Today we continue our Archival Revival series with the 1950s. In comparison to the 1940s, the 1950s did see lots more evolution globally. Now that all efforts did not have to be concentrated on the war, there was more room for development. Aided by the economic boom, this development happened in almost every aspect of life: technologically, culturally, stylistically, politically, and economically. In turn, this of course impacted the horological industry. With more money to spend and with everyday needs changing, watch trends evolved away from the military style popularised in the 1940s. For this next instalment of Archival Revival, the best 1950s-inspired watches will be our focus and we will be recommending some of our favourites on the market today.
The Archival: 1950s and the Rapidly Changing World
Following World War II, the 1950s was a time of recuperation and rapid change. The baby boom swiftly drove up the global population. Global trade resumed which caused an economic boom in many countries. Moreover, the commercialisation of air travel meant that the world was becoming more globalised. Both television and rock and roll music were entering their prime and shaped the world culturally. However, with such quickly changing times, there was also lots of global instability. Some of this was for the greater good, like the civil rights movement which gained traction in the 1950s. On the other hand, events like the Cold War saw lots of uncomfortable political tension between countries.
A similar thing was occurring domestically and culturally. Particularly in America, traditional family values were disturbed by the development of the modern-day ‘teenager’ figure. Whereas previously children wore the same style as their parents, teenagers were rebelling and following their own style. Although many parents clung to traditional values, 1950s teenagers did not face the same traditional pressures as their parents. The economic prosperity of the decade meant that there was less need to settle down and “grow up” so young. Consequently, both youth culture and rebellion were rife. Predominantly, this rebellion was influenced by leading figures of rock and roll music such as Elvis Presley.
Watch Trends of the 1950s
With the post-war economic boom came the luxury watch market bloom. Now that the production of goods didn’t need to go towards the war effort, premium brands like Rolex and Omega began to dominate the industry.
A model that embodied the changes of the period was the Rolex GMT Master. Its release in 1954 coincided with the dawn of the Jet Age, which saw more people travelling across different time zones. With this came the problem of jet lag, as well as having to constantly adjust your watch. In response to this issue, the pioneering Rolex GMT master was developed to display two time zones simultaneously. It was one of the first popular models with a GMT complication and inspired many other watchmakers to follow suit.
In addition to new complications to combat new modern problems, we also see some aesthetic evolution too. One widespread stylistic change was the gradual decline of numeral indices. Whilst these were popular during the war for their ease of reading, batons and divers indices began to supersede them. Many watches even began to eliminate hour markers from certain positions for the sake of aesthetics. Indeed, reflecting the wealth of the era, luxurious aesthetics were prioritised. As a result, we see many minimalist dials and gold tones appearing too.
The Revival: Best 1950s Inspired Watches
Tissot Men’s Visodate Heritage Quartz Stainless Steel T1184101127700 T118.410.11.277.00
A fitting opener to our best 1950s-inspired watches list is this Tissot Visodate. It’s a contemporary reimagining of the original Visodate model released in 1954, which commemorated the brand’s 100th anniversary. The new model maintains many of the charming retro attributes of the former, for instance, the dial’s historical Tissot logo. Complementing this are silver-tone dauphine hands as well as a mixture of sword-shaped and Arabic numeral indices. As an added functional touch, a silver-framed dial rests alongside the 3 o’clock hour marker. Finally, a high-quality sapphire crystal encases the dial. To situate the watch firmly in the 1950s, this is slightly domed on each side in accordance with trends at the time.
Framing the dial is a stainless steel case. At 40mm in diameter, it sits comfortably against the wrist. Within it, a quartz movement with an end-of-life function powers the watch. To complete the design, a stainless steel mesh bracelet secures the watch to the wrist. Clean, classic and cool, this Tissot will give any look a signature ‘50s flair.
Herbelin Inspiration Quartz (40mm) Black Dial Black Leather 18247P14
Incorporating the gold tones popularised in the 1950s, this Herbelin Inspiration model is next up on our list. Herbelin’s Inspiration collection takes the crux of its design from one of the brand’s 1950s lines. Its black dial is intersected by two white lines, which divide the dial into four to give it structure. Along one of the lines is a subdial which rests directly above 6 o’clock. Encircling this design are slim gold baton indices to match the two gold-tone hands.
Housing the model’s 11 1⁄2 Ronda 6004.B quartz movement is a 40mm yellow gold PVD stainless steel case. With a depth of 8.6 mm, the watch features a slim silhouette that gives it an air of elegance. Contributing to this is the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and timeless black leather strap. For a capable and confident 1950s-inspired model, this Herbelin is a perfect choice.
Rotary Men’s Stainless Steel Bracelet Black Dial GB05108/30
Resembling the original Rolex GMT Master, this Rotary Henley is our next Archival Revival: Best 1950s Inspired Watches recommendation. At an affordable price point, there’s much to love about this GMT watch. Framing the black dial is a blue and red bezel, which is responsible for displaying the second time zone. This is indicated through white Arabic numeral indices, which contrast the dial’s chunky-shaped indices. For added practicality, the dial’s indices are luminescent meaning they are easily legible in low-light conditions. Anchored to the centre of the dial are four hands. The hour, minute and second hands are silver, whilst the GMT hand is distinguishable by its contrasting red colour and arrow tip. Like the indices, these also have a luminescent inlay. Other notable features on the watch face include the scratch-resistant sapphire crystal and the date display replacing the 3 o’clock hour marker.
The model’s 41.5mm stainless steel case acts as the base for the design and protects the model’s quartz movement. Moreover, it locks in the watch’s generous 100 metres of water resistance. Finally, topping off the design is a three-link stainless steel bracelet. If you’re looking for the quintessential 1950s-inspired GMT watch, then this Rotary Henley is a brilliant choice.
Hamilton Ventura Quartz Watch Black Dial Flexible Bracelet H24301131
The grand finale to our best 1950s-inspired watches list is this Hamilton Ventura. With its distinctive case shape, it certainly stands out against the round case typical of the era. However, for those who don’t know, the Hamilton Ventura was the watch of 1950s rock and roll legend Elvis Presley. Although he wasn’t spotted wearing it until just after the end of the decade, the Ventura line was originally created in 1957.
When looking at the watch, the rounded triangular case immediately draws the eye in. On this particular model, it measures 32mm wide and is made from high-quality gold stainless steel. To accent it and conceal the lugs, the case also has a stepped frame around it. At the centre of the watch is a black dial with abstract gold-tone indices. Matching hour, minute and seconds hands complement these hour markers and add the quintessential 1950s luxury touch to the design. Additionally, the watch’s gold stainless steel flexible bracelet continues to emulate its opulence. Indeed, this bracelet is very similar to the one worn by Presley himself. The ultimate rock and roll watch, there is no better way to round off our list today than Hamilton’s Ventura.
And that concludes our Archival Revival: Best 1950s Inspired Watches post for today! But which of our 1950s-inspired watches was your favourite? Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below.
