Couldn't come up with a better title, but my question for you guys, is this.

Has there ever been a watch with a more significant and interesting story for the watch world? I mean everytime I look down at my Speedmaster, I look at it with amazement at the things that it's capable of and the story of it. The fact that it has been relatively unchanged since 1957 in design except for minor revisions is a wonder to me.

Is there any other watches with a rich background like the Speedmaster? Or is this the type of watch that is truly a one of a kind model?

 

Interesting story? Probably not. More significant? Probably the Submariner, as much as it pains me to write that. I think that watch has had a far greater ripple effect throughout the watch industry, and the collective consciousness of the public.

That being said, I own a Speedmaster. I have no interest in owning a Submariner.

 

The Harrison # 4 marine chronometer!

 

In the vein of the story of the Speedmaster, probably the Rolex Explorer

 

Cartier Santos Dumont

 

In the sense that this changed the landscape of moving from pocket watch to the wristwatch.

 

And a first when it comes to Pilot watches as well.

 

Reverso/tank
Navitimer
Submariner

 

I would agree -- a specific watch associated with a specific, significant event. For the Explorer, it was the ascent of Mt.Everest (though technically speaking, the Explorer didn't exist as a model until the 1953 Everest expedition returned to Europe; ironically, Rolex had a model called the Everest, which was not taken on Everest).

 

Bulova Accutron

 

This one I would say rates pretty dang significant:



The watch world hasn't really been the same since.

 

I was also considering the James Cameron Sea Dweller, but I bet the thing never even touched water so it's out

 

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...ne-ugliest-watches-of-baselworld-2015#media-3
I so laughed when I came across this. And the price Hilarious.
To be clear am not nominating this piece

 

..... and another Speedmaster fanboy gets a dose of reality.

Sorry @dlg but the Speedmaster is NOT the end all and be all of horological significance. In the grand scheme of things, the history is used more for a marketing standpoint than anything else. Hell, the Speedmaster wasn't even the first watch worn in space by a long shot. Scott Carpenter wore his Navitimer into orbit before the Omega was certified, and many astronauts wore their Rolex GMTs under their EVA suits. Then there's the Russian cosmonaut watches too, which preceded any US astronaut in space.

Maybe one day, the irrational love for a normal (and actually quite bland) chronograph from a middle of the road manufacturer will come to an end.

 

Naturally there's a Hublot on the list. Did yu see that @Holma20 ?

 

I did. I had to look hard to discover that there was a watch underneath all of that! Wondering if that particular designer is still employed

 

It was actually attached on the outside of the submersible.

 

Oh... man I'm dense! I know not a thing!

 

Harwood Automatic

 

It's okay. As a matter of fact, it's almost to be expected with the amount of "Speedmaster this" and "Speedmaster that" all over watch forums being posted by the brainwashed.



If you really get into the history of the watch and timekeeping devices, the Speedmaster is but a puny part of the overall century of wristwatches. It's a nice watch with a cool story. That's it and no more. The entire watch universe does not revolve around it.

Here's a few good links to start learning more about watches and their history:

http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/5-m...-automatics-428194.html?highlight=influential

http://www.watchtalkforums.info/forums/thread22496.html