GIVEN THAT WE can now find exactly what time it is anywhere in the world by simply reaching into our pockets, investing in a high-end watch that costs as much as a second-hand car might seem like an unwise expenditure. But unlike most second-hand cars, the value of a good watch doesn’t only lie in its primary function – that is, getting you from point A to B with a car, or telling time for a watch.
Nowadays, the best watches do much more than tell time. They’re more like functional jewellery for men, a way that we can express ourselves with something fancy. But does that really justify such a hefty price tag? Well, the difference between spending your hard-earned coin on a watch instead of another item in a similar price bracket is that, when you’re buying a watch, you’re not just taking out a mortgage on something that will only land you a few compliments from envious friends. Your outlay will do much more, exposing you to a level of craftsmanship unrivalled by just about anything else money can buy.
Tissot are a watchmaker than understand this message better than most. The Swiss house has invested heavily in turning its timepieces from simple time tellers into wearable works of art. In particular, Tissot’s Chemin des Tourelles collection has heralded the arrival of a new era in watchmaking – and the collection just welcomed three skeletonised newcomers.
If the invention of the smartphone has threatened the existence of watches, the ongoing crawl of modernisation has outright killed brash, chunkier timepieces designed to withstand the rigours of a world far more robust than our own. We no longer need a watch to accompany us on an expedition through uncharted territories or into the depths of the ocean. What we need is a watch that is lightweight, doesn’t get in the way of daily tasks, and harnesses a design that we can get lost in. Skeleton watches like the new Chemin des Tourelles’, which are whittled down into their barest form to leave their inner workings exposed, are the perfect fit.
The expansion of the Chemin des Tourelles collection includes three new skeleton models. All three boast 39mm cases and a high-quality Powermatic 80 automatic movement – which can, of course, be viewed in action due the watches’ exposed skeleton design. Where the new models differ is their colour palettes.
The first variant of the new Chemin des Tourelles (seen above) comes with a steel bracelet, blue dial with Clous de Paris patterns and Roman numeral indices. Then there’s the black PVD version, which features smoked glass, a sunray dial, simple baton indices and a black-grained leather strap. The final model makes use of an ivory sunray dial, steel case, gold PVD indices and a khaki leather strap.
Say what you will about the role of the watch in the modern world, Tissot’s Chemin des Tourelles expansion proves that skeleton watches haven’t lost their place.
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