Adam Leader
The TV dial watch is in the 1970s as you can get. As the name suggests, the TV dial watch mimics the shape of a classic CRT television. It can be either a square or rectangular dial, usually with slightly curved corners. Television dial watches became fashion somewhere in the late 1960s, and stuck to it as a popular style in the 70s and early 80s. Looking at the right TV dial watch, it was all about fashion and design being bold, colorful and modern. It was an era of shag carpets, bright dayglo flower patterns, and obscene big shirt collars. This environment has become a staple of men’s watch designs, reflecting the culture that revolves around family television.
The popularity of TV dial watches also corresponded fairly closely to the emergence of CEH Beta 21, the first mass market Swiss quartz movement released by a conglomerate formed by the largest Swiss brand in 1969. 3587 and Omega Electrokurtz. The Beta 21 movement was short-lived, but represents a key moment in Switzerland’s watchmaking. That applies to many other TV dial watches of the day. So vintage items are very attractive.
Recently, round clocks have been ubiquitous, The other shapes seem unique and original. Furthermore, the 1970s watch style has been rage for quite some time (integrated bracelets), but the TV dial hasn’t returned with the same fanfare. Maybe that’s a time for a bit of a paradigm shift. Many collectors (and I mean me) are tired of seeing the same watch over and over again. It’s great to see watchmakers shaking things a bit and steering them on a whole new trend. Thankfully, some brands may be a little ahead of the curve.
Seiko Recraft SNKP23
As always, if there is a need, Seiko will meet it. The Seiko Recraft line is a homage to the 1970s brand’s style. The SNKP line comes in both green and blue dial variants, houses Seiko’s non-conservative 7S26 movement. It is undoubtedly closest to something like that achieved a classic TV dial vibe in flying colors and perhaps such works actually considered the ancient roots of its automatic movement. Plus, it’s likely that many Seikos will see Seikos in the wild every day, but this will definitely make you stand out from the crowd. No one does that like Seiko. Price: 275 US$ (RRP)
Brewing Metric Retro
Who says TV dials need to look straighter since the 1970s? Brew’s design cues reminiscent of Yesterday’s designs, but they are one of the best examples of modern hip micro brands. Metric Retro has enough clues built into it to acquire that moniker, but the overall minimalist execution and intended use case is 21st century hipsters. Prices are also a great entry point into the world of watches without taking out a second mortgage. Price: 450 US$
Bulova Super Seville X Completed Limited Edition
Not to be confused with Grand Seiko’s Spring Drive, the Bulova precisionist movement offers a quartz caliber with a centre hand that looks like a smooth gliding, for a frequency of 262 kHz. However, while mechanical watches are considered very accurate when run within seconds of a day, HPQ precisionist moves are accurate within seconds of a year. Super Seville offers a handsome design that elicits comparisons like the Rolex, but its unique movement offers a standout element worth checking out. The base model starts at USD 695 (USD 556 for sale), but using Complecto will bring attention to the limited edition models still available. In particular, it combines this steel variant with a double trending turquoise stone dial. The cost will almost double, but I don’t think I regret it. Price: 1,095 US dollars (steel/turquoise)
Mido MultiFort TV Big Date S01E01
Since its first release, the MIDO MultiFort TV Big Date has become a popular and affordable alternative to Patek Philippe Aquanaut. The newly released limited edition S01E01 is a bold play with inspiration for the TV dial, reducing its similarity to the sacred Trinity sports watches and placing it in its own category. The literal tongue on the cheeks of the TV dial reads, “I’m certainly a watch nerd, but I have a sense of humor too.” This is a great option for those who spend a moderate amount of cash and are ready to win more in return. Price: $2,175 from Time+Tide Shop
Glashütte original 70’s chronograph
Master German watchmaker Glashütte Original has also released a gorgeous TV dial watch that reminds us of the era of muscle cars and disco music. The Glashütte Original Seventies Chronograph is a well-made, refined watch, as you would expect from this respected brand. This movement is an in-house automatic caliber with a column wheel and flyback chronograph. This is not a direct reissue of the previous model, but it is clearly inspired by this era. This is going to be a modern classic with a retro feel. Price: Starting from USD 14,100
When it comes to watches, there are so many different styles to choose from. Unfortunately, there seems to be some hesitation in the shape of the dial, as it is mixed with the sides of the watch brand. The TV dial has been a very popular watch design for over a decade, but at some point in the 1980s it lost favour to the brand and the public. However, this cool design has disappeared for a long time. Everything old will eventually become new again, so it’s time to put the TV back in and enjoy the retro vibe again.
Laurent Ferrier Sport Auto
The circular nature of the dial distorts this design towards the dial adjuster of the TV, but the overall shape of the case makes it a powerful case to include this Laurent Ferrier Sports Auto. Or we are huge fans of this watch and are looking for an excuse to talk about it. In any case, Sports Auto is the brainchild of Laurent Ferrier, a former Patek Philippe watchmaker who worked on the original Nautilus prototype and later became the product and technical director of the Holy Trinity brand. After pursuing his motorsport dreams, Ferrier continues to start a brand of the same name. Sport Auto is a handsome titanium daily wearer with a robust depth rating of 120 meters while being driven by an automatic caliber of micro rotors decorated to standard that drives most other brands. Price: USD 55,000
