What would you consider to be the most 'special' or iconic watch under 3k?
Thoughts? To me it would be the Cartier Tank. Timeless design worn by greats including Muhammad Ali, Princess Diana, JFK and many more, plus one of the few watchmakers who can actually do roman numerals properly!
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Fred
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United Kingdom
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Calculator watch.
Every man I know has some fond recollection of wanting a calculator watch 'back in the day'. Most people I know have never heard of a Cartier Tank.
I suspect almost everyone who knows anything about watches knows what a G-Shock is.
If you mean currently, then no doubt the most iconic watch would be this. In fact, I won't even tell you what it is, and I am pretty sure you can figure it out. I bet if you stopped 100 random people in the street, and asked them what the 3 watches so far in this post are (with branding removed), 100% would get this one, and less than 50% would get the Casio G-shock... and probably far less than 50% would know cartier. That's amazingly iconic :)
I suspect almost everyone who knows anything about watches knows what a G-Shock is.
If you mean currently, then no doubt the most iconic watch would be this. In fact, I won't even tell you what it is, and I am pretty sure you can figure it out. I bet if you stopped 100 random people in the street, and asked them what the 3 watches so far in this post are (with branding removed), 100% would get this one, and less than 50% would get the Casio G-shock... and probably far less than 50% would know cartier. That's amazingly iconic :)
Yeah, i-watch definitely for the modern era, especially amongst old people.
I suspect almost everyone who knows anything about watches knows what a G-Shock is.
If you mean currently, then no doubt the most iconic watch would be this. In fact, I won't even tell you what it is, and I am pretty sure you can figure it out. I bet if you stopped 100 random people in the street, and asked them what the 3 watches so far in this post are (with branding removed), 100% would get this one, and less than 50% would get the Casio G-shock... and probably far less than 50% would know cartier. That's amazingly iconic :)
I think part of the "iconic" part that we are speaking about here is staying power. I don't want to take credit away from where credit is due from the iWatch, but with a lifespan of 7 years who do we know if this is the iconic design that will live with the iWatch? I just say this because the iPhone is an iconic smartphone, but the design has been ever-evolving, what's to save the iWatch from that? The design has been changed very little over these 7 years so I will give them that, but I guess now time will tell.
I definitely agree about the g-shock though. I think finding a more iconic watch design would be difficult. My only other choice would be the "A158W" because even though the watch is cheap it is still imitated a lot (from what I've seen, especially in some poorer countries).
I think part of the "iconic" part that we are speaking about here is staying power. I don't want to take credit away from where credit is due from the iWatch, but with a lifespan of 7 years who do we know if this is the iconic design that will live with the iWatch? I just say this because the iPhone is an iconic smartphone, but the design has been ever-evolving, what's to save the iWatch from that? The design has been changed very little over these 7 years so I will give them that, but I guess now time will tell.
I definitely agree about the g-shock though. I think finding a more iconic watch design would be difficult. My only other choice would be the "A158W" because even though the watch is cheap it is still imitated a lot (from what I've seen, especially in some poorer countries).
That's an unusual definition of "iconic". It more generally refers to something being widely recognised/recollected.
Certainly amongst my parents' upper-middle and upper class retiree friends, the i-watch is more or less part of their uniform.
In terms of "staying power", I don't think the Tank is timeless. Yes, they still make it but how many people wear it in 2022? I was out last night at a great new bar that's just opened in my suburb and there were a lot of good looking people there. None of them were wearing clothes that would really suit a Tank watch. It's very old-fashioned.
OP is from the UK, if you work in The City you probably see a lot of people in suits, and then a Tank would be appropriate. But that's such a tiny subset of the populace these days.
That's an unusual definition of "iconic". It more generally refers to something being widely recognised/recollected.
Certainly amongst my parents' upper-middle and upper class retiree friends, the i-watch is more or less part of their uniform.
In terms of "staying power", I don't think the Tank is timeless. Yes, they still make it but how many people wear it in 2022? I was out last night at a great new bar that's just opened in my suburb and there were a lot of good looking people there. None of them were wearing clothes that would really suit a Tank watch. It's very old-fashioned.
OP is from the UK, if you work in The City you probably see a lot of people in suits, and then a Tank would be appropriate. But that's such a tiny subset of the populace these days.
"OP is from the UK, if you work in The City you probably see a lot of people in suits, and then a Tank would be appropriate. But that's such a tiny subset of the populace these days."
Agreed, but even then you would see more than 100 Apple watches for every Tank on the wrists of those people in suits :)
Looking at sales charts, I am confident the entire swiss market in 2020, did not sell over 10 million units. Cartier sold 490,000. In that year, Apple sold 30 million watches.
As for "staying power", I am not sure the tank has it. Sure, we know it, because we love watches. The most iconic swiss watch would probably be the Rolex Sub, or Datejust. That case shape, that pretty much every watch in the world today has, came from the oystercase from Rolex, so that's pretty iconic.
Fun topic, thanks for the post! :)
"OP is from the UK, if you work in The City you probably see a lot of people in suits, and then a Tank would be appropriate. But that's such a tiny subset of the populace these days."
