Five Fun And Funky Watches From Tudor, IWC, Longines, And More — Which Would Be Your Pick?
Sometimes we just want something a little unusual in the collection—something we can look down at and know is an entirely unusual or funky design. Today, we’re looking at a few vintage and modern options for funky watches. However, I’d ask readers to provide their suggestions in the comments!
We saw at Watches and Wonders this year a decision by Rolex to bring some pastel colors to their Oyster Perpetual lineup. The brand also discontinued the Celebration-dial OP. Many other brands also played around with fun or funky designs. An honorable mention also goes out to NOMOS and the new Club Sport Neomatik Worldtimer. It’s good to see that the playful factor is alive and well. Today, we’re looking at some options and asking: What fun or funky watch would you consider adding to the collection? I’m looking forward to reading your comments and suggestions.
Funky and fun watches
Recently, I have been thinking about adding something particularly funky to my collection. That watch is a Longines Comet. I like how the mystery dial operates and the watch’s overall look (more on both shortly). Today, I have come up with a little list of some fun, funky watches to consider. The best part of this, though, is to start a conversation, as I’m sure many of you have your own suggestions!
A quick note on the funky watch
You see, a funky watch has its rightful place in any collection. Funky and fun mean different things to different people, to be sure. A Rolex Sea-Dweller might be funky to one person but considered more on the staid or boring side by another.
Therefore, I’ve aimed to choose watches that are undeniably funky and undeniably fun. I had no budget in mind, but I’ve sought to keep things relatively affordable or mid-tier. No doubt, there are a whole bunch of funky and fun watches that inhabit the ultra-luxury cost tiers, but because that is a world I know little about, I chose not to explore it for this feature.
Image: Analog/Shift
The Longines Comet
The Longines Comet is a delightful watch. The Comet name appeared on Longines watches in the late 1950s and early 1960s, but the watch we are talking about today is an unusual watch with a mystery dial design. Essentially, a mystery dial is where the hands are mounted so that they seem to float on the dial. The Longines Comet was released in 1970 with a unique cushion case and multiple dial color options (mostly bright colors). Hours on the watch are told through a broad arrow central hand. An orbiting dot (i.e., the comet) indicates the minutes. The hour and minute indicators are mounted on alternating colored discs between the hour and minute tracks, providing the overall impression of a floating time indication. The watch is sized at 40mm, with a Longines caliber 702 inside. The movement is relatively basic, but extra wheels are added to provide rotation on the discs.
Honestly, the Longines Comet has fascinated me since I first saw it. There is something quite enchanting about the floating time-telling elements. The physical representation of a comet just screams cool. The colorways are also quirky, fun, and attractive. My favorite is the monochromatic black-and-white colorway because it has a certain pop. Overall, I think the Longines Comet is an absolute winner in the design department.
Image: Chrono24
Omega dynamic I
The Omega Dynamic I is a very unusual-looking timepiece. I would describe the shape of the case as being somewhat pebble-like. There is something organic and attractive about the design. The way that it looks on the wrist is also fantastic. Introduced at the end of the 1960s, the Omega Dynamic I was marketed as having a shape that would ergonomically fit your wrist. The oval shape helps avoid something like a crown digging into your arm.
It came in various case sizes and utilized a mix of manual winding and automatic Omega calibers. Besides the interesting case design, the watch also came with a beautiful bulls-eye dial, with a variety of colors available. Overall, the Omega Dynamic I is just a handsome, if unusual, watch design. It’s a beautiful watch from a famous brand, yet it does not command silly prices. This is a great option for those of you looking for a funky vintage watch that won’t break the bank. See if you can find one on the metal bracelet, as this is a particularly cool look, given the case shape. The Omega Dynamic is a fun, funky watch.
Image: Electric-watches.co.uk
The Wittnauer Electro-Chron
The Wittnauer Electro-Chron is an intriguing watch. It used the first Swiss electric caliber, the Landeron 4750. Later versions had the slightly improved Landeron 4760. Wittnauer is an underrated vintage brand. Founded in 1885 in New York City by the recently arrived Swiss immigrant Albert Wittnauer, the company went on to focus on watches that would be used in exploration and at the cutting edge of scientific advancement for the age.
Neil Armstrong wore a Wittnauer-Longines watch (alongside an Omega) when he participated in the Gemini 8 mission. The Landeron caliber uses electric pulses produced by the contact wires interacting with a steel component (a balance plate). But the best thing of all has to be the unique handset design and the lightning bolt at the 12 o’clock marker. Bravo!
IWC Pilot’s Watch Automatic 41 Black Aces
A fully luminous dial is always an enchanting object. Doxa recently did well with the now sold-out limited edition Sub 300 Great White. Many of us are fond of the luminescent-dialed Tag Heuer Formula 1 watches from the 1990s. Citizen is also well known for producing some cool luminescent watches in their Promaster line.
Today, we’re looking at an option from IWC. Specifically, the Black Aces model introduced a couple of years ago. The watch provides all the modern specs you would want from an IWC Pilot’s watch, including 100 meters of water resistance, an inner iron cage to protect against magnetism, and a ceramic 41mm case. Throw in the Black Aces insignia at six o’clock, and we have a funky, fun, and capable watch!
Tudor’s Monte Carlo Heritage Chrono
Finally, the Tudor Monte Carlo Heritage Chronograph. Now, I would have put the vintage original as a suggestion here, which became known as the Monte Carlo. However, the Tudor reissue is far more attainable and has only recently been discontinued. Tudor’s Monte Carlo represents some of the 1970s design divergence from the sister brand, Rolex. The funk is dialed up to 10, and I am here for it.
What we get is a robust modern chronograph, which is what you would expect from a Tudor. We also have something with real historical clout, or at least a fair representation of an original with said clout. I can see why owners are such big fans of this particular watch. It looks like a lot of fun!
Concluding thoughts
I haven’t even touched brands in Germany or Japan as part of this feature. There are so many cool options out there, including all sorts of interesting Casio G-Shocks or the bright colors released by Nomos for their Tangente last year and Club Sport Worldtimer this year.
In fact, we could broaden our definition of fun and funky to include not only the more extreme but anything with a slightly unusual color or design language. Options from the likes of Doxa, for example, come to mind. But what do you think, Fratelli? What would be your recommendation for a fun or funky watch? I’m looking forward to reading your comments and suggestions.
