We’ve had a number of discussions about various schools of design and architecture over on the Longines forum.
One of the subjects was art deco which is a term often misused.
I had been thinking it would be nice to have a thread about the style.
Without further ado and without going even into doctrinal discussions, I’d like to share a couple pictures.

The first watch actually isn’t “art deco” style as it lacks the straight and /or angular lines inspired from the industrial world that is the trademark of art deco.

But I feel it has earned its place here as it was created by Longines as a unique example specifically to be shown at the 1925 Paris “International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts” which gave art deco its name.
It belongs to the Longines Museum in Saint-Imier where I took the picture.

The clocks below are on exhibit at the Musee International de l’Horlogerie in La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland.

 

Does a Hamilton "DeWitt" circa 1950 fit the bill

 

http://www.artdecowristwatches.com/

 

The Elgin Watch Co. (US) was noted for their Art Deco designs in women’s watches. In particular their enamelled “tiger and lady” model. I was unable to copy the image I found. I hope the link to Google Images works. There are quite a number of other Elgin Art Deco models on that site. Oops! Looks like the link didn’t work, either.

This seems to have worked, I hope.

 

This is where the doctrine gets complicated
This case definitely looks art deco in part because of the stepped sides- the steps in an of themselves are a typical motif of art deco- think of the Empire State Building and Chystler building.
And this one does look very art deco.
Howver the 1950s while often espousing some of the art deco features are a completely different animal.

This one, I would say is art deco in style though.

Thanks for posting that, a bit of a challenge to sell only art deco watches and some clearly don’t fit the bill but some look really nice!

Lovely enamel work, thanks for posting, I might have to look for more of those

 

$1 flea market purchase last week, 1931 Bulova "Rona"....at my watchmaker now for new crystal, minute hand and cleaning.

 

The case has many straight sides, rather than being round. Some of the digits are more angular than needed, e.g. the 8.
It was there at the start, if this is no longer considered Artdeco, that is because people are forgetful, IMO. Of course it deserves to be here.

 

Work in progress...
have fun
kfw

 

1926 Hamilton Milady's Watch of Accuracy

 

In the 1980-90s I worked in midtown Manhattan on the 43rd floor of a building next to what is commonly known as the General Electric building, a 1935 Art Deco masterpiece. Other iconic Art Deco buildings in the same neighborhood include the Waldorf Astoria and the Chrysler Building. My office window was directly across from the top of the GE Building....I had the face of the goddess Elektra peering at me through the window for years. One of my regular watches from those years was an Art Deco Hamilton "Piping Rock"....alas, a 1980s quartz reissue, and not an original. Some photos (courtesy of Google Images).....

 

Thanks for those beautiful pictures and for reminding us

A couple years ago, and while our “art deco” debates were raging here, I snapped pictures as I walked around Paris. Not the masterpieces of New York city but nonetheless typical of the style.
Note the recurring motif of parallel lines and steps— of which the watch equivalent, of course, is the “step case” — and I will submit, the so-called sector dial.

 

Wow, are those realistic prices for those ?
I'd like to think they're still around because they're overpriced.....

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Elgin-Lady...596260?hash=item3639e5cfe4:g:ag4AAOSwYKNaz5MIPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
Starting bid at US $1,350.00.


Purchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELGIN-ART-...039229?hash=item214638a93d:g:nFAAAOSwwAdbFW7jPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
US $2,398.00 starting bid- with offers accepted/

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ELGIN-c-19...704067?hash=item41eae44a83:g:QhYAAOSwkV1bda1tPurchases made through these links may earn this site a commission from the eBay Partner Network
US $7,654.00 - with offers accepted.

 

Great photos! It's funny, living in "the city" (any city) we make a special ocassion of going to see art in a museum when, in fact, the art of architecture and architectural decorative art surrounds us wherever we walk in the city.

 

True that.

Great thread Syrte

A jillion people daily pass the old Texas & Pacific Railway terminal on the freeway in my home town of Fort Worth, Texas never recognizing the jewel that's "always" been there. My grandmother worked there when I was a little kid. It came perilously close to being demolished a few years ago, something that the city was once quite adept at doing.

 

Unfortunately other buildings there haven't always fared so well.

The Fort Worth Medical Arts building was just across the park from the bank where I began my career. Probably the prettiest building in the prettiest setting downtown.






It's difficult to even find a good photograph on the internet and no interior shots. The inside was beautiful green marble.





What were they thinking?!!!

Then there's the old red Pecos sandstone Fort Worth Post Office that I remember as a kid. From 1896 so a bit early for art deco.


Can remember the building but the clearest memory I have of it is briefly watching the wrecking ball take it down.

 

Not sure this fits 100%, but I’ll throw it in anyways cause I like it




https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...ium=social&cmpid==socialflow-twitter-pursuits

 

I think that's the nicest modern Mido I've seen.

 

Here's my small contribution to this fine thread....