Agreed, but even then you would see more than 100 Apple watches for every Tank on the wrists of those people in suits :)
Looking at sales charts, I am confident the entire swiss market in 2020, did not sell over 10 million units. Cartier sold 490,000. In that year, Apple sold 30 million watches.
As for "staying power", I am not sure the tank has it. Sure, we know it, because we love watches. The most iconic swiss watch would probably be the Rolex Sub, or Datejust. That case shape, that pretty much every watch in the world today has, came from the oystercase from Rolex, so that's pretty iconic.
Fun topic, thanks for the post! :)
Agreed, except that Rolex didn't invent the Oyster case shape. They just marketed it.
Cartier Tanks are the most ennui inducing watches ever made. Ceaser would never wear one. Roman Numerals or not.
Agreed, except that Rolex didn't invent the Oyster case shape. They just marketed it.
Rolex disagrees with you. I have not looked deeply into it, but with the patents for it, they might have an argument. I know Rolex just sourced a lot of stuff and put it together in the beginning, but not 100% sure of the history of this case.
The Oyster Case - Rolex Watchmaking
Rolex disagrees with you. I have not looked deeply into it, but with the patents for it, they might have an argument. I know Rolex just sourced a lot of stuff and put it together in the beginning, but not 100% sure of the history of this case.
The Oyster Case - Rolex Watchmaking
Just because Rolex advertising says something doesn't mean I'm going to believe it. They may have had a patent on a particular combination of features that provide water resistance. I don't know, I'm not interested. I was referring to your comment regarding the case shape. Rolex in no way invented that, and a shape is what would have the potential to become iconic (getting back to the OP), not a specific combination of features.
Just because Rolex advertising says something doesn't mean I'm going to believe it. They may have had a patent on a particular combination of features that provide water resistance. I don't know, I'm not interested. I was referring to your comment regarding the case shape. Rolex in no way invented that, and a shape is what would have the potential to become iconic (getting back to the OP), not a specific combination of features.
I went to chrono24 and looked at the 156 watches they have for sale from 1921 - 1926, and this is the only one remotely similar, from 1923. So I guess the honor goes to Longines. Rolex's version is below, from a decade later.
There are a few different interpretations of what 'iconic' means. Looking at Merriam-Webster and American Heritage Dictionaries you have:
- widely recognized and well-established an iconic brand name
and/or
- widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
If you go with the first I can't argue with the iWatch. However, I think we are talking more about the second in this case and for me the iWatch does not yell 'distinctive excellence' (unless I think of Apple's marketing department). I also believe that if talking iconic watches brand history needs to be considered which then rules out iWatches as they are still new and their staying power hasn't been proven.
Anyway long story short regardless of if you like Cartier Tanks or not I would agree that the Tank is iconic assuming we are talking iconic under $3000 USD not $3000 CAD. For me I would have to go with the Seiko SKX even though they are discontinued you say SKX and any watch enthusiasts can picture what your talking about.
There are a few different interpretations of what 'iconic' means. Looking at Merriam-Webster and American Heritage Dictionaries you have:
- widely recognized and well-established an iconic brand name
and/or
- widely known and acknowledged especially for distinctive excellence
If you go with the first I can't argue with the iWatch. However, I think we are talking more about the second in this case and for me the iWatch does not yell 'distinctive excellence' (unless I think of Apple's marketing department). I also believe that if talking iconic watches brand history needs to be considered which then rules out iWatches as they are still new and their staying power hasn't been proven.
Anyway long story short regardless of if you like Cartier Tanks or not I would agree that the Tank is iconic assuming we are talking iconic under $3000 USD not $3000 CAD. For me I would have to go with the Seiko SKX even though they are discontinued you say SKX and any watch enthusiasts can picture what your talking about.
Widely recognised/known is the key element of both definitions. Recognition/admiration amongst watch enthusiasts doesn't make something iconic. It's such a small group. Icon status is bestowed by the general public
Apollo 11 moon landing, John Lennon assassination, Beatles, 9/11 and calculator watches are iconic. Apollo 14, Georgi Markov, Boo Radleys, Madrid and Cartier Tanks not so much.
Widely recognised/known is the key element of both definitions. Recognition/admiration amongst watch enthusiasts doesn't make something iconic. It's such a small group. Icon status is bestowed by the general public
Apollo 11 moon landing, John Lennon assassination, Beatles, 9/11 and calculator watches are iconic. Apollo 14, Georgi Markov, Boo Radleys, Madrid and Cartier Tanks not so much.
You are correct I was thinking iconic in the watch industry not popular culture. Although I think the term iconic can be applied within an industry sector. Not sure about the calculator watch fitting in that sample group lol.
I’m also tainted because I view the iWatch as a tech or fitness product more so than a horological product. It feels like if I see it as a Watch I should call my laptop a Clock just because it has a time function. However, that is a debate I’d rather not get into as it truly comes down to personal opinion and perspective.
I think you'd be hard-pressed to go past anything Casio. Respected by watch geeks and adopted by all and sundry. Not haute horology, but practical and indestructible. Does the job for 99.99% of users.
I still have a solar-powered Pro-Trek from way back and have acquired a Casioak in recent times.
Nothing like it out there…… except the homages of course