Created:              1969

Story:    In 1969, Tag Heuer shook up watch making tradition by creating the first ever square water-resistant case. Driven by the celebrated Chronomatic Calibre 11, the Monaco was also the world’s first square automatic chronograph. It was only one year old when Steven McQueen chose to wear it in Le Mans, the famous car racing film, and on the wrist of this major movie star, it soon became an icon. Forty years later, the Monaco series is a truly exceptional collection, a symbol of daring and excellence. Today, TAG Heuer continues to break all the rules with the revolutionary Monaco V4, the world’s first timepiece with a belt-driven transmission.

Price range:       Starting from € 2.800

Created:              1976

Story:    The Nautilus collection was introduced in 1976. Patek Philippe was looking for a strong design and an inimitable personality. An inspiration for its design soon emerged: The universal shape of a porthole found on virtually all maritime vessels. The original model was the Ref. 3700/1 in steel. Since then, the Nautilus has established itself as a classic, elegant sports watch and the original reference is one of the most sought-after timepieces at auction. The new Nautilus collection showcases the flattering redesign of Patek Philippe’s casually elegant classic. It has gained style through subtle and carefully calculated changes while preserving its original spirit.

Price range:       Starting from € 11.000

Created:              1953

Story:    The submariner, introduced in 1953, was the first watch to be water-resistant up to 100 meters (330 feet). It was later strengthened by its patented triple-seal Triplock winding crown, making it capable of withstanding depths of up to 300 meters (100 feet). (See page 22 for more history on Rolex)

Price range:       Starting from € 5.650 (No Date Model)

                               Starting from € 6.450 (Date Model)

Created:              1957

Story:    The Speedmaster chronograph was created in 1957. From its inception it has been known for its high precision, sturdiness, readability, ease of use and reliability and in 1969 it claimed its place in history as the first watch to be worn on the moon.

Price range:       Starting from € 3.400

Created:              1931

Story:    A Jaeger-LeCoultre invention that has been unique in the world since 1931: the "Reversible" case. A timeless symbol of Art Deco, it is the most classic of rectangular watches. When its case is turned over, the Reverso is transformed into a jewel that can be personalized for ever by an engraving. Since 1931, the Reverso has housed over 50 different mechanical calibers, from the world’s smallest to grandes complications, ranging from ultra-thin movements to tourbillons and from minute repeaters to perpetual calendars. Each of these mechanisms has been specially designed to fit the legendary reversible case and entirely made on site at the Jaeger-LeCoultre Manufacture, in the finest Swiss watch making tradition.

Price range:       Starting from € 4.850

Created:              1939

Story:     At the end of the 1930s, two Portuguese businessmen active in the watch industry were searching for technical precision of the highest order and paid a visit to the factory in Schaffhausen. They ordered wristwatches in steel cases with the accuracy of a marine chronometer. At the time, the only way of meeting their request was with a pocket watch movement, so IWC decided to take one from a hunter movement (which also has the crown on the right-hand side) and house it in a wristwatch case. The first Portuguese of 1939 established an IWC watch family whose precision, sheer size and complex mechanics have been a source of pleasure to watch enthusiasts the world over for more than 70 years.

Price range:       Starting from € 6.000

Created:              1917

Story:    The Tank is a line of watches made by Cartier. It was created by Louis Cartier in 1917, and inspired by the new Renault tanks which Cartier saw in use on the Western Front, and the prototype watch was presented by Cartier to General John Pershing of the American Expeditionary Force. Its lines and proportions are similar to those of tanks found on First World War battlefields; it is both a square and a rectangle, and its straps are concealed under vertical sidepieces so as to be hidden from view. Tanks (usually) have blue, sword-shaped hands with silvered opaline guilloché dials. The winding crowns on Tanks, like those of most Cartier watches, have sapphire cabochons on them. It is possible to find most models of Tank in versions embellished with diamonds. The metal bracelets on those models which come with them (such as the Tank Française) are shaped with indentations which bring to mind the distinctive caterpillar tracks of real tanks.

Price range:       Starting from € 2.100 (Quartz)

Created:              1952

Story:    The favorite watch of pilots and dedicated aviation fans laid a major milestone in its history by taking aboard Breitling Caliber 01 – the most reliable and high-performance self-winding chronograph movement entirely developed and produced in the Breitling workshops. Equipped with a case featuring a slightly larger diameter, the Navitimer 01 is distinguished by its black dial with a red seconds hand and applied hour- markers or numerals, representing details that give even greater depth and character to its iconic face

Price range:       Starting from € 4.175

Created:              1953

Story:    The origin of this collection was a legendary watch. In 1953, Blancpain created the Fifty Fathoms, a diving watch for the frogmen of the French army. Worn by Cousteau himself, this timepiece took on iconic status. Today, Blancpain produces it as a family of watches water-resistant to a depth of as much as 1,000 m. This collection is the expression of Blancpain’s special relationship with the world of the sea. It is unflinchingly sporty, and combines watch making expertise and innovative materials in its subtle but tough construction. The exceptional performance of these models makes them capable of standing up to any situation, even the most extreme. Sophisticated instruments serving active people, these fearless watches are also timeless icons, made in the image of the legendary Fifty Fathoms.

Price range:       Starting from € 9.850

Created:              1972 (Royal Oak)             1993 (Royal Oak Offshore)

Story:    A disruptive and downright revolutionary timepiece, the Royal Oak is immediately recognizable thanks to its state-of-the-art engineered strongbox case, octagonal bezel secured by eight hexagonal screws, visible water resistance gaskets, dials adorned with exclusive engine-turned “Grande Tapisserie” motif.

Price range:       € 10.000 - €15.000 (Royal Oak)

                               € 15.000 - €22.000 (Royal Oak Offshore)