Weil Noemia Collection
The first wristwatch was designed in 1868 by Patek Philippe for the Countess Koscowicz of Hungary. The irony of history is that watches tend to be geared towards men, but for years, watches were only worn by women until the 30’s. This history reflects the simple fact that watches are beautiful, and they are artistic, and that’s a fundamental part of why people appreciate watch culture. It’s hard to see the Raymond Weil Noemia 5132-STS-00985, with its curvy beauty, mother-of-pearl dial, and diamond-studded bezel, and not think of it as a kind of bracelet. At their jewelry store in Virginia Beach, VA, Long Jewelers is proud to offer a wide variety of Raymond Weil women’s watches that stun the imagination and transform the technical into a work of pure art